Chapter 14: The Daughter My Mother Never Told Me About
I thought I'd misunderstood.
"Another child?""
Rebecca nodded.
My father stared at her.
"That's impossible.""
My mother sat down slowly.
"Richard...""
He turned toward her.
"Laura, is it true?""
She closed her eyes.
Then she nodded.
I felt something inside me collapse.
"Mom?""
She reached for my hand.
"Emily, please let me explain.""
I pulled away.
"Who is this child?""
My mother began crying.
"Her name is Lily.""
I stared at her.
"How old?""
"Sixteen.""
The room became completely silent.
I was eighteen.
My mother had another daughter who was only two years younger than me.
A sister I'd never met.
Dad looked devastated.
"Laura, when?""
"Before we married.""
He blinked.
"Before we married?""
My mother nodded.
"Daniel was Lily's biological father.""
I looked toward Detective Harris.
Even he seemed surprised.
Mom continued.
"Daniel and I were young. We were together briefly before I met Richard. When I discovered I was pregnant, Daniel promised he'd help me raise the baby.""
Dad sat down.
"But he abandoned you?""
"He wanted control over everything. When I refused to give him access to my family's money, he disappeared.""
"Then what happened to Lily?""
My mother wiped her tears.
"I raised her with the help of a trusted friend. I kept her identity private because Daniel had threatened to use her against me.""
I stared at her.
"Where is she now?""
Mom hesitated.
"She's safe.""
"Where?""
"With Helen.""
The name sounded familiar.
It was the nurse my mother had mentioned earlier.
I felt my chest tighten.
"Does she know about me?""
Mom shook her head.
"She knows she has an older sister. She doesn't know your name.""
I looked away.
"So while I was growing up thinking I had no mother, you were somewhere raising another daughter?""
Mom began crying harder.
"No, sweetheart. I wasn't raising her. Helen was. I was hiding from the people who wanted to use both of you.""
Dad stood.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I was afraid Daniel would find her.""
"But you could have trusted me!""
"I thought I could.""
She looked at him.
"Then Michael told me you had signed documents giving Vanessa control of the estate. He showed me your signature.""
Dad shook his head.
"It was forged.""
"I know that now.""
I couldn't stop thinking about Lily.
A younger sister.
Someone who shared my mother's smile, perhaps her laugh.
Someone who had lived a completely different childhood.
"Can I meet her?"" I asked.
Mom nodded.
"If you want.""
I looked at her.
"I don't know what I want right now.""
She accepted that without arguing.
Detective Harris stepped forward.
"Mrs. Carter, we need to establish whether Daniel Morgan has any legal parental rights or access to this child.""
My mother nodded.
"That's why I kept the documents.""
She reached into her purse and removed a sealed folder.
Inside were birth records, custody documents, and a notarized statement.
Margaret examined them.
"These establish that Lily was placed under Helen's legal guardianship years ago.""
Detective Harris looked through the papers.
"Did Daniel know where she was?""
"Not officially. But I believe Vanessa found out.""
Dad frowned.
"How?""
Mom looked toward Rebecca.
Rebecca slowly removed a folded note from her jacket.
"I found this in Michael's house.""
It was a handwritten list.
Two names appeared.
Emily Carter.
Lily Morgan.
Beside each name was a date and a financial amount.
I stared at it.
"They were tracking both of us?""
Rebecca nodded.
"Daniel wanted access to Lily's inheritance rights. Vanessa wanted Emily's trust. They planned to use the two of you against each other.""
My mother shook her head.
"That's why I kept Lily hidden.""
Margaret examined the final page.
Then she looked up.
"There's something interesting here.""
She pointed to an account number.
"This account belongs to Daniel, but the beneficiary is not Vanessa.""
Dad frowned.
"Who is it?""
Margaret turned the page.
The name appeared in bold letters.
*Kayla Morgan.*
I couldn't believe it.
My stepsister's name.
The girl who'd destroyed my graduation dress.
The girl who'd signed the false declaration.
The girl whose mother had tried to steal my inheritance.
Dad looked stunned.
"Why would Daniel leave everything to Kayla?""
Rebecca answered.
"Because Kayla isn't just Vanessa's daughter.""
My mother looked at her.
"Rebecca...""
But Rebecca continued.
"Daniel is her biological father too.""
The room went silent.
I remembered Kayla's face when Dad had asked about the handbag.
I remembered how she'd looked at Vanessa when the missing money was discovered.
She'd been protecting more than her mother.
She'd been protecting her father.
Dad sat down.
"Vanessa had an affair with Daniel?""
Rebecca nodded.
"Years ago. Kayla was born from that relationship.""
I felt sick.
That meant Kayla and Lily were both Daniel's daughters.
And I was the only one whose inheritance had been targeted.
Margaret closed the folder.
"We need to investigate the entire family financial structure.""
Detective Harris nodded.
"We're also going to locate Vanessa's remaining records and determine whether she knew about Lily.""
My mother looked at me.
"I wanted to tell you everything when you were older.""
I swallowed.
"You've said that a lot.""
She lowered her head.
"I know.""
I walked toward the window.
Outside, the parking lot lights reflected against the glass.
I wasn't angry that my mother had another child.
I was angry that so many adults had decided what I was allowed to know.
They'd made choices about my life while I was still a child.
They'd lied about deaths, money, family, and love.
Then I turned back.
"I want to meet Lily.""
My mother nodded.
"I'll arrange it.""
Dad stepped beside me.
"And I want to make sure neither of you ever has to live in fear again.""
For the first time, I believed we might actually have a chance.
Then Detective Harris's phone rang.
He answered.
"Yes?""
His expression changed.
He listened.
Then he looked at my father.
"Mr. Carter, we have a situation.""
"What happened?""
"Vanessa has been arrested at the airport.""
Dad exhaled.
"Good.""
The detective shook his head.
"She was attempting to leave the country with a passport issued under another name.""
My mother stood.
"Did she have anything with her?""
The detective hesitated.
"Yes.""
"What?""
"A document showing ownership of Emily's trust.""
Margaret frowned.
"That's impossible. The trust cannot be transferred without the beneficiary's authorization.""
Detective Harris nodded.
"That's why we're examining it.""
Then he added:
"There's one more problem. Vanessa claims she has proof that Laura voluntarily transferred everything to her.""
My mother went pale.
"She can't.""
Margaret looked at her.
"Unless someone forged the original authorization.""
Dad turned toward Rebecca.
"Who could have done that?""
Rebecca whispered:
"Michael.""
And just as she said his name, my father's phone rang.
The caller ID displayed his brother's name.
Michael Carter.
Dad answered.
A familiar voice spoke.
"Richard, I know Vanessa has been arrested.""
Dad said nothing.
Michael continued.
"Before you make another mistake, you need to hear what really happened to Laura.""
Dad's face hardened.
"What do you want?""
Michael gave a quiet laugh.
"I want you to understand that Vanessa was never the mastermind.""
Then he said the words that made the room go silent.
"Your wife and I made a deal six years ago. She agreed to disappear, and I agreed to make sure Emily inherited everything.""
My mother gasped.
Michael continued.
May you like
"But she broke our agreement.""
Then the call ended.
