Chapter 8: The Daughter I Chose
I couldn’t move.
Vanessa’s words kept echoing in my head.
Your daughter.
Not Sophie.
Not Emily’s child.
Your daughter.
“You’re insane,” I whispered.
Vanessa tilted her head.
“That’s what Emily used to say.””
I looked at Dr. Harris.
“Tell me she’s lying.””
The doctor remained silent.
And that silence hurt more than any answer.
“Daniel,” Vanessa said softly, “Emily knew the truth.””
“Stop.””
“She knew Sophie wasn’t yours.””
“Stop talking.””
“She kept her away from me.””
I turned toward her.
“Why would Emily keep Sophie away from you?””
Vanessa’s face hardened.
“Because Emily always got everything.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“She had the perfect life. The perfect husband. The perfect child.””
Her voice became sharper.
“And I had nothing.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“It is.””
She stepped closer.
“You think Emily was innocent because she died?””
I felt anger burning through me.
“Don’t use her death.””
“I’m telling you the truth.””
“No. You’re telling me your version.””
Vanessa laughed.
“Of course you would defend her.””
Dr. Harris finally spoke.
“Vanessa, this has gone too far.””
She turned.
“You don’t get to judge me.””
“I warned Emily.””
My head snapped toward him.
“You warned Emily about Vanessa?””
The doctor looked ashamed.
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Emily begged me not to.””
“Why?””
Dr. Harris looked at Vanessa.
“Because Vanessa had already hurt someone.””
The room became silent.
I looked at Vanessa.
“What did you do?””
She didn’t answer.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
Then her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
And immediately rejected the call.
I noticed.
“Who was that?””
“No one.””
“Who?””
She stared at me.
“You really want answers?””
“Yes.””
“Then ask Emily.””
My face hardened.
“She’s dead.””
Vanessa smiled.
“Exactly.””
She walked toward the door.
“Daniel, you’re so desperate to believe Emily was protecting you.””
She stopped.
“But what if she was protecting herself?””
After she left, I turned to Dr. Harris.
“Tell me everything.””
The doctor sat down.
“When Emily discovered the DNA results, she didn’t know what to believe.””
“So she knew?””
“Yes.””
“She knew Sophie wasn’t mine?””
“Yes.””
The words hurt.
“But she loved Sophie.””
“She did.””
“Then why didn’t she tell me?””
Dr. Harris looked at the floor.
“Because the DNA test wasn’t the only thing she found.””
“What else?””
He opened another file.
Inside was a letter.
From Emily.
I recognized her handwriting immediately.
Daniel,
If you are reading this, then the truth finally found you.
My hands trembled.
I read the next line.
Sophie may not have my blood, but she has my heart.
I closed my eyes.
A tear fell before I could stop it.
Emily continued.
There are things I never told you because I wanted to protect our family.
But the truth is this:
Sophie was not abandoned.
She was taken.
I looked up.
“What does that mean?””
Dr. Harris took a deep breath.
“It means Sophie’s original records were changed.””
“By who?””
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he pointed to the final page.
There was a signature.
A name.
Vanessa Carter.
My stomach dropped.
“She changed the records?””
“No.””
Dr. Harris shook his head.
“She didn’t.””
“Then why is her name there?””
The doctor looked at me.
“Because Vanessa wasn’t changing Sophie’s records.””
He paused.
“She was changing her own.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Before he could explain, the lights suddenly went out.
The room went completely dark.
Then I heard the sound of glass breaking.
Someone was inside.
Dr. Harris whispered:
“Daniel…”
“What?””
“That wasn’t Vanessa.””
A shadow moved near the doorway.
May you like
And a man’s voice said:
“You should have left the past buried.””
