Chapter 4: The Daughter I Never Knew Existed
“If Elena comes out of that chamber, she'll tell him what happened to his real daughter!””
My father's words echoed across the terrace.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then I turned toward Richard.
“What did you just say?””
Two police officers held his arms behind his back. His expensive suit was wrinkled, and one of his shoes had slipped halfway off his heel.
He looked at me with the same cold expression he had worn throughout my childhood whenever I asked a question he didn't want to answer.
“Marcus, don't listen to Vanessa. She's unstable.””
I stepped closer.
“You just said Ava isn't my real daughter.””
Richard swallowed.
“I said nothing of the sort.””
“You said my real daughter. What does that mean?””
He glanced toward the officers.
“Get me a lawyer.””
Daniel approached, holding his phone.
“You'll have plenty of time to speak with one. Right now, I suggest you answer your son's question.””
Richard looked at Daniel with hatred.
“You've always been too involved in this family.””
Daniel didn't blink.
“And you've always underestimated me.””
Before I could demand another answer, the rescue team's radio crackled.
“Control, we've reached the inner chamber. One adult female and one minor female located. Both showing signs of severe dehydration.””
I grabbed the radio.
“This is Marcus Reynolds. Is the adult woman Elena Reynolds?””
“Affirmative. She has identified herself as Elena Reynolds.””
My legs nearly gave way.
“And the child?””
There was a pause.
“Approximately seven years old. Female. She appears conscious.””
I looked at Ava.
She was clutching Daniel's hand.
“Daddy, is Mommy coming home?””
I knelt and pulled her into my arms.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
“Is my sister coming too?””
I closed my eyes.
“I don't know yet.””
Ava pressed her face against my shoulder.
“I hope she likes me.””
My heart broke.
She had spent fourteen months believing her mother was dead. Now she had discovered that she might have a sister she had never met.
And I still had no idea what my father had done.
The rescue team began bringing the two survivors through the service shaft.
The first paramedic emerged carrying a woman wrapped in a thermal blanket.
Her hair was shorter than I remembered.
Her cheeks were hollow.
There were bruises along her wrists and a pale scar near her temple.
But the moment she looked up, I recognized her.
“Elena…”
She started crying.
“Marcus.””
I ran toward her.
The paramedic tried to stop me.
“Sir, please. She needs medical attention.””
“I know. Just let me see her.””
Elena reached for me with trembling hands.
I fell beside the stretcher and held her fingers.
“Baby, I'm here.””
She began sobbing.
“I thought I'd never see you again.””
I pressed my forehead against her hand.
“I searched everywhere. Every coastline. Every hospital. Every morgue.””
“I know.””
“How did you survive?””
She looked toward the pool.
“Not here. Please.””
I nodded.
“Okay. We can talk later.””
Then she suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Where is Ava?””
I turned.
Our little girl was standing beside Daniel.
Elena tried to sit up.
“Ava!””
My daughter broke free and ran.
“Mommy!””
Elena opened her arms.
The paramedics allowed them a brief embrace.
Ava climbed carefully onto the stretcher, burying her face against her mother's chest.
“I told Daddy you were alive!””
Elena kissed her hair.
“You were so brave, sweetheart.””
“I saw you through the glass.””
“I know.””
“Why didn't you come out?””
Elena closed her eyes.
“Because someone wouldn't let me.””
Ava looked up.
“Was it Grandpa?””
Elena's expression changed.
She didn't answer.
But she didn't deny it either.
Then the second stretcher emerged.
A little girl with dark brown hair and enormous hazel eyes lay beneath a hospital blanket.
She looked older than Ava by about a year.
Her right hand clutched a small stuffed rabbit with one missing ear.
She was watching everything.
When she saw Elena, she whispered, “Mom?””
Elena reached for her immediately.
“Lily.””
The little girl began crying.
“Are we going home now?””
“Yes, sweetheart. We're going home.””
I stared at her.
Lily.
The name Vanessa had mentioned.
The daughter my father had hidden.
I stepped closer.
“Hello, Lily.””
She looked at me.
Her eyes moved over my face, searching for something familiar.
Then she asked a question I would never forget.
“Are you the man who was supposed to be my daddy?””
I couldn't speak.
Elena looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“Marcus, there's something you need to know.””
I crouched beside the stretcher.
“Tell me.””
She took a shaky breath.
“Lily is your daughter.””
The world seemed to tilt.
I looked at the little girl.
Then back at Elena.
“What?””
Elena squeezed my fingers.
“She was born before Ava.””
My mouth went dry.
“But you told me you lost the pregnancy.””
Elena started crying again.
“I didn't lose her.””
I looked toward Richard.
He was still being held by the officers.
His face was expressionless.
Elena continued.
“Your father arranged everything. When Lily was born, Richard told me she had died during delivery. He said there had been complications and that the hospital couldn't save her.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“I heard her crying, Marcus. I held her for three minutes. Then a nurse took her away.””
My throat tightened.
“What happened?””
“Richard had paid the hospital administrator. He arranged for Lily to be registered under another name. He told me she had been transferred to a specialist facility.””
“And you believed him?””
“I was recovering from surgery. I was heavily medicated. By the time I understood what had happened, the hospital records had been changed.””
She looked toward Lily.
“I spent years searching for her.””
Lily watched us silently.
Then she whispered, “Mommy said you were kind.””
I forced a smile.
“I hope she's right.””
“Are you going to take me home?””
I looked at Elena.
She nodded.
“If you want to come with us.””
Lily glanced at Ava.
“Does she want me?””
Ava immediately stepped forward.
“Yes!””
She climbed down from her mother's stretcher and stood beside Lily.
“You can have my pink room. I have lots of toys.””
Lily smiled faintly.
“Do you have dolls?””
“Seven.””
“Can I have one?””
“You can have three.””
For the first time that evening, I almost smiled.
Then the paramedics prepared to transport everyone to the hospital.
Before Elena was moved, she grabbed my hand again.
“Marcus, listen carefully.””
“What is it?””
“Your father didn't keep us down there because of the company money.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“He kept us because of Lily.””
I looked toward the little girl.
“Why?””
Elena's voice dropped.
“Because Lily inherited something from Catherine.””
“Catherine?””
“My mother-in-law?””
Elena nodded.
“Your mother left something behind before she disappeared. Something Richard has spent decades trying to find.””
I stared at her.
“What did she leave?””
Elena looked directly into my eyes.
“A trust fund. A controlling interest in the company. And a letter that names Lily as its rightful heir.””
My father suddenly stopped struggling against the officers.
He looked at Elena.
And for the first time, he appeared genuinely frightened.
May you like
Because the little girl he had stolen from my wife wasn't just another child.
She was the one person who could take everything away from him.
