Chapter 12: The Daughter My Mother Never Told Me About
I stared at the photograph.
My mother stood beside a teenage girl who looked strangely familiar. The girl wore a blue dress, and her hair was tied back with a ribbon.
On the back, there was a handwritten date.
March 2004.
Two years before the business partnership photographs Elise had shown me.
I looked at Patricia.
"Who is she?""
Patricia glanced toward my father.
"Her name is Simone.""
My father's hands began shaking.
"Don't.""
I turned toward him.
"Who is Simone?""
He looked at the photograph.
Then he sank onto a metal chair.
"She was your mother's daughter.""
I couldn't understand.
"You're saying Mom had another child?""
He nodded once.
"Before you were born.""
"Where is she?""
Nobody answered.
I looked at Patricia.
"Where is my sister?""
Patricia opened the black notebook.
"Your mother gave birth to Simone when she was nineteen. The biological father wasn't involved, so Danielle raised her with help from Raymond.""
I looked at my uncle.
He nodded slowly.
"Simone lived with us for several years. She was a wonderful child.""
I felt my head spinning.
"Then what happened?""
Raymond looked toward my father.
"Marcus happened.""
My father covered his face.
Patricia continued.
"Marcus and Danielle met when Simone was still young. He wanted a family. But he didn't want the complications that came with raising another man's child.""
I looked at my father.
"Was that why Simone disappeared?""
He shook his head.
"That's not what happened.""
Raymond stepped forward.
"Then tell her.""
Marcus struggled to speak.
"Danielle and I had problems. Simone was sent to live with her biological grandparents for a while. Then they moved out of state.""
"Why didn't Mom tell me about her?""
"She planned to.""
"Why didn't you?""
He looked at the floor.
I felt tears running down my face.
"Did she die?""
My father didn't answer.
Patricia closed the notebook.
"No. Simone is alive.""
I grabbed the photograph.
"Where?""
Patricia looked at Evelyn.
"That information is in the original trust file.""
Evelyn immediately stepped forward.
"Then we'd better locate it.""
The investigators began opening the remaining boxes.
Inside one was a collection of old family letters. Another contained insurance documents and property records.
I found a small envelope labeled:
*SIMONE — PERSONAL.*
My mother's handwriting was across the front.
I opened it carefully.
Inside was a birthday card.
The message was short.
My beautiful girl, I haven't stopped loving you for one day. One day, I hope your sister gets to know you. Until then, keep the blue butterfly close.
A small paper butterfly was tucked inside.
I held it against my palm.
My mother had loved another daughter.
And she'd spent years keeping that part of her life hidden from me.
I turned toward Raymond.
"Did you know about the letter?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
He looked devastated.
"Your mother asked me to wait until you were older. I wanted to honor that.""
I understood that he had tried to protect me.
But I was eighteen now.
And every secret seemed to have taken something from me.
"How could everyone know except me?""
Maya put her arm around my shoulders.
"You're allowed to be angry.""
I nodded.
Elise approached with another file.
"There's something important in these records. Simone wasn't simply your mother's first child. She was also named as a secondary beneficiary in the original trust.""
I looked at her.
"What does that mean?""
"It means your mother intended for both daughters to inherit the creative rights to the Carter collection.""
Patricia nodded.
"That's why Marcus and I needed control of the trust. As long as Simone remained a beneficiary, we couldn't transfer the entire collection to Brianna.""
I looked at my father.
"Why would Brianna need Mom's designs?""
Vanessa finally spoke.
"Because Brianna was going to build a career with them.""
I turned sharply.
"Using my sister's inheritance?""
Vanessa lifted her chin.
"Your mother was gone. Someone had to make use of the designs.""
Elise looked at her with disgust.
"Those designs weren't abandoned. They were protected.""
Patricia suddenly laughed.
"Protected? Look where that got them.""
Evelyn stepped between the women.
"Nobody is leaving until we finish securing this evidence.""
An investigator approached with a laptop.
"Ms. Brooks, we found something.""
He turned the screen toward her.
It showed a series of transactions from the trust's secondary account.
One payment appeared again and again.
Each transfer went to a bank account registered to Simone Danielle Carter.
The first payment was dated six months after my mother's death.
The last was made three weeks ago.
I stared.
"Someone has been sending her money?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Apparently.""
"Who?""
The investigator enlarged the account information.
The name registered as the sender wasn't Marcus, Vanessa, or Patricia.
It was a company called Monroe Atelier.
I turned toward Elise.
"Did you know about this?""
She looked shocked.
"No. I never authorized these payments.""
Patricia's expression changed.
"That's impossible.""
Raymond examined the screen.
"Wait. There are two accounts.""
The investigator switched tabs.
A second account appeared.
This one was registered under a name I recognized from the competition paperwork.
*BRIANNA CARTER DESIGN GROUP.*
I looked at Vanessa.
Her face lost every trace of color.
"Why is Brianna's company receiving money from Simone's trust?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I opened the message.
There was a photograph of the competition stage.
Brianna was standing beside a woman wearing a blue butterfly necklace.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
You want to know where your sister is? Stop trusting Elise Monroe.
I stared at the screen.
Another message appeared.
I'm Simone. And I know who really destroyed your mother's trust.
I looked up at Elise.
She was standing perfectly still.
Then Simone sent one final sentence.
Your mother didn't die naturally, Nia.
My fingers went numb.
May you like
I whispered, "What?""
And before anyone could stop me, I pressed the call button.
