Chapter 12: The Third Child
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Three babies.
Three children born to my mother.
I had spent sixteen years believing I was an only child.
Now I had discovered a sister.
And apparently, another sibling.
"Who is the third baby?"" I whispered.
Eleanor sat down slowly.
"I don't know his current identity.""
"His?""
"Your mother gave birth to two girls and one boy.""
I looked at the phone.
"Lily, are you still there?""
"Yes.""
"Did Margaret tell you anything else?""
"Only that the third baby was adopted separately. She said the records were changed because someone wanted him hidden.""
I turned toward Eleanor.
"Did Grandpa know?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why"I don't know his current identity.""
"His?""
"Your mother gave birth to two girls and one boy.""
I looked at the phone.
"Lily, are you still there?""
"Yes.""
"Did Margaret tell you anything else?""
"Only that the third baby was adopted separately. She said the records were changed because someone wanted him hidden.""
I turned toward Eleanor.
"Did Grandpa know?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why didn't he tell me?""
"Because he believed the third child had been placed with someone connected to the people who threatened Evelyn.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
Eleanor looked at Mr. Bennett.
He had been standing silently near the desk.
For the first time, he looked genuinely uncomfortable.
"Maya," he said carefully, "there is didn't he tell me?""
"Because he believed the third child had been placed with someone connected to the people who threatened Evelyn.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
Eleanor looked at Mr. Bennett.
He had been standing silently near the desk.
For the first time, he looked genuinely uncomfortable.
"Maya," he said carefully, "there is something you should know about the original birth records.""
I turned.
"Go ahead.""
"Your grandfather asked me to retrieve the complete hospital file eleven years ago. I found evidence that the records had been altered.""
"By whom?""
He hesitated.
"The changes were authorized through a legal office associated with Hayes Holdings.""
I stared at him.
"Your office?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
The silence was devastating.
I stepped away from the something you should know about the original birth records.""
I turned.
"Go ahead.""
"Your grandfather asked me to retrieve the complete hospital file eleven years ago. I found evidence that the records had been altered.""
"By whom?""
He hesitated.
"The changes were authorized through a legal office associated with Hayes Holdings.""
I stared at him.
"Your office?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
The silence was devastating.
I stepped away from the desk.
"How many more people in this family are going to tell me they knew something and kept it from me?""
Mr. Bennett lowered his head.
"I understand.""
"No, you don't. My mother is dead. My sister was raised by strangers.
There's another baby somewhere. And all of you keep saying you were protecting me.""
He said nothing.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Did my grandfather know where the boy was?""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't he bring him desk.
"How many more people in this family are going to tell me they knew something and kept it from me?""
Mr. Bennett lowered his head.
"I understand.""
"No, you don't. My mother is dead. My sister was raised by strangers.
There's another baby somewhere. And all of you keep saying you were protecting me.""
He said nothing.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Did my grandfather know where the boy was?""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't he bring him home?""
She reached into her handbag and removed a small photograph.
It showed my grandfather standing outside a hospital entrance.
Beside him was a young woman holding a baby.
The date was printed beneath the photograph.
October 17.
The day after my mother's accident.
I looked at the woman's face.
I recognized her.
She was Mrs. Collins.
Our housekeeper.
I felt my stomach drop.
"Why was she holding the baby?""
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"Because she was the person your grandfather trusted to take him somewhere safe home?""
She reached into her handbag and removed a small photograph.
It showed my grandfather standing outside a hospital entrance.
Beside him was a young woman holding a baby.
The date was printed beneath the photograph.
October 17.
The day after my mother's accident.
I looked at the woman's face.
I recognized her.
She was Mrs. Collins.
Our housekeeper.
I felt my stomach drop.
"Why was she holding the baby?""
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"Because she was the person your grandfather trusted to take him somewhere safe.""
I couldn't believe it.
Mrs. Collins had worked in our house for almost twenty years. She had cooked my favorite meals, helped me with school projects, and sat beside me whenever I had nightmares.
She had been there all along.
"Where is she?""
Mr. Bennett checked his phone.
"She left the house this morning.""
"Why?""
"I don't know.""
I called her immediately.
The phone rang several times.
Then went to voicemail.
I tried again.
Nothing.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Do you.""
I couldn't believe it.
Mrs. Collins had worked in our house for almost twenty years. She had cooked my favorite meals, helped me with school projects, and sat beside me whenever I had nightmares.
She had been there all along.
"Where is she?""
Mr. Bennett checked his phone.
"She left the house this morning.""
"Why?""
"I don't know.""
I called her immediately.
The phone rang several times.
Then went to voicemail.
I tried again.
Nothing.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Do you know where she took him?""
She shook her head.
"Your grandfather never told me.""
I turned toward the photograph.
There was something written on the back.
*For Daniel. One day, you must tell him who he really is.*
I read it aloud.
Thomas, who had arrived earlier that afternoon, suddenly stood.
"Daniel?""
I nodded.
"Uncle Daniel?""
He took the photograph from my hand.
His expression changed.
"No.""
"What?""
know where she took him?""
She shook her head.
"Your grandfather never told me.""
I turned toward the photograph.
There was something written on the back.
*For Daniel. One day, you must tell him who he really is.*
I read it aloud.
Thomas, who had arrived earlier that afternoon, suddenly stood.
"Daniel?""
I nodded.
"Uncle Daniel?""
He took the photograph from my hand.
His expression changed.
"No.""
"What?""
Thomas looked at the hospital entrance.
Then at the baby.
"That's impossible.""
"Why?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Because Daniel was born five years before you.""
I stared at him.
"Then who is this?""
Thomas turned the photograph over again.
He examined the date.
Then he noticed something beneath the handwriting.
A second line.
*For my son.*
Thomas lookedThomas looked at the hospital entrance.
Then at the baby.
"That's impossible.""
"Why?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Because Daniel was born five years before you.""
I stared at him.
"Then who is this?""
Thomas turned the photograph over again.
He examined the date.
Then he noticed something beneath the handwriting.
A second line.
*For my son.*
Thomas looked at me.
"Your grandfather wasn't talking about Daniel.""
My throat tightened.
"Then who?""
Thomas looked toward the library doorway.
And at that exact moment, Daniel walked in.
He had returned with a lawyer and a leather briefcase.
"What at me.
"Your grandfather wasn't talking about Daniel.""
My throat tightened.
"Then who?""
Thomas looked toward the library doorway.
And at that exact moment, Daniel walked in.
He had returned with a lawyer and a leather briefcase.
"What is this meeting?"" he demanded.
Nobody answered.
I held up the photograph.
"Uncle Daniel, do you recognize this baby?""
He glanced at it.
Then his face changed.
He dropped the briefcase.
"Where did you get that?""
"Grandpa left it.""
Daniel picked up the photograph with shaking hands.
For several seconds, he stared at the image.
Then he whispered:
"That's me.""
I looked at Thomas.
He was pale.
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"My mother told me I was born in a hospital in Boston. She said my father died before is this meeting?"" he demanded.
Nobody answered.
I held up the photograph.
"Uncle Daniel, do you recognize this baby?""
He glanced at it.
Then his face changed.
He dropped the briefcase.
"Where did you get that?""
"Grandpa left it.""
Daniel picked up the photograph with shaking hands.
For several seconds, he stared at the image.
Then he whispered:
"That's me.""
I looked at Thomas.
He was pale.
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"My mother told me I was born in a hospital in Boston. She said my father died before I was old enough to remember him.""
Thomas stepped forward.
"Daniel, what are you saying?""
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
"My birth certificate says October 12.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"That's the same day as ours.""
He nodded.
Then he looked at Eleanor.
"Who was the woman holding me?""
Eleanor answered quietly.
"Your biological mother.""
Daniel stumbled backward.
"No.""
"Her I was old enough to remember him.""
Thomas stepped forward.
"Daniel, what are you saying?""
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
"My birth certificate says October 12.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"That's the same day as ours.""
He nodded.
Then he looked at Eleanor.
"Who was the woman holding me?""
Eleanor answered quietly.
"Your biological mother.""
Daniel stumbled backward.
"No.""
"Her name was Evelyn Hayes.""
The room went silent.
My uncle looked at me.
Then at Thomas.
Then at the photograph.
He slowly shook his head.
"That's impossible. Evelyn was my sister.""
Thomas's voice cracked.
"She was your biological mother, Daniel.""
I couldn't move.
The truth unfolded name was Evelyn Hayes.""
The room went silent.
My uncle looked at me.
Then at Thomas.
Then at the photograph.
He slowly shook his head.
"That's impossible. Evelyn was my sister.""
Thomas's voice cracked.
"She was your biological mother, Daniel.""
I couldn't move.
The truth unfolded in my mind with horrifying clarity.
My mother had given birth to three children.
Two girls and one boy.
One girl had been given to Eleanor.
The other had been raised by Grandpa.
And the boy had been placed in the same family as the people who were supposed to protect him.
Daniel sat down heavily.
"Then who raised me?""
Nobody answered.
Finally, Mr. Bennett opened his briefcase.
He removed an old legal in my mind with horrifying clarity.
My mother had given birth to three children.
Two girls and one boy.
One girl had been given to Eleanor.
The other had been raised by Grandpa.
And the boy had been placed in the same family as the people who were supposed to protect him.
Daniel sat down heavily.
"Then who raised me?""
Nobody answered.
Finally, Mr. Bennett opened his briefcase.
He removed an old legal document and placed it on the desk.
"Your grandfather left instructions that this document should only be opened if the three children were ever reunited.""
Daniel stared at it.
I reached for the paper.
At the top was a name.
*Margaret Hayes.*
Beneath it was a signed statement.
And the first sentence explained everything.
*I, Margaret Hayes, formally acknowledge that I arranged the adoption of my sister Evelyn document and placed it on the desk.
"Your grandfather left instructions that this document should only be opened if the three children were ever reunited.""
Daniel stared at it.
I reached for the paper.
At the top was a name.
*Margaret Hayes.*
Beneath it was a signed statement.
And the first sentence explained everything.
I, Margaret Hayes, formally acknowledge that I arranged the adoption of my sister Evelyn's third child and raised him as my own son.
Daniel covered his mouth.
I looked at him.
My uncle wasn't my uncle.
He was my brother.
And the woman who had spent years pretending to be his mother was the same woman who had helped destroy our family.
But the final's third child and raised him as my own son.*
Daniel covered his mouth.
I looked at him.
My uncle wasn't my uncle.
He was my brother.
And the woman who had spent years pretending to be his mother was the same woman who had helped destroy our family.
But the final paragraph was even worse.
It stated that Margaret had never intended to adopt Daniel permanently.
She had agreed to raise him until Evelyn's death was officially declared.
Then, according to the document, she would receive control of all three children's inheritance.
At the bottom was a handwritten addition from my grandfather.
**Margaret never wanted the children. She wanted what their mother left behind. paragraph was even worse.
It stated that Margaret had never intended to adopt Daniel permanently.
She had agreed to raise him until Evelyn's death was officially declared.
Then, according to the document, she would receive control of all three children's inheritance.
At the bottom was a handwritten addition from my grandfather.
*Margaret never wanted the children. She wanted what their mother left behind.*
I looked up.
"What's that?""
Mr. Bennett turned the page.
There was one final clause.
If all three children were reunited before the estate's final distribution, the entire Hayes family trust would automatically transfer into their joint ownership.
I looked at Daniel.
Then at the phone still connected to Lily.
For the first time, I understood why**
I looked up.
"What's that?""
Mr. Bennett turned the page.
There was one final clause.
If all three children were reunited before the estate's final distribution, the entire Hayes family trust would automatically transfer into their joint ownership.
I looked at Daniel.
Then at the phone still connected to Lily.
For the first time, I understood why Margaret had been so desperate to keep us apart.
She hadn't just stolen money.
She had spent sixteen years trying to prevent the three of us from ever discovering that we belonged to one another.
And now that we had, she had only Margaret had been so desperate to keep us apart.
She hadn't just stolen money.
She had spent sixteen years trying to prevent the three of us from ever discovering that we belonged to one another.
And now that we had, she had only one thing left to lose.
May you like
Everything. one thing left to lose.
Everything.
