Chapter 7: The Daughter## Chapter 7: The Daughter They Stole From Me
"Your daughter was They Stole From Me
"Your daughter was born alive.""
Vanessa's words echoed through the hospital parking lot.
For several born alive.""
Vanessa's words echoed through the hospital parking lot.
For several seconds, I couldn't even blink.
I looked at her.
Then at Marcus.
Then back at Vanessa.
"No.""
My voice was barely audible.
Van seconds, I couldn't even blink.
I looked at her.
Then at Marcus.
Then back at Vanessa.
"No.""
My voice was barely audible.
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"Emily, please let me explain.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"You told me Iessa wiped her cheeks.
"Emily, please let me explain.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"You told me I lost my baby.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Emily, don't listen to her.""
I turned toward him.
"YOU TOLD ME MY BABY DIED!""
He lost my baby.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Emily, don't listen to her.""
I turned toward him.
"YOU TOLD ME MY BABY DIED!""
He looked around nervously.
"Not here. We need to talk somewhere private.""
I laughed.
"Private? You want privacy now? After keeping my daughter looked around nervously.
"Not here. We need to talk somewhere private.""
I laughed.
"Private? You want privacy now? After keeping my daughter a secret for three years?""
Rebecca stood beside me, holding Daniel's carrier.
She looked as shocked as I felt.
"Emily," Marcus said, a secret for three years?""
Rebecca stood beside me, holding Daniel's carrier.
She looked as shocked as I felt.
"Emily," Marcus said, lowering his voice, "you're misunderstanding what happened.""
"Then explain it!""
He glanced at Vanessa.
She shook her head.
"Don't look lowering his voice, "you're misunderstanding what happened.""
"Then explain it!""
He glanced at Vanessa.
She shook her head.
"Don't look at me," she said.
"I'm not protecting you anymore.""
Marcus's expression hardened.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
Vanessa took a trembling breath at me," she said.
"I'm not protecting you anymore.""
Marcus's expression hardened.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
Vanessa took a trembling breath.
"I know exactly what I'm doing. I've spent three years carrying something that should never have been mine to carry.""
I grabbed.
"I know exactly what I'm doing. I've spent three years carrying something that should never have been mine to carry.""
I grabbed her arm.
"Where is my daughter?""
She looked directly into my eyes.
"Her name is Sophie.""
My knees nearly gave way.
"Sophie?""
Vanessa nodded.
"She's three her arm.
"Where is my daughter?""
She looked directly into my eyes.
"Her name is Sophie.""
My knees nearly gave way.
"Sophie?""
Vanessa nodded.
"She's three years old now.""
I covered my mouth.
Three years.
Three birthdays.
Three Christmas mornings.
Three years of a little girl growing up somewhere without knowing that I years old now.""
I covered my mouth.
Three years.
Three birthdays.
Three Christmas mornings.
Three years of a little girl growing up somewhere without knowing that I was her mother.
"Where is she?""
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
He shook his head.
"Don't.""
"Where is was her mother.
"Where is she?""
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
He shook his head.
"Don't.""
"Where is my daughter?"" I screamed.
Vanessa started crying.
"She's safe.""
"WHERE?""
"She's with Claire.""
I stared at her.
"Claire?""
my daughter?"" I screamed.
Vanessa started crying.
"She's safe.""
"WHERE?""
"She's with Claire.""
I stared at her.
"Claire?""
"The woman who raised her.""
I turned toward Marcus.
"You gave my daughter to another woman?""
He shook his head.
"That's not what"The woman who raised her.""
I turned toward Marcus.
"You gave my daughter to another woman?""
He shook his head.
"That's not what happened.""
"Then what happened?""
He took a breath.
"After the miscarriage, the doctors discovered complications. You were happened.""
"Then what happened?""
He took a breath.
"After the miscarriage, the doctors discovered complications. You were unconscious for a while. There were decisions that had to be made.""
I stared at him.
"Stop.""
He continued.
"Claire was unconscious for a while. There were decisions that had to be made.""
I stared at him.
"Stop.""
He continued.
"Claire was willing to help.""
"Stop lying!""
I stepped closer.
"You told me our baby was dead. You held me while I cried. You watched me bury an empty box at the cemetery!""
His face crum willing to help.""
"Stop lying!""
I stepped closer.
"You told me our baby was dead. You held me while I cried. You watched me bury an empty box at the cemetery!""
His face crumpled.
I remembered that funeral.
A tiny white coffin.
White flowers.
Marcus holding my hand.
Vanessa standing beside me.
I had spentpled.
I remembered that funeral.
A tiny white coffin.
White flowers.
Marcus holding my hand.
Vanessa standing beside me.
I had spent months visiting that grave.
I had placed flowers there on my daughter's birthday.
And apparently, there had never been a body inside months visiting that grave.
I had placed flowers there on my daughter's birthday.
And apparently, there had never been a body inside it.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Did you know?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you know she was alive when I buried that box?""
Vanessa broke down.
"Yes it.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Did you know?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you know she was alive when I buried that box?""
Vanessa broke down.
"Yes.""
I slapped her.
The sound cracked through the parking lot.
She didn't move.
Marcus rushed toward us.
"That's.""
I slapped her.
The sound cracked through the parking lot.
She didn't move.
Marcus rushed toward us.
"That's enough!""
I turned on him.
"Don't you dare touch her!""
He stopped.
Rebecca stepped forward.
"Emily, we need to get this documented. We need the hospital and the enough!""
I turned on him.
"Don't you dare touch her!""
He stopped.
Rebecca stepped forward.
"Emily, we need to get this documented. We need the hospital and the police involved.""
I nodded.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
"Tell me everything. Right now.""
She wiped her face.
"Three years ago, you were admitted to the hospital after the bleeding started. Marcus arrived before your police involved.""
I nodded.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
"Tell me everything. Right now.""
She wiped her face.
"Three years ago, you were admitted to the hospital after the bleeding started. Marcus arrived before your mother could get there.""
I remembered.
He had told me my mother was stuck in traffic.
He had said he'd handle everything.
Vanessa continued.
" mother could get there.""
I remembered.
He had told me my mother was stuck in traffic.
He had said he'd handle everything.
Vanessa continued.
"While you were being treated, Marcus spoke to Dr. Whitmore. He discovered that the baby was still alive.""
I felt dizzyWhile you were being treated, Marcus spoke to Dr. Whitmore. He discovered that the baby was still alive.""
I felt dizzy.
"Then why did they tell me she died?""
"Because Marcus didn't want you taking her home.""
"Why?""
Vanessa looked down.
"Because he wanted.
"Then why did they tell me she died?""
"Because Marcus didn't want you taking her home.""
"Why?""
Vanessa looked down.
"Because he wanted control of the trust your father had created for your child.""
I stared at her.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"It will.""
She opened her control of the trust your father had created for your child.""
I stared at her.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"It will.""
She opened her handbag and removed a folded document.
"Your father had established a financial trust for your future children. If you gave birth to a child, the child handbag and removed a folded document.
"Your father had established a financial trust for your future children. If you gave birth to a child, the child would become the primary beneficiary.""
I looked at the paper.
"The trust was worth several million dollars.""
My throat tightened.
"How much?""
"About would become the primary beneficiary.""
I looked at the paper.
"The trust was worth several million dollars.""
My throat tightened.
"How much?""
"About $4.2 million when it was established.""
I looked at Marcus.
His expression was unreadable.
Vanessa continued.
"Marcus had convinced himself that $4.2 million when it was established.""
I looked at Marcus.
His expression was unreadable.
Vanessa continued.
"Marcus had convinced himself that if you believed the baby had died, he could maintain control of the trust until he found a way to transfer the assets.""
I shook my head.
if you believed the baby had died, he could maintain control of the trust until he found a way to transfer the assets.""
I shook my head.
"Why would he need to steal money from his own child?""
"Because he had debts.""
Marcus suddenly laughed.
"That's ridiculous"Why would he need to steal money from his own child?""
"Because he had debts.""
Marcus suddenly laughed.
"That's ridiculous.""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Then explain the transfers.""
He said nothing.
She pulled out another document.
"This is the original account history. Money was.""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Then explain the transfers.""
He said nothing.
She pulled out another document.
"This is the original account history. Money was transferred into a private company controlled by Marcus. Then it was moved into another account.""
"Stop talking," Marcus warned.
Vanessa transferred into a private company controlled by Marcus. Then it was moved into another account.""
"Stop talking," Marcus warned.
Vanessa ignored him.
"The company was registered under my name.""
I stared at her.
"You helped him?""
She nodded.
"I thought he would marry ignored him.
"The company was registered under my name.""
I stared at her.
"You helped him?""
She nodded.
"I thought he would marry me eventually. He told me everything was temporary.""
I felt sick.
"You're telling me you helped my husband steal from me eventually. He told me everything was temporary.""
I felt sick.
"You're telling me you helped my husband steal from our daughter because you thought he would choose you?""
Vanessa covered her face.
"Yes.""
I stepped backward.
For fifteen years, I had called our daughter because you thought he would choose you?""
Vanessa covered her face.
"Yes.""
I stepped backward.
For fifteen years, I had called this woman my sister.
Now I couldn't even bear to look at her.
Marcus pointed at Vanessa.
"She's leaving this woman my sister.
Now I couldn't even bear to look at her.
Marcus pointed at Vanessa.
"She's leaving out the most important part.""
I turned.
"What part?""
He looked at me.
"Your father was the one who wanted this arrangement.""
The parking lot fell silent.
I frowned.
"What?""
out the most important part.""
I turned.
"What part?""
He looked at me.
"Your father was the one who wanted this arrangement.""
The parking lot fell silent.
I frowned.
"What?""
"Your father knew about the pregnancy. He knew the baby was alive. He agreed that Claire should raise her.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"Your father"Your father knew about the pregnancy. He knew the baby was alive. He agreed that Claire should raise her.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"Your father thought you were too fragile after the miscarriage. He didn't want you raising a child while dealing thought you were too fragile after the miscarriage. He didn't want you raising a child while dealing with your grief.""
I felt tears running down my face.
"My father would never do that.""
"He signed the documents.""
Vanessa shook her head with your grief.""
I felt tears running down my face.
"My father would never do that.""
"He signed the documents.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Marcus, stop.""
He ignored her.
"Ask the lawyer. Ask Richard Hayes. Your father approved the guardianship.""
I looked at Vanessa.
".
"Marcus, stop.""
He ignored her.
"Ask the lawyer. Ask Richard Hayes. Your father approved the guardianship.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Is that true?""
She hesitated.
That hesitation hurt.
"Some of it," she whispered.
I stared at her.
Is that true?""
She hesitated.
That hesitation hurt.
"Some of it," she whispered.
I stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
"Your father knew about the pregnancy. But he didn't agree to give Marcus control.""
"Then what did"What does that mean?""
"Your father knew about the pregnancy. But he didn't agree to give Marcus control.""
"Then what did he agree to?""
Vanessa took a breath.
"He agreed to a temporary guardianship while you recovered.""
I closed my eyes.
"Temporary?""
"Yes.""
" he agree to?""
Vanessa took a breath.
"He agreed to a temporary guardianship while you recovered.""
I closed my eyes.
"Temporary?""
"Yes.""
"How temporary?""
"Six months.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Why didn't you bring my daughter back?""
He finally lost his composure.
"How temporary?""
"Six months.""
I looked at Marcus.
"Why didn't you bring my daughter back?""
He finally lost his composure.
"Because things changed!""
"What changed?""
"Claire became attached to her. The trust became complicated. Your father started investigating theBecause things changed!""
"What changed?""
"Claire became attached to her. The trust became complicated. Your father started investigating the accounts. Everything was falling apart!""
I stared at him.
"So you kept my daughter?""
He shouted back accounts. Everything was falling apart!""
I stared at him.
"So you kept my daughter?""
He shouted back.
"I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO!""
The words seemed to freeze everyone.
Rebecca stepped backward.
Vanessa looked.
"I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO!""
The words seemed to freeze everyone.
Rebecca stepped backward.
Vanessa looked horrified.
Marcus ran his hands through his hair.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Emily, listen. I loved you. I didn't want you to suffer.""
horrified.
Marcus ran his hands through his hair.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Emily, listen. I loved you. I didn't want you to suffer.""
I laughed through my tears.
"You let me believe my child was dead.""
"I thought it was better.""
"BETTER FOR WHOM?""
He hadI laughed through my tears.
"You let me believe my child was dead.""
"I thought it was better.""
"BETTER FOR WHOM?""
He had no answer.
I took out my phone.
"I want Claire's number.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Don't involve her.""
I stared at him.
" no answer.
I took out my phone.
"I want Claire's number.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Don't involve her.""
I stared at him.
"Give me the number.""
He looked toward Vanessa.
She took out her phone and sent me a contact.
I calledGive me the number.""
He looked toward Vanessa.
She took out her phone and sent me a contact.
I called immediately.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
Then a woman's voice answered.
"Hello?""
"Claire?""
There was silence.
"Yes.""
"My name is Emily Carter immediately.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
Then a woman's voice answered.
"Hello?""
"Claire?""
There was silence.
"Yes.""
"My name is Emily Carter.""
A long pause followed.
Then Claire began crying.
"Oh, Emily.""
I could barely speak.
"Is my daughter with you?""
"Yes.""
".""
A long pause followed.
Then Claire began crying.
"Oh, Emily.""
I could barely speak.
"Is my daughter with you?""
"Yes.""
"Is she okay?""
"She's sleeping.""
I pressed my hand against my chest.
"Does she know about me?""
Claire was silent.
Then she whispered:
"She knows sheIs she okay?""
"She's sleeping.""
I pressed my hand against my chest.
"Does she know about me?""
Claire was silent.
Then she whispered:
"She knows she has another mother.""
I closed my eyes.
"Can I see her?""
"Of course.""
I looked at Marcus.
He was staring at me with a mixture of anger and desperation.
Claire has another mother.""
I closed my eyes.
"Can I see her?""
"Of course.""
I looked at Marcus.
He was staring at me with a mixture of anger and desperation.
Claire continued.
"But Emily, before you come, there's something you need to know.""
I swallowed.
"What?""
"Your daughter has been asking about you for months.""
My continued.
"But Emily, before you come, there's something you need to know.""
I swallowed.
"What?""
"Your daughter has been asking about you for months.""
My heart broke.
"Why?""
Claire's voice trembled.
"Because Marcus told her that her real mother didn't want her.""
I couldn't breathe heart broke.
"Why?""
Claire's voice trembled.
"Because Marcus told her that her real mother didn't want her.""
I couldn't breathe.
I looked at the man I had once promised to love forever.
Then I whispered:
"Tell me where she is.""
.
I looked at the man I had once promised to love forever.
Then I whispered:
"Tell me where she is.""
Claire gave me an address.
I ended the call.
Marcus immediately stepped in front of my car.
"You're not going anywhere.""
I lookedClaire gave me an address.
I ended the call.
Marcus immediately stepped in front of my car.
"You're not going anywhere.""
I looked at him.
"Move.""
"Emily, if you go there, you're going to destroy everything.""
I opened the driver's door.
"Everything was already destroyed.""
He at him.
"Move.""
"Emily, if you go there, you're going to destroy everything.""
I opened the driver's door.
"Everything was already destroyed.""
He grabbed the door.
I stepped back.
"Let go.""
He tightened his grip.
Vanessa rushed forward.
"Marcus! She's going to her daughter!""
For a moment, he looked as grabbed the door.
I stepped back.
"Let go.""
He tightened his grip.
Vanessa rushed forward.
"Marcus! She's going to her daughter!""
For a moment, he looked as if he might refuse.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
He answered.
"Yes?""
A if he might refuse.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
He answered.
"Yes?""
A man's voice was faintly audible.
Marcus listened.
Then his face went pale.
"What do you mean the account has been frozen?""
My heart man's voice was faintly audible.
Marcus listened.
Then his face went pale.
"What do you mean the account has been frozen?""
My heart began pounding.
He looked directly at me.
And I realized something.
The truth about my daughter wasn't the only thing he was afraid of losing.
The began pounding.
He looked directly at me.
And I realized something.
The truth about my daughter wasn't the only thing he was afraid of losing.
The money was disappearing.
And somebody had finally found the evidence.
May you like
money was disappearing.
And somebody had finally found the evidence.
