Chapter 9: The Other Daughter
I didn't sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the photograph of the little girl in the hospital corridor.
Grace Carter.
Daniel's daughter.
Another child whose existence he had hidden.
Rebecca arranged an emergency meeting with Edward Hayes the following morning. Vanessa agreed to join us by video call.
Lily stayed with a trusted family friend while the police continued investigating the threatening messages.
I sat across from Edward in a conference room.
He opened a leather folder.
“Grace was born six years ago in Boston,” he explained.
“Her birth certificate identifies Daniel Carter as her father.””
I stared at him.
“Does her mother know about the trust?””
“We're still establishing that.””
“Does she know about Lily?””
Edward nodded.
“Apparently, yes.””
Rebecca leaned forward.
“Why would there be two children listed as potential beneficiaries?””
Edward removed a copy of the original trust agreement.
“The trust was established by Thomas Wilson using assets inherited from his older brother's business interests. Its purpose was to provide financial protection for the descendants of Richard Hayes.””
“But Thomas was my uncle,” I said.
“Correct. And according to the updated DNA documentation, Lily and Grace are both direct descendants of Richard Hayes.””
I frowned.
“Then why did the original trust name only Lily?””
Edward turned a page.
“Because Grace's existence was never disclosed to the trustee.””
I felt a chill.
“Who disclosed it?””
“Your husband.””
Rebecca looked up sharply.
“When?””
“Six months ago. He submitted a DNA report and requested an amendment to the beneficiary records.””
“Did he provide the child's mother's identity?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
Edward looked uncomfortable.
“Because the application stated that the mother had died.””
I leaned forward.
“That's a lie. Daniel never told me about another daughter.””
Edward nodded.
“There's another issue. The trust contains a provision requiring all beneficiaries to be independently identified and protected from conflicts of interest.””
Rebecca tapped the table.
“Meaning Daniel cannot simply become guardian and control the money.””
“Exactly.””
I felt a little relief.
Then Edward opened another document.
“However, there is a second provision. If the trustee determines that a beneficiary has been deliberately concealed or placed at risk, the trustee can freeze all distributions and appoint an independent guardian.””
“Then freeze everything,” I said.
“We have already initiated that process.””
Rebecca asked about Martin Cole.
Edward's expression darkened.
“Martin Cole was the original financial adviser to Richard Hayes. He was removed from the estate administration twelve years ago after allegations of financial misconduct.””
I stared at him.
“Why was he involved with Daniel?””
“Because he apparently believes the trust belongs to him.””
Edward slid another paper toward us.
It was a company registration document.
Carter Family Holdings.
Martin Cole was listed as a former director.
Daniel and Patricia were listed as current controlling shareholders.
Rebecca studied the page.
“Mr. Hayes, who owns the company's underlying assets?””
“That's complicated. Several properties and investment accounts were transferred into it over the last decade.””
“Was any of that money taken from the trust?””
Edward hesitated.
“We're investigating a possible unauthorized transfer.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from Vanessa.
Please answer. I found Grace's mother.
I called her immediately.
“Who is she?””
Vanessa's voice was barely audible.
“Her name is Emily Brooks.””
The name hit me.
Evelyn Brooks.
My mother's closest friend.
The woman who had witnessed the false statement about my mental health.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes. Daniel left an old photograph in his car. It shows him with Emily and a baby. On the back, someone wrote Grace's name and date of birth.””
I closed my eyes.
“Did you confront him?””
“Yes. He told me it was none of my business.””
“Where is Emily now?””
“I don't know. But I found her address in his contacts.””
Vanessa sent it to me.
Rebecca examined the location.
It was a residential property outside Atlanta.
“Why would Daniel hide Grace's mother?”” I asked.
Edward looked at the photograph.
“Perhaps because she knows something about the original trust.””
Then his phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
His face changed.
“What happened?”” Rebecca asked.
Edward slowly lowered the phone.
“The hospital has confirmed that Grace is not receiving treatment there.””
“Then where is she?””
“She's been transferred to a private facility under a different identity.””
I felt my heart race.
“Why?””
“The transfer was authorized by a company representative.””
“Who?””
Edward checked the document.
“Patricia Carter.””
Rebecca stood.
“We need to locate that child immediately.””
The police were contacted.
Meanwhile, I couldn't stop thinking about Lily.
She had a half-brother named Nathan.
A half-sister named Grace.
A biological grandfather who might still be alive.
And a family that seemed willing to manipulate every person around her to gain control of a fortune.
I called Vanessa again.
“Did Daniel ever say why Grace was being moved?””
She hesitated.
“There's something I haven't told you.””
“What?””
“I found an old email between Daniel and Emily.””
“Read it.””
Her breathing became unsteady.
“Emily wrote that she would never allow Grace to become part of the trust arrangement. Daniel replied that she had already signed the necessary papers.””
“What papers?””
“I don't know. But Sarah, the email was dated two days before Grace disappeared from the hospital.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“Disappeared?””
Vanessa continued.
“Emily reported Grace missing six months ago. Daniel told everyone she had moved abroad with her mother.””
My stomach twisted.
“Then why was she in the hospital photograph?””
“I think she was being kept there under another name.””
Rebecca immediately called the police investigator handling the case.
I stood by the window, staring at the parking lot.
Then I saw a familiar black SUV pull into the driveway.
Daniel stepped out.
He wasn't alone.
A woman in a dark coat emerged from the passenger seat.
She looked directly toward the conference room window.
I recognized her immediately.
Emily Brooks.
The woman who had witnessed the forged custody statement.
The woman whose daughter had apparently disappeared.
She walked through the building's entrance carrying a thick envelope.
When she entered the conference room, her eyes went straight to me.
“Sarah Carter?””
I nodded.
She placed the envelope on the table.
“I'm Emily. I'm Grace's mother.””
Her voice trembled.
“And I know why Daniel chose your daughter.””
She opened the envelope and removed a photograph.
It showed Lily as a newborn.
But beside her hospital bed stood Daniel, my mother, and a fourth person.
Martin Cole.
Emily pointed at the man.
“That's not the worst part.””
She turned the photograph over.
On the back, someone had written:
One child inherits. One child pays.
Then Emily looked directly into my eyes.
“Sarah, Daniel never intended to save Nathan with Lily.””
She swallowed.
“He intended to make sure Grace and Lily could never challenge each other for the inheritance.””
And before I could ask what she meant, Emily placed one final document on the table.
It was a medical consent form.
My signature was on it.
But the date was seven years old.
The day Lily was born.
And beneath the signature was a sentence I had never seen before:
*I voluntarily surrender all parental claims in the event of a disputed biological identity.*
I stared at the paper.
May you like
Then Emily whispered:
“Your mother signed it before you even knew you were pregnant.””
