My Stepmother Put Me in a Freezing Garage—But When Dad Found Me, His First Question Made Her Turn White

I couldn't stop looking at the photograph.

Rebecca was holding me.

Not Laura.

Not my father.

Rebecca.

"Explain this," Dad demanded.

Thomas sat down.

"Daniel and Rebecca had been involved in a business arrangement long before Laura discovered the inheritance.""

Dad shook his head.

"That doesn't explain the photograph.""

Thomas looked at me.

"Rebecca was the person who took care of Emily during the first few weeks after her birth.""

I felt sick.

"Why?""

"Because Laura was receiving treatment after delivery, and Michael was working out of state. Rebecca offered to help.""

Dad stared at him.

"Why didn't I know?""

"Because Laura asked her to keep it quiet.""

I looked at Thomas.

"Was Rebecca my mother?""

He shook his head immediately.

"No. Laura was your biological mother. Rebecca helped care for you, but she was never your mother.""

I exhaled shakily.

"Then why did Daniel write that?""

Thomas opened the old blue ledger.

"Because Daniel was documenting the people involved in your early care. He knew Rebecca was becoming dangerously interested in your inheritance.""

Dad took the photograph.

"Why was she holding my daughter?""

Thomas lowered his eyes.

"Because she had been asked to return Emily to Laura.""

I looked at him.

"Return me?""

Thomas nodded.

"Rebecca took you from the hospital for several hours without Laura's permission. She claimed she was protecting you, but Laura became terrified.""

Dad stood.

"She kidnapped my newborn daughter?""

Thomas didn't answer.

He didn't need to.

I remembered almost nothing from those days.

But suddenly, I understood why my mother had been so afraid of Rebecca.

Amanda returned from speaking with the investigators.

"There's something else you need to know.""

She placed a document on the table.

"The company shares were never transferred to the family trustee. The original ownership remains in Emily's protected trust.""

Dad frowned.

"Then why did Eleanor claim she had authority?""

"Because she has been attempting to establish control through fraudulent amendments.""

Amanda opened another folder.

"However, we've discovered that the company itself was used to conceal additional transfers.""

Thomas nodded.

"That's why I kept the ledger.""

Amanda pointed to a series of entries.

"These transactions show that Rebecca and Eleanor moved company funds into several accounts over more than a decade.""

Dad looked at the amounts.

"How much?""

"Approximately $2.4 million.""

I stared at the page.

"That's separate from my trust?""

"Yes.""

"Then what happens to the money?""

"That depends on the investigation and the court.""

Dad leaned back.

"How many people were involved?""

Thomas answered quietly.

"At least five.""

Amanda looked at him.

"Who?""

Thomas hesitated.

"Rebecca. Eleanor. Vanessa.

Richard. And me.""

Dad's face hardened.

"You?""

Thomas nodded.

"I helped create some of the original accounting structures. I believed Daniel wanted the company protected from outside investors. When I discovered Rebecca was using them to move money, I should have reported it immediately.""

"Instead, you disappeared.""

"I was threatened.""

"Everyone keeps saying they were threatened!""

Thomas looked at me.

"Laura asked me to protect you. I failed to do it properly.""

For the first time, he seemed genuinely ashamed.

Then Amanda placed another document on the table.

"This is the final authorization record. It shows that the latest attempt to transfer Emily's shares was initiated yesterday.""

Dad looked at the name.

Rebecca Carter.

But beneath it was another signature.

Eleanor Hayes.

Both women had signed.

Amanda continued.

"The transfer request was rejected because Emily's consent was missing. But there's a complication. The company has a board meeting scheduled in four days. If the disputed documents are accepted, the board could temporarily suspend Emily's voting rights.""

Dad shook his head.

"How?""

"Through an emergency guardianship petition.""

I stared at her.

"Can they do that?""

"Not legitimately. But they can attempt it.""

Dad stood.

"Then we'll fight it.""

Amanda nodded.

"We'll file an emergency injunction.""

But before she could finish, an investigator entered the room.

"Mr. Carter, we need to speak with you.""

Dad looked up.

"What happened?""

"Rebecca has been located.""

"Where?""

"At the airport.""

"Is she trying to leave the country?""

The investigator nodded.

"She had a ticket booked for London.""

Dad looked at me.

"Did she have the original documents?""

The investigator hesitated.

"She had a passport, several financial records, and a small locked case.""

Amanda frowned.

"What's inside?""

"We haven't opened it yet.""

Then the investigator added something else.

"She also had a letter addressed to Emily.""

I felt my throat tighten.

"Can I see it?""

The investigator handed me a sealed envelope.

I recognized the handwriting immediately.

It was my mother's.

But this letter was different.

It was dated three days before she died.

I opened it.

My beautiful Emily,

If you ever discover the truth about Daniel, please don't hate Michael. He knows more than he has told you, but he has never stopped loving you.

I looked at Dad.

He was crying.

I continued.

There is one final secret. Daniel knew that Rebecca might try to claim you as her own. Before he died, he left a legal document naming the person he trusted most to protect you.

I turned the page.

There was a name.

Not Michael.

Not Thomas.

Not Richard.

*Brittany Mitchell.*

I stared at the words.

"Why would Mom name Brittany?""

Amanda took the letter and examined the date.

"Emily, this could be extremely important.""

Dad shook his head.

"Laura barely knew Brittany.""