Chapter 7: The Adoption That Never Happened
I didn't remember the drive back to Margaret's office.
I remembered the words.
You promised we wouldn't tell her about the adoption.
They followed me through the elevator, down the hallway, and into the conference room where Margaret finally closed the door.
"Sit down, Nia.""
I remained standing.
"Was I adopted?""
Margaret placed her handbag on the table.
"We don't know yet.""
"Patricia said my father was paid to raise me. Daniel mentioned an adoption. What else could there be?""
"Several possibilities. Your father may have completed a private adoption. There may have been an informal guardianship arrangement. Or Patricia may be deliberately mixing facts to frighten you.""
I shook my head.
"She knew exactly what she was saying.""
Margaret opened her laptop.
"Then we'll find the records.""
She called a family law attorney she knew in the county where I was born. After explaining the circumstances, she requested a search of the relevant adoption and guardianship records.
While we waited, I called Samuel.
He answered almost immediately.
"Nia? How did the meeting go?""
"Did my father legally adopt me?""
There was a long silence.
Then Samuel said, "I was hoping Patricia wouldn't use that against you.""
My stomach dropped.
"Against me?""
"Your father told me the entire story years ago. I didn't know when you'd need to hear it.""
"Tell me now.""
Samuel sighed.
"Your biological mother was seriously ill when you were born. Richard was still married, and his family threatened to take you into their custody if your mother couldn't care for you.""
"Why?""
"Because Richard's wife believed you were a threat to her children's inheritance.""
I closed my eyes.
"So my father adopted me?""
"Yes. Legally. But it wasn't a straightforward process.""
"What does that mean?""
"Your mother initially signed a temporary guardianship agreement. Your father became your legal guardian. Later, after your mother recovered, she signed the consent for adoption.""
I gripped the phone.
"Did Richard agree?""
"Richard paid for the legal process. But your father refused to accept money for raising you. He returned most of it.""
"Most?""
Samuel hesitated.
"There was one payment he couldn't return. It was used to pay for your mother's medical treatment.""
I sat down.
"How much?""
"Forty thousand dollars.""
I stared at the wall.
My father had never told me.
Not once.
"Was that why he kept the adoption secret?""
"No, sweetheart. He kept it secret because your mother begged him to let you grow up without feeling like somebody else's child.""
My throat tightened.
"Did he ever regret adopting me?""
Samuel's voice softened.
"Not for a single day. He used to say that the day you called him Daddy was the best day of his life.""
I covered my mouth.
For years, I had believed my father was simply my father.
Now I understood that he had chosen me.
He hadn't been obligated to stay.
He hadn't been forced to love me.
He had made a decision.
And he had never treated it as a sacrifice.
"Samuel, why did Patricia bring it up?""
"Because the original adoption agreement contained a clause concerning Richard's estate.""
"What clause?""
"Your adoption was never supposed to cancel your biological inheritance. Richard specifically protected your rights. But someone later attempted to challenge the agreement.""
"Who?""
Samuel answered quietly.
"Patricia's late mother.""
Before I could ask more, Margaret entered the conference room.
She was holding a printed email.
"Nia, we found something.""
I ended the call and took the paper.
The county attorney had located a reference to my adoption in the archived family court index.
My father had legally adopted me when I was eleven months old.
The adoption was final.
The records also contained a sealed supplemental agreement.
Margaret tapped the final paragraph.
"Your father specifically requested that the court preserve any inheritance rights you might possess through your biological parents.""
I looked at her.
"So Patricia lied?""
"About the adoption being incomplete, yes. But there's something else.""
She pointed to a name.
The attorney who had drafted the supplemental agreement was Robert Hayes.
The same man who had called me about Whitmore Development Group.
"Why would he be involved in this?"" I asked.
Margaret shook her head.
"That's what we're going to find out.""
At 4:17 p.m., my phone rang again.
This time, it was Daniel.
I answered without greeting him.
"Did you know my father legally adopted me?""
Daniel sounded irritated.
"Why are you asking?""
"Because your mother implied otherwise.""
"She shouldn't have said anything.""
"Why were you discussing my adoption with her?""
He sighed.
"Your father made a deal with Richard. That's all.""
"What deal?""
"I don't know the details.""
"You're lying.""
"Nia, you need to stop listening to Samuel.""
"Did you know about the inheritance when you married me?""
Silence.
Then he said, "I knew your father had money.""
"That isn't what I asked.""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Your father was dying. He asked me to keep an eye on you.""
I almost laughed.
"Is that what you call stealing my identity?""
"I made mistakes.""
"You forged my signature.""
"I was trying to protect the family.""
"Which family, Daniel? Yours or Patricia's?""
He didn't answer.
Then he said something unexpected.
"Vanessa left.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"She packed her things this morning.""
I felt no sympathy.
"That's unfortunate.""
"She's been asking questions. She found out about the inheritance.""
I looked at Margaret.
"Why would she care?""
Daniel exhaled.
"Because Patricia promised her something.""
"What?""
"Money. A house. A future with me.""
"And?""
"And Vanessa discovered Patricia had been using her too.""
I almost smiled.
For once, someone else was beginning to see the woman behind the pearl necklace.
Daniel continued.
"Vanessa wants to talk to you.""
"I have nothing to say to her.""
"She has something you need to hear.""
I paused.
"What?""
"She has the original property transfer document.""
My heart began racing.
"The forged one?""
"Yes. She took it from Patricia's office.""
"Why?""
"Because she thinks it can protect her.""
I looked at Margaret.
She immediately began writing.
"Where is Vanessa now?"" I asked.
Daniel gave me an address.
Then he added:
"Nia, there's something else. The document wasn't created by me.""
I froze.
"What?""
"I didn't prepare the transfer.""
"Then who did?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Your lawyer.""
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
Margaret looked up.
"What did he say?""
I slowly repeated his words.
For the first time since I had hired her, Margaret looked genuinely disturbed.
"He's trying to manipulate you.""
"Maybe.""
"Or he's setting up someone else to take the blame.""
I looked at the adoption papers.
Then at the property transfer.
May you like
Someone had been moving pieces around my life for years.
And I was beginning to suspect that Daniel wasn't the person who had started the game.
