Chapter 6: The Sister I Never Knew
I read my mother's handwriting until the words blurred.
If Nia ever asks, tell her Charlotte is her sister.
My mother had another daughter.
A daughter who had apparently disappeared from our family history.
And my husband had married me knowing she existed.
I sat down.
Daniel moved the velvet box away from the edge of the table.
"Nia, breathe.""
I pressed my fingers against my forehead.
"How old is she?""
Evelyn answered quietly.
"She would be thirty-eight now.""
I looked at her.
"Where is she?""
"I don't know.""
"Don't lie to me.""
"I'm not.""
"Then why do you have her name?""
Evelyn lowered herself into the chair opposite me.
"Because your mother asked me to keep it safe.""
I stared at the locket.
"Why would my mother give you anything?""
"Because she believed I was the only person who could protect the child.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Protect her from whom?""
Evelyn looked toward the window.
"Your father.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"You're saying my father knew?""
"Yes.""
"That my mother had another daughter?""
"Yes.""
I shook my head.
"You're going to have to explain everything.""
Evelyn closed her eyes.
"Your mother was seventeen when she gave birth to Charlotte. She was unmarried, frightened, and living with her parents. The baby's father was a young man named Robert Reed.""
I glanced at the photograph.
Marcus's biological father.
"Your father discovered the pregnancy," Evelyn continued.
"He was already in love with Helen. He wanted to marry her, but her family refused to allow it.""
"Why?""
"Because they believed she needed to finish school and establish herself. The baby was eventually placed with a family who couldn't have children.""
"An adoption?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Private. Arranged through a family attorney.""
"Did my mother agree?""
"She believed it was temporary. She thought she would be able to reclaim the child when she was older.""
I looked down.
"Did she?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
Evelyn's expression changed.
"Because your father made sure the adoption remained permanent.""
I stood abruptly.
"You're telling me my father took my mother's child away?""
"He believed he was protecting his reputation.""
Daniel's voice became firm.
"Do you have documentation?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Somewhere.""
"Where?""
"In a safe deposit box.""
"Which bank?""
She hesitated.
Then she gave him the name of a private bank in Manhattan.
Daniel wrote it down.
I looked at Evelyn.
"Why did Marcus want to find Charlotte?""
"Because your mother left something for her.""
"What?""
"A trust.""
I felt a chill move through me.
"How much?""
Evelyn looked at the locket.
"Your mother deposited money into an account every year. She started shortly after Charlotte was adopted.""
"How much is in it?""
"I don't know.""
"Guess.""
Evelyn looked directly at me.
"Your mother was very careful with money. She invested most of it.""
Daniel opened his laptop.
"If the account was established thirty-eight years ago and received annual contributions...""
He stopped typing.
"Depending on the original amount and investment performance, it could be substantial.""
I laughed without humor.
"So Marcus spent twelve years trying to find an inheritance that wasn't his.""
Evelyn didn't answer.
I looked at her.
"Did he know about the ring?""
She frowned.
"What ring?""
"The diamond ring he gave Vanessa.""
Evelyn looked confused.
Then I showed her the photograph.
She stared at it.
For several seconds, she didn't speak.
Finally, she whispered, "That isn't an engagement ring.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
"Marcus had another ring made years ago. A platinum band with an oval diamond. It was supposed to be used as part of a private agreement.""
"What agreement?""
Evelyn swallowed.
"An agreement involving Charlotte.""
My heart began pounding.
"What kind of agreement?""
"Marcus believed that if he could locate Charlotte and persuade her to sign certain documents, he could gain access to the trust.""
I felt sick.
"And Vanessa?""
"I don't know why he gave her the ring.""
"Maybe because he promised her a future.""
Evelyn shook her head.
"Marcus doesn't give anything without expecting something in return.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Find Charlotte.""
He nodded.
"We'll need the adoption documents first.""
Evelyn stood.
"I'll get the safe deposit information.""
She left the room.
Daniel closed his laptop.
"There's something else we need to consider.""
"What?""
"If Charlotte is the legal beneficiary of a separate trust, the company may have been used to locate her.""
"Why?""
"Because Marcus could have been searching through old employee records, charitable donations, and financial transactions.""
I remembered the V&M invoices.
Fourteen million dollars.
Was some of that money used to find a woman whose existence had been erased?
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
*Unknown:* You spoke to Evelyn.
I looked at Daniel.
He read the message over my shoulder.
"Don't respond.""
Another message arrived.
*Unknown:* She told you about Charlotte.
My hands went cold.
A third message appeared.
*Unknown:* She left out the most important part.
I stared at the screen.
Then the phone rang.
Unknown caller.
I answered.
"Hello?""
For several seconds, there was only breathing.
Then a woman's voice.
"Is this Nia Carter?""
"Who is this?""
"My name is Charlotte.""
I gripped the phone.
Daniel immediately looked up.
"Where are you?"" I asked.
"Somewhere safe.""
"How did you get my number?""
"Your mother gave it to me.""
My throat tightened.
"That isn't possible.""
"She gave it to me years ago. She told me that if anything happened to her, I should wait until you were old enough to understand.""
I couldn't speak.
Charlotte continued.
"I've been trying to contact you for months, but someone keeps intercepting my messages.""
"Who?""
"Marcus.""
I closed my eyes.
"How do you know him?""
A bitter laugh came through the phone.
"Because he came looking for me long before he married you.""
Daniel began writing notes.
I leaned closer to the phone.
"What does he want?""
"The trust.""
"How much money is in it?""
"That's not the important part.""
"Then what is?""
Charlotte went silent.
When she spoke again, her voice was trembling.
"Your mother didn't leave me money because she felt guilty about giving me up.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Why did she leave it to you?""
"Because she discovered something about our father.""
"Our father?""
"Yes, Nia.""
I swallowed.
"What did she discover?""
Charlotte took a shaky breath.
"Robert Reed wasn't my biological father.""
I froze.
"What?""
"Your mother had another relationship before she married your father. She never told anyone because she was afraid of what would happen.""
I looked down at the old photograph of Marcus and Patricia Reed.
"Then who was your father?""
Charlotte's answer came quietly.
"Your father.""
I couldn't move.
"My father?""
"Yes. We have the same father, Nia. That's why your mother kept the trust separate. She wanted to make sure I received what belonged to me without destroying the family she had built with him.""
I covered my mouth.
My mother had hidden an entire daughter.
My father had hidden an entire daughter.
And Marcus had known about both.
But Charlotte wasn't finished.
"There's something else," she said.
"What?""
"Your father left me a recording. He told me to open it only when Marcus tried to access the trust.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Do you have it?""
"Yes.""
"Can you send it to me?""
"I can.""
A few seconds later, my phone vibrated.
A video file appeared.
Before I could open it, Charlotte spoke again.
"Nia, promise me something.""
"What?""
"Don't trust Evelyn.""
I looked toward the staircase.
"Why?""
"Because she wasn't just protecting Marcus.""
My stomach tightened.
"What do you mean?""
Charlotte's voice dropped to a whisper.
"She was the person who arranged the meeting between your mother and Marcus the night before the accident.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"What?""
"And she was the last person to speak to your mother before she died.""
The call disconnected.
I stared at the phone.
Daniel slowly stood.
"Did she say Evelyn arranged the meeting?""
I nodded.
He looked toward the hallway.
Then, from somewhere upstairs, we heard a loud crash.
A woman screamed.
We rushed toward the staircase.
Evelyn was standing in the hallway outside her bedroom.
Her jewelry box lay shattered on the floor.
The emerald necklace was missing.
And beside her, holding a small black pistol, stood Vanessa.
She looked directly at me.
"Give me the recording," she said.
Daniel stepped in front of me.
Vanessa raised the gun.
"Now, Nia.""
I stared at her.
"How did you get in here?""
She smiled nervously.
"Your husband gave me a key.""
Then she looked at Evelyn.
"And your mother-in-law has something that belongs to me.""
Evelyn began shaking.
Vanessa tightened her grip on the gun.
"Because if I don't get it today, Marcus is going to make sure none of us ever gets to tell the truth.""
May you like
And then she revealed the one thing I hadn't expected.
*"Your father didn't die of natural causes, Nia. And Marcus wasn't the only person who wanted him dead.""*
