Chapter 13: The Daughter My Mother Stole
“She's yours.””
Emily's words kept repeating inside my head.
I gripped the edge of the hospital table.
“Emily, what exactly does that DNA report say?””
“I had a private test done after Grace was transferred. I couldn't understand why she never resembled me. I thought it was just genetics. But the results came back this morning.””
Her voice broke.
“I'm not her biological mother, Sarah. She's your daughter.””
I looked at Richard.
He had gone completely pale.
“Where is my mother?”” I demanded.
Nobody answered.
Detective Miller immediately contacted the officers outside.
Patricia tried to leave the room.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered.
I stepped in front of her.
“Don't you dare walk away from me.””
“Sarah, please.””
“Who is Grace?””
Patricia covered her face.
Then she said something I will never forget.
“Grace is the baby Margaret took from the hospital.””
My knees nearly buckled.
“What?””
“Your mother was supposed to take both babies home. But Martin had arranged something with the hospital administrator. One child was supposed to be registered under a different identity.””
“Why?””
Patricia looked at Richard.
He finally spoke.
“Because Martin wanted to separate the twins before the inheritance could be challenged.””
I stared at him.
“Explain.””
Richard took a deep breath.
“Your biological father, my son, was involved in a family business dispute. Martin believed that if the two children were raised separately, he could manipulate their identities and control which one received the trust.””
I shook my head.
“Why would he care about two babies?””
“Because the trust required independent verification of every direct descendant. Martin wanted to create competing claims so he could persuade the family to surrender control of the assets.””
Patricia interrupted.
“That's not the whole story.””
I turned toward her.
“Then tell me the whole story.””
She looked at the floor.
“Margaret was afraid. She had been told that one of the babies might have a serious medical condition. Martin offered to arrange treatment for the weaker child.””
“And?””
“He never intended to return her.””
I felt sick.
“So my mother knowingly gave away one of her daughters?””
Patricia began crying.
“She was promised the baby would be safe.””
I stepped backward.
The woman who had helped me raise Lily had apparently participated in separating two children at birth.
But I still didn't understand one thing.
“Where does Lily fit into this?””
Richard opened the genetic report.
“The laboratory found evidence that the original hospital records were altered. Lily is genetically connected to both sides of the family, but the report Daniel submitted was incomplete.””
I stared at him.
“Are you saying Lily isn't my daughter?””
“No,” he replied firmly.
“I'm saying we need independent testing. The records suggest that someone may have switched samples or deliberately misrepresented the relationships.””
Detective Miller entered.
“Mrs. Carter, we have located your mother.””
“Where?””
“At a private residence registered to Carter Family Holdings.””
I looked at Patricia.
“Is Grace there?””
She nodded slowly.
“Probably.””
“Then take me to her.””
The detective shook his head.
“We're securing the location first.””
I couldn't wait.
“That's my child!””
Richard gently touched my shoulder.
“Sarah, if Grace is your daughter, she's been living with strangers for years. We need to make sure she isn't frightened or hurt.””
I pulled away.
“She's been separated from me since birth. I don't intend to let anyone take another minute from her.””
Rebecca arrived shortly afterward.
She had already contacted the court and obtained emergency legal assistance to prevent further unauthorized transfers involving Lily or Grace.
She also brought something important.
A copy of the original trust agreement.
“There's a clause here,” she explained.
“If the identities of concealed descendants are verified, the trustee must suspend all existing guardianship arrangements and appoint an independent administrator.””
I looked at Richard.
“Can we use that?””
“Yes,” he replied.
“I've already instructed Edward to freeze the trust.””
Rebecca turned another page.
“But there's something else. The original trust includes a confidential letter from Thomas.””
She handed it to me.
My hands trembled as I unfolded it.
To my beloved Sarah,
If you are reading this, then the secret I spent my life protecting has finally come into the open.
I never wanted you to live a lie. But I promised to protect both you and the child who was taken from you.
Your mother was frightened. Martin was dangerous. And Richard was powerless to stop what happened.
I created the trust so that neither of you would ever be financially controlled by the people who separated you.
There is one person you must never trust.
I stopped reading.
The next line was underlined twice.
Martin Cole did not act alone. He had help from someone inside the hospital.
At the bottom was a name.
Dr. Helen Foster.
The hospital administrator who had shown us the records.
My blood ran cold.
I looked at Rebecca.
“Do you think she knew?””
Rebecca didn't answer.
Then Detective Miller's radio crackled.
An officer had reached the private residence.
He reported that the front door was open.
The house was empty.
Except for one thing.
A child's pink backpack sitting in the hallway.
Lily's backpack.
I ran toward the exit.
May you like
Because whoever had taken Grace had apparently decided to come for Lily next.
And this time, I wasn't going to let them get away.
