Chapter 4: The Woman in the Photograph
Daniel didn’t move.
Rachel stood on the other side of the chained door, clutching the red envelope against her chest.
“What did you just say?”” he asked.
Rachel swallowed.
“Mom isn’t your biological mother.””
The words seemed to change the air inside our house.
Daniel stared at her.
Then he laughed once.
It was a hollow sound.
“You pushed my pregnant wife down the stairs, broke into my house, stole something Dad left me, and now you expect me to believe this?””
“I didn’t believe it either.””
“Leave.””
“Daniel—”
“Leave before the police get here.””
Rachel shoved the red envelope through the narrow opening.
“Then read it yourself.””
Daniel didn’t take it.
I did.
Rachel’s eyes met mine.
For the first time since she pushed me, I saw something other than arrogance or panic.
Fear.
“Claire,” she whispered, “I’m sorry.””
My fingers tightened around the envelope.
“Sorry doesn’t undo what you did.””
“I know.””
“You could have killed my baby.””
Rachel looked down.
“I know.””
Daniel reached for the door.
“You need to go.””
“Wait.””
Rachel pulled a folded letter from her coat pocket.
“I found this inside.””
Daniel stared at it.
“Dad wrote it.””
“To who?””
“You.””
That stopped him.
Rachel slid the letter through the gap.
Daniel unfolded it.
His hands were already trembling.
The handwriting was unmistakable. I had seen Thomas Bennett’s birthday cards before.
Daniel read silently.
Then his breathing changed.
“What does it say?”” I asked.
He handed it to me.
The letter was dated eleven years earlier.
Daniel,
If you are reading this, then either I finally found the courage to tell you the truth, or someone found these papers after I was gone.
Margaret raised you.
She loved you.
But she did not give birth to you.
Your mother’s name is Evelyn Hart.
I stopped.
Daniel was staring at the floor.
“Evelyn Hart,” he whispered.
Rachel nodded.
“Keep reading.””
I did.
Thomas wrote that Evelyn had been twenty-two when Daniel was born.
She and Thomas had been together before he married Margaret.
But there was something strange about the dates.
Thomas and Margaret had supposedly married thirty-five years ago.
Daniel was thirty-four.
Yet the letter said Margaret already knew about Evelyn before the wedding.
“She knew?”” Daniel asked.
Rachel nodded.
“Apparently.””
I continued reading.
Thomas claimed Margaret had agreed to raise Daniel after Evelyn became seriously ill shortly after childbirth.
But then came the sentence that made my stomach tighten.
I was told Evelyn died.
Years later, I discovered that was a lie.
Daniel grabbed the letter from me.
He read the line himself.
Again.
And again.
“Who told him she died?””
Rachel looked away.
“Mom.””
Silence.
Daniel unhooked the chain.
I caught his arm.
“Daniel.””
“I’m not hurting her.””
He opened the door.
Rachel stepped inside cautiously.
Daniel held up the letter.
“Where is Evelyn?””
“I don’t know.””
“Is she alive?””
“I don’t know.””
“Then what exactly do you know?””
Rachel flinched.
“Dad started investigating before he died.””
“Investigating Mom?””
“Yes.””
Daniel walked into the living room.
I followed slowly.
Rachel remained near the doorway.
“Why did Mom transfer the house to you?”” Daniel asked.
Rachel pressed her lips together.
“Because Dad left it to you for a reason.””
“What reason?””
“I don’t know everything.””
“Stop saying that!””
His voice made me jump.
He immediately looked at me.
“Sorry.””
Then he faced Rachel again.
“You nearly killed my wife to protect these secrets. You don’t get to give me half answers anymore.””
Rachel wiped her eyes.
“Mom told me you were going to take everything.””
“What?””
“When Dad died, she said his estate plan had changed. She said you would get the house, most of the investments, everything.””
Daniel frowned.
“That isn’t what happened.””
“I know that now.””
Rachel sank into a chair.
“She said Dad had become obsessed with finding your birth mother. She told me Evelyn was a con artist who had abandoned you and came back wanting money.””
Daniel stared at her.
“And you believed her?””
“She was our mother.””
“Your mother.””
Rachel winced.
Daniel immediately looked ashamed, but he didn’t apologize.
She deserved the distinction.
Rachel continued.
“Mom asked me to create Bennett Property Holdings. She said moving assets into it would protect our family if Evelyn tried to make a claim.””
“So you forged my signature?””
“No.””
Daniel threw the papers onto the coffee table.
“My signature is right there.””
“I didn’t sign it.””
“Then who did?””
Rachel looked toward the door.
“Mom.””
My stomach turned.
“Margaret forged Daniel’s signature?””
Rachel nodded.
“She had samples from old financial documents.””
Daniel rubbed both hands over his face.
“And the money?””
Rachel’s silence answered first.
“Rachel.””
“Mom moved most of it.””
“Into your company.””
“She controlled the accounts.””
“But you benefited.””
“Yes.””
“How much?””
Rachel whispered, “I don’t know.””
Daniel slammed his palm against the table.
“HOW MUCH?””
“Daniel,” I said.
He backed away.
Rachel started crying.
“I thought it was inheritance money. Mom told me Dad wanted you to have the house and me to have the investments.””
“You never questioned why my money was funding your company?””
“I should have.””
“Yes.””
“I know.””
“You keep saying that.””
Daniel turned away.
The baby kicked hard.
I pressed my palm against my belly.
Rachel noticed.
Her face crumpled.
“Claire…”
“Don’t.””
She looked down.
Then her phone rang.
She checked it.
Her entire body stiffened.
“Who is it?”” Daniel asked.
Rachel didn’t answer.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Rachel.””
“It’s Mom.””
“Answer.””
“I don’t think—”
“Answer it.””
Rachel put the call on speaker.
“Mom?””
Margaret didn’t greet her.
“Where are you?””
Rachel looked at Daniel.
“With Daniel.””
A sharp breath came through the speaker.
“You stupid girl.””
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
Rachel whispered, “I opened Dad’s envelope.””
Silence.
Then Margaret spoke very slowly.
“You need to bring that envelope to me.””
“No.””
“Rachel.””
“You lied to me.””
“I protected you.””
“You used me.””
“You don’t understand what your father did.””
Daniel stepped toward the phone.
“Then tell me.””
Margaret went quiet.
“Daniel?””
“Who is Evelyn Hart?””
Nothing.
“Mom?””
“Don’t call me that right now.””
Daniel went pale.
Margaret immediately seemed to regret saying it.
“Daniel, I didn’t mean—”
“You raised me for thirty-four years.””
“I love you.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
Margaret began crying.
“She wasn’t supposed to come back.””
My skin prickled.
Daniel stared at the phone.
“Evelyn?””
“Yes.””
Daniel’s voice became barely audible.
“When did she come back?””
May you like
Margaret whispered her answer.
“Three weeks before your father died.””
