Chapter 14: The Daughter Nobody Was Allowed to Find
The hospital corridor filled with police officers and paramedics.
Thomas was rushed into surgery.
Richard was taken away in handcuffs.
Dr. Bennett and Judge Caldwell were separated and questioned.
But I couldn't stop thinking about one name.
Charlotte.
I found Eleanor sitting on a bench outside the maternity ward.
She was holding a photograph.
When she saw me, she immediately began crying.
“You heard the recording.””
I sat beside her.
“Who is Charlotte?””
Eleanor looked down at the photograph.
It showed a newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket.
“Your sister.””
I stared at her.
“I have a sister?””
“She was born before you. Victoria gave birth to twins.””
My chest tightened.
“Why did nobody tell me?””
“Because Richard took her.””
I stood.
“Where is she?””
Eleanor shook her head.
“I don't know.””
I paced across the corridor.
“You're telling me I have another sister, and she's been missing for thirty years?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Richard believed she was the rightful heir to the original trust. Your father had arranged for the inheritance to be divided equally among his biological children. But Charlotte was born first.””
I remembered the legal document.
The clause about fraudulent beneficiaries.
“Why is her name on the final page?””
“Because she was the only beneficiary Richard couldn't legally disinherit.””
I looked at her.
“What happened to her?””
Eleanor took a shaky breath.
“After Victoria died, Richard arranged for Charlotte to be adopted under a false identity. Thomas searched for years but couldn't find her.””
“And you knew?””
“I suspected. I didn't have proof.””
I felt anger rising again.
“Everyone knew something. Everyone kept secrets. And I was the only person who spent my life believing my family was normal.””
Eleanor began crying.
“I know.””
I looked toward the operating room.
“Is Thomas going to survive?””
“The doctors are trying.””
I sat down again.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then my phone rang.
Detective Hayes.
“Marcus, we recovered the original medical files from Bennett's office.””
“Did you find Charlotte?””
“We found an adoption record.””
My heart began pounding.
“Where?””
“North Carolina. A woman named Charlotte Miller. Forty-two years old. She's been working as a nurse in Asheville.””
I closed my eyes.
“Is she alive?””
“Yes.””
“Does she know who she is?””
“Apparently not.””
I looked at Eleanor.
She covered her mouth.
“Can you contact her?””
Hayes hesitated.
“There's a problem.””
“What?””
“Richard's company made payments to someone connected to her adoption for years. The final payment was transferred three days ago.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why would he pay someone after thirty years?””
“Because someone recently contacted Charlotte and told her about her biological family.””
“Who?””
Hayes lowered his voice.
“Dr. Bennett.””
I felt cold.
“Where is Bennett?””
“In custody. But before we could question him, he received a phone call.””
“From whom?””
Hayes paused.
“An attorney claiming to represent Charlotte Miller.””
I stared at the floor.
“Do you have the attorney's name?””
“Yes.””
He sent me a photograph.
I opened it.
The name appeared beneath a professional headshot.
*Vanessa Cole.*
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“That's impossible. She's in custody.””
“Not anymore.””
I gripped the phone.
“What do you mean?””
“Vanessa was transferred to a federal holding facility. During the transfer, the vehicle was involved in an accident. She escaped.””
I stood.
“Where is she?””
“We don't know.””
I looked toward Danielle's hospital room.
She was sitting with Ava and Amelia.
Both girls were asleep.
I didn't want to bring another nightmare into their lives.
But Vanessa knew about Charlotte.
And she had been working with Richard long before she entered our home.
I walked into the room.
Danielle looked up.
“What happened?””
“Vanessa escaped.””
Her face went pale.
“What does she want now?””
“Charlotte.””
Danielle looked toward the girls.
“Then we need to protect them.””
I nodded.
Ava opened her eyes.
“Daddy?””
I sat beside her.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
“Are we going home soon?””
I kissed her forehead.
“Very soon.””
Amelia stirred.
“Is Mommy coming?””
Danielle smiled through her tears.
“I'm right here.””
Amelia reached for her hand.
Then Ava looked at her sister.
“Can she sleep in my room when we go home?””
Amelia smiled.
“Can we have matching pajamas?””
Ava nodded.
I looked at Danielle.
For the first time in days, we both smiled.
Then the hospital telephone rang.
A nurse answered.
She listened for a few seconds before turning toward us.
“Mr. Reed?””
I stood.
“What's wrong?””
“There's a woman downstairs asking for you.””
“Who?””
The nurse looked uncomfortable.
“She says she's your sister.””
I stared at Danielle.
“Charlotte?””
The nurse shook her head.
“No. She gave a different name.””
She handed me a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph of a young woman standing beside Richard.
On the back, someone had written:
You already met your sister. You just never knew who she was.
I looked at the photograph.
The woman beside Richard had dark hair, blue eyes, and a familiar scar beneath her chin.
I recognized her immediately.
Vanessa.
But beneath the photograph was another picture.
It showed Charlotte Miller.
And standing beside her was a little boy.
A boy I recognized from the photograph Danielle had shown me in the underground room.
The child Richard had called his other heir.
I turned the photograph over.
May you like
There were six words written in red ink.
Your sister has already chosen Richard.
