Chapter 7: The Secret Behind My Daughter's Birth
"Tell me what happened the night Sophie was conceived.""
My voice sounded unfamiliar, even to me.
Michael looked down at the laboratory report.
Daniel stood beside the table, breathing heavily. His hands were clenched, and his eyes kept moving between his brother and me.
"Olivia, please," he said.
"We don't need to discuss this here.""
I turned toward him.
"Then where? In our bedroom? The bedroom where you lied to me for seven years?""
He swallowed.
Michael pulled out a chair.
"Sit down, Olivia. You deserve to hear everything.""
I remained standing.
"Start talking.""
Michael took a deep breath.
"Eight years ago, Daniel and I were already fighting over money. Our business was collapsing, and we had borrowed money from people we shouldn't have trusted.""
Daniel interrupted.
"That's enough.""
Michael ignored him.
"Your father had discovered that Daniel was transferring company funds into private accounts. He contacted me because he believed I could help recover the money.""
I frowned.
"My father never mentioned that.""
"He didn't want to frighten you. He was planning to confront Daniel after your wedding anniversary.""
My stomach tightened.
"What does that have to do with Sophie?""
Michael looked at Daniel.
"Everything.""
He explained that eight years earlier, Daniel had been struggling with a serious financial crisis. He was also undergoing medical treatment after complications from his vasectomy.
I stared at him.
"Complications?""
Michael nodded.
"Daniel's procedure had been successful. But he never wanted you to know because he was afraid you'd leave him if you couldn't have another child.""
Daniel shook his head.
"That's not what happened.""
Michael continued.
"During that period, Daniel disappeared for several days. He was staying in Miami, trying to negotiate with investors. When he returned, he told everyone he'd been working out of town.""
I remembered that week.
I had been newly pregnant with Sophie.
Daniel had come home late one night, kissed my forehead, and told me everything would be fine.
I had believed him.
Michael placed another photograph on the table.
It showed Daniel standing outside a hotel with a woman.
I looked closer.
The woman was Vanessa.
But the photograph was dated eight years earlier.
My throat tightened.
"She knew him back then?""
Michael nodded.
"Vanessa's family had connections to the investors Daniel owed money to. She was involved in helping him move funds.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"That's not true!""
Michael turned toward her.
"You want to tell Olivia what you were doing in Miami?""
Vanessa's lips trembled.
Daniel grabbed her arm.
"Don't say another word.""
She pulled away.
"I'm not going to protect you anymore!""
I looked at her.
"Then tell me.""
Vanessa began crying.
"Daniel told me he was going to divorce you years ago. He said you were only staying together because of the business.""
I felt sick.
"That still doesn't explain Sophie.""
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
"Michael was the one who was with you that night.""
The room went silent.
I stared at her.
"What?""
Michael immediately stepped forward.
"Vanessa, stop.""
But she continued.
"Daniel had been drinking. He brought Michael to your house because he wanted him to sign some documents. They argued. Daniel left.""
I looked at Michael.
He nodded slowly.
"That part is true. I came to your house that evening.""
My hands began to shake.
I remembered that night.
Daniel had told me he was going away for a business meeting.
I had received a call from Michael asking whether he could stop by to discuss something important.
I remembered opening the door.
I remembered Michael looking exhausted.
But I also remembered something else.
I had fallen asleep on the sofa after taking medication for a terrible migraine.
The next morning, Daniel had told me Michael never came.
He said I had imagined the phone call.
I looked at Michael.
"Did anything happen that night?""
He shook his head immediately.
"No, Olivia. Nothing inappropriate happened. I found you asleep on the sofa. I left after making sure you were comfortable.""
I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"Then why is there a paternity test?""
Michael looked toward Daniel.
"Because Daniel paid someone to manufacture evidence that Sophie wasn't his biological daughter. He wanted a reason to challenge your inheritance and your custody rights.""
Daniel slammed his hand against the table.
"LIAR!""
Evelyn stood up.
"Daniel, I saw the payment records myself.""
He turned toward her.
"You're choosing him over me?""
"I'm choosing the truth.""
Michael opened another folder.
"This is the original paternity report. It was never completed because the laboratory discovered that the samples submitted under Daniel's name didn't match the identification records.""
I stared at the report.
"So Sophie is Daniel's daughter?""
Michael nodded.
"According to the legitimate records, yes.""
Daniel's expression changed.
He looked relieved for half a second.
Then Michael added:
"But that's not the only reason Daniel wanted the test.""
He placed another document in front of me.
It was a letter from my father.
The date was two weeks before his death.
I recognized his handwriting immediately.
At the top, he had written:
For Olivia, when the truth finally comes out.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
The first sentence made my heart ache.
My darling girl, if you're reading this, it means I failed to protect you from someone I once trusted.
I looked up.
Daniel was staring at the letter.
And for the first time, I understood that my father had known exactly what kind of man I had married.
But the next paragraph contained a revelation I wasn't prepared for.
My father had left me a second inheritance.
One that Daniel had spent eight years trying to steal.
May you like
And it wasn't money.
It was evidence.
