Chapter 5: The Daughter They Erased
I stared at Patricia.
“You had a baby?””
She didn't move.
Daniel stood beside the staircase, his hands hanging at his sides.
“Nia,” he said quietly, “there's more.””
I looked at him.
“More?””
He nodded.
“My father had an affair before I was born. Patricia became pregnant. She gave birth to a girl.””
Patricia's face was white.
“Stop talking.””
But Daniel ignored her.
“Robert wanted to raise the child. Patricia refused because she was afraid of what people would say. She arranged for another family to take the baby.””
I felt sick.
“And my mother?””
“Your mother helped with the adoption.””
“Why?””
“Because she knew the people who adopted the child.””
I turned toward Patricia.
“Where is she now?””
Patricia walked to the window.
“I don't know.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“She was adopted. Her name was changed. We had no contact.””
I stepped closer.
“Did you ever look for her?””
Patricia gave a bitter laugh.
“Why would I?””
The cruelty in that question stunned me.
Daniel looked down.
“Mom.””
“What?”” Patricia snapped.
“You want me to pretend I spent my life grieving a child who was taken from me? I was twenty-two. Your father had ruined my life. I made a decision.””
“You made a decision for someone who couldn't speak,” I said.
Patricia turned.
“You have no idea what I went through.””
“No. But I know what it feels like to be lied to by people who claim to love you.””
I took the photograph from the table.
“Why did my mother keep this?””
Patricia's lips pressed together.
“Because she felt guilty.””
“About what?””
“She helped arrange the adoption. She believed she was doing the right thing.””
I studied her face.
“Did my mother know where the child went?””
Patricia didn't answer.
Daniel finally spoke.
“She did.””
My fingers tightened around the photograph.
“Where?””
Daniel rubbed the back of his neck.
“An attorney handled everything. The adoption records were sealed. But my mother kept a copy of the original file.””
“Where is it?””
Patricia's eyes flickered toward the hallway.
“It's none of your business.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Where?””
He hesitated.
Then he said, “In the safe.””
Patricia turned sharply.
“Daniel, don't.””
I took one step toward the hallway.
“Open it.””
“No,” Patricia said.
“Then I'll have my attorney request the records.””
She laughed nervously.
“You think a lawyer can undo everything?””
“I think a lawyer can investigate fraud.””
Patricia's face hardened.
“Your mother wasn't as innocent as you think.””
I stopped.
“What does that mean?””
“She took money.””
The words landed like a slap.
“From whom?””
“From Robert. From me. From the company. She was paid to keep quiet about the child.””
I shook my head.
“My mother would never—”
“You don't know what your mother did, Nia.””
I looked at Daniel.
He wasn't defending Patricia.
He wasn't defending my mother either.
He was simply standing there, watching me absorb another piece of the puzzle.
I turned to leave.
Daniel followed me onto the porch.
“Wait.””
I continued down the steps.
“Nia, please. I want to explain.””
“Then start with the truth.””
He caught up beside me.
“The reason Mom brought up the inheritance is because the child may have rights to some of Robert's estate.””
I stopped.
“What inheritance?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Robert established a private family trust before he died.””
“Does it still exist?””
“Yes.””
“Who controls it?””
“My mother.””
I stared at him.
“And what does that have to do with me?””
“Your mother's trust was connected to the same properties. There were overlapping ownership interests.””
I felt my head begin to ache.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was trying to protect you.””
I laughed.
“From what? Having money?””
“From the legal mess.””
“Daniel, you forged my signature on a six-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar loan application.””
He lowered his voice.
“I didn't intend for the loan to go through.””
“Then why submit it?””
“Because Vanessa said it was necessary to keep the business alive.””
“Your business?””
He looked away.
I stepped closer.
“Or hers?””
He didn't answer.
My phone rang.
Elaine.
I answered immediately.
“Nia, where are you?””
“Patricia's house.””
“Get out of there.””
“Why?””
“Because I just found something in the original company records. The trust was never supposed to be connected to Daniel's business.””
“What did you find?””
Elaine took a breath.
“Robert Carter named a beneficiary before he died. Someone who wasn't Daniel.””
I looked at Daniel.
He was watching me carefully.
“Who?”” I asked.
Elaine lowered her voice.
“Patricia's daughter.””
I looked back at the house.
“Her daughter was adopted.””
“Not according to the original trust paperwork.””
My heart began pounding.
“What are you saying?””
“The trust names a living beneficiary. Her legal identity was protected, but the birth records were never properly amended in the financial documents.””
I glanced at Daniel.
“Does my husband know?””
Elaine hesitated.
“He's been trying to locate her for months.””
The line went silent.
Then Elaine added, “Nia, I think Vanessa may have found her first.””
I turned toward Daniel.
“Who is Vanessa looking for?””
His expression changed.
He knew.
And he knew that I knew.
“It's complicated,” he said.
I shook my head.
“Stop saying that.””
He stepped toward me.
“Vanessa has been helping locate Patricia's daughter. We thought if we found her, we could resolve the trust issue.””
“By giving her money?””
“By getting her to sign a release.””
I stared at him.
“A release of what?””
“Her inheritance rights.””
I felt physically ill.
“And what would she receive in exchange?””
Daniel looked down.
“Three hundred thousand dollars.””
I stared at him.
“Robert's trust is worth millions, isn't it?””
He didn't answer.
That was enough.
I walked to my car.
Daniel followed.
“Nia, wait. I haven't told you the worst part.””
I opened the driver's door.
“What could possibly be worse?””
He looked toward the house.
Then he said, “Vanessa believes she found Patricia's daughter because the woman has been using your mother's last name.””
My hand froze on the door.
“My mother's last name?””
“Yes.””
I turned.
“What's her name?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Elaine says she's been going by the name Grace.””
I stared at him.
Grace.
The name my mother had once mentioned in her final weeks.
I remembered asking who Grace was.
My mother had smiled sadly and said, "Someone I wish I could have protected.""
I had assumed it was an old friend.
Now I wasn't sure.
My phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*Nia, my name is Grace. I think we're sisters. Please don't trust Daniel or Vanessa. I have the original adoption file.*
May you like
A second message followed.
*And I know why your mother kept your inheritance secret.*
