Chapter 10: The Photograph That Exposed My Mother's Biggest Lie
The photograph remained on the floor.
Nobody moved.
The little boy on the screen had dark brown hair, round cheeks, and the same unusual gray-brown eyes as Ari.
He was wearing a blue sweater and holding a stuffed dinosaur.
My daughter slowly stepped out from behind my legs.
“That's my brother, Daddy.””
Margaret snatched the phone.
“She's confused. Children imagine things.””
The younger social worker, a woman named Patricia, raised her hand.
“Ma'am, please don't touch that phone again.””
Margaret stared at her.
“Do you understand who I am?””
Patricia didn't blink.
“Right now, you're an adult who needs to answer some questions.””
I almost smiled.
For once, someone wasn't intimidated by my mother.
Patricia turned toward me.
“Mr. Carter, we need to establish whether these documents are authentic. Until then, I don't want anyone removing the child from this property.””
Margaret immediately protested.
“This is absurd! I called you because my son is clearly experiencing a psychological crisis.””
Emily stepped forward.
“Then why is his signature forged on the complaint?””
Patricia examined the document.
“Mr. Carter, did you sign this?””
“No.””
“Did you authorize anyone to sign it on your behalf?””
“No.””
Patricia exchanged a look with her colleague.
“Then we'll need to investigate that separately.””
Margaret grabbed her handbag.
“This is a family matter.””
Rebecca finally spoke.
“No, Margaret. It stopped being a family matter when you stole two babies from their mother.””
My mother turned toward her.
“You have no proof.””
Rebecca opened her handbag and removed a small cassette recorder.
“I have Sarah's final statement.””
Margaret's face changed.
I stared at the device.
“What is that?””
“Sarah recorded herself in the hospital room,” Rebecca explained.
“She gave it to me the night before she died.””
My mother lunged.
Rebecca stepped backward.
“Don't you dare!””
Patricia moved between them.
“Everyone needs to remain calm.””
Rebecca pressed PLAY.
A faint crackling sound filled the room.
Then I heard Sarah's voice.
“Rebecca, if anything happens to me, please find Daniel. Tell him I never agreed to give away our children.””
My knees nearly buckled.
The recording continued.
“Margaret says she's arranging everything because she believes Daniel cannot raise twins. But that's not true. He loves them. He loves them more than anything.””
I covered my mouth.
Sarah was alive in that recording.
My Sarah.
The woman I'd spent four years mourning.
Then another voice entered the recording.
My mother's.
“Sarah, you're being unreasonable. Thomas has already explained the arrangement.””
Sarah sounded frightened.
“Those are my children!””
Margaret answered coldly.
“And they are Carter heirs. You don't understand what you're putting at risk.””
There was a rustling sound.
Then Sarah spoke again.
“Daniel will find out.””
My mother's response was almost a whisper.
“Not if you cooperate.””
The recording ended.
I looked at Margaret.
“Did you threaten my wife?””
She shook her head.
“That's an edited recording.””
Rebecca laughed bitterly.
“Of course. Everything you don't like is fake.””
Patricia asked for the recorder.
Rebecca handed it over.
“We'll need to preserve this as evidence,” Patricia said.
My mother suddenly turned toward me.
“Daniel, listen to me. I was trying to protect the family.””
“Which family?””
She blinked.
“Yours.””
“No. You were protecting your money.””
Margaret's expression hardened.
“You have no idea what your grandfather built. Without me, that family would have lost everything.””
I looked at Ari.
She was holding my hand.
“Whatever happens to that money, I don't care.””
My mother laughed.
“You will when you understand how much you're throwing away.””
Then Thomas Bell appeared in the doorway.
He looked at the social workers, then at the recorder in Patricia's hand.
His expression changed.
“What is going on?””
Patricia stepped toward him.
“Dr. Bell, we need you to remain here.””
Thomas glanced at Margaret.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly.
Then he did something unexpected.
He smiled.
“I'm afraid you've misunderstood the situation.””
He removed a folded document from his coat.
“I'm here to provide medical evidence that Mr. Carter's daughter requires immediate placement outside this household.””
I stared at him.
“You forged my signature.””
Thomas ignored me.
He handed the document to Patricia.
“There's also a DNA report establishing the identity of the biological father.””
My heart began pounding.
“What DNA report?””
Thomas looked at me.
“Perhaps you should sit down.””
He unfolded the paper.
The first name was mine.
The second was Thomas Bell.
And the result was something I couldn't understand.
According to the report, Thomas was listed as the biological father of Ari.
I stared at the document.
Then Patricia noticed something.
“Dr. Bell, this laboratory stamp is from a facility that closed six years ago.””
Thomas's smile disappeared.
She turned the paper over.
The report number had been altered.
“This document appears fraudulent.””
Thomas immediately reached for it.
Patricia pulled it away.
And before anyone could stop him, Thomas blurted out:
“Margaret, you told me the original DNA samples had been destroyed!””
The entire room went silent.
My mother closed her eyes.
And I realized the truth was much worse than I had imagined.
May you like
They hadn't simply changed the paperwork.
They had been hiding evidence of something they were never supposed to do in the first place.
