Chapter 9: The Truth About My Daughter
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the pounding of my own heart.
Rachel had been pregnant before she met me.
The words felt impossible.
I remembered our early dates, the first time she'd held my hand, the evening she told me she loved me. I remembered the day she told me she was pregnant with Sophie, sitting at our kitchen table with tears streaming down her cheeks.
I'd hugged her and laughed because we'd been trying for a baby for months.
She'd kissed me and whispered, "We're going to be a family.""
Had she been lying?
I pressed the recorder against my ear.
My mother's voice continued.
"Don't misunderstand me, Michael. Rachel loved you deeply. She wanted you to be Sophie's father.
But when she discovered she was pregnant, Daniel threatened her. He told her he would take the baby from her if she ever tried to leave him.""
The recording paused, filled with a faint rustling sound.
"Rachel told me she had no intention of letting Daniel near her child. She believed he would use the baby to control her for the rest of her life.""
I gripped the recorder.
"She came to me because she needed help. I promised her that whatever happened, I would protect Sophie.""
The recording ended with a click.
I stood motionless.
Detective Harris approached me.
"Michael? Are you all right?""
I handed her the recorder.
"My mother says Rachel was pregnant before she met me.""
The detective's expression changed.
"Does she identify Daniel as the biological father?""
"She says Rachel was trying to escape him.""
Detective Harris didn't offer an easy answer.
"We need to verify the timeline and the medical records. And we need to establish whether the recording is complete.""
I stared at the documents in my hands.
"Everything I believed about my family might be a lie.""
"Some things may be different from what you believed. That doesn't mean your entire life was false.""
I wanted to believe her.
But I couldn't stop thinking about Sophie.
She had Rachel's eyes. Rachel's smile. The same habit of pressing her lips together when she was trying not to cry.
Was any of that inherited from me?
I felt ashamed of the question the moment it entered my mind.
Sophie was my daughter.
I'd been there when she took her first steps. I'd carried her through the house when she had a fever. I'd sat beside her bed after nightmares and promised that monsters couldn't reach her.
Nothing on a piece of paper could erase that.
Still, I needed the truth.
Detective Harris collected the documents and arranged for the storage unit to be processed. An officer escorted me back to my car while another team continued searching for the man who had run down the corridor.
Before leaving, I called Mrs. Carter.
Sophie answered.
"Daddy?""
"Hey, sweetheart.""
"Are you coming back?""
"Yes. I'm coming.""
"Did you find Grandma?""
I closed my eyes.
"Not yet, baby. But we're looking.""
She was quiet for a moment.
Then she asked, "Did you find my mommy?""
My throat tightened.
"I found some things she left behind.""
"Like her pictures?""
"Yes.""
"Does she know I'm good?""
I gripped the phone.
"Your mommy loved you more than anything.""
Sophie sniffled.
"Mommy Vanessa says my real mommy left because I was difficult.""
I felt a flash of anger so intense that I had to force myself to breathe.
"That isn't true, Sophie. You hear me? None of this is your fault.""
"Promise?""
"I promise.""
After I hung up, I drove to Mrs. Carter's house.
Sophie ran to the door and threw her arms around me. I lifted her into my arms and held her for a long time.
When she finally pulled away, she studied my face.
"Are you sad, Daddy?""
"A little.""
"Because of Mommy Vanessa?""
"Because there are some things I need to understand.""
She touched my cheek with her small hand.
"Grandma says people can love you and still make mistakes.""
I swallowed hard.
"Grandma is right.""
Sophie nodded solemnly.
"She said you should always ask questions, even when grown-ups get mad.""
I kissed her forehead.
"She was right about that, too.""
Later that evening, Detective Harris arranged for Sophie and me to stay at a secure location while the investigation continued. I didn't tell Sophie everything I'd learned. She had already carried too many frightening secrets for a child her age.
Instead, I made her dinner, sat beside her while she ate, and let her choose a bedtime story.
For the first time in days, she finished her entire meal without looking toward the door.
When she fell asleep, I stepped into the adjoining room and called the number listed on the hospital visitor log.
Vanessa answered after the fourth ring.
"Michael?""
"Why were you at the hospital the night Rachel died?""
Silence.
I waited.
Finally, she whispered, "Where did you get that information?""
"Answer the question.""
"I went there because Rachel asked me to.""
"Why?""
"She wanted to talk.""
"About Daniel?""
Vanessa began crying.
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
"What did she tell you?""
"That she was afraid he would take Sophie.""
"Did you know Daniel believed he was Sophie's father?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know Rachel was pregnant before she met me?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
That silence was all I needed.
"You knew.""
"I found out later.""
"When?""
"After Rachel died.""
I pressed my fingers against my forehead.
"Why did you marry me, Vanessa?""
"I told you. I loved you.""
"Did you marry me because you felt guilty?""
She began sobbing harder.
"I thought I could fix things. I thought if I stayed close to you and Sophie, I could keep Daniel away.""
"By starving my daughter?""
"No!""
Her voice broke.
"I never wanted to hurt her like that.""
"Then why did you?""
Vanessa was quiet for a long time.
Finally, she whispered, "Because Daniel told me that if Sophie ever learned the truth, he would make sure she never saw you again.""
I stared at the wall.
"That's what you were afraid of? That she would learn who her biological father might be?""
"No, Michael. That's not the whole truth.""
"Then tell me the rest.""
Her breathing became ragged.
"Rachel wasn't the only person who knew what happened at the hospital that night.""
I felt my pulse quicken.
"Who else?""
Vanessa whispered a name.
"Your mother.""
I froze.
"Margaret?""
"She was there, Michael. She saw what happened. And she has the original document that proves who ordered the medication that killed Rachel.""
I gripped the phone so tightly my fingers hurt.
"Who ordered it?""
Vanessa began to answer.
Then the call abruptly disconnected.
A second later, my phone received a message from Detective Harris.
*We have located a witness who may know where your mother is being held. But there's a serious complication.*
Another message followed.
*The witness says Margaret wasn't kidnapped by Daniel. She went with him willingly.*
I stared at the screen, unable to make sense of it.
May you like
Then a final message appeared.
*And Michael, the witness claims your mother was the one who ordered the medication that killed Rachel.*
