Chapter 2 - THE LETTER
Daniel took the envelope.
Victoria tried to stop him.
“Don't.”
He looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because you don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
She said nothing.
Daniel opened the envelope.
His father's handwriting appeared on the page.
He read silently.
Then his face changed.
“What?”
Victoria stepped backward.
Daniel read aloud.
“If you are reading this, I am already gone. There is something you must know about Sophia.”
He looked up.
“Who is Sophia?”
Victoria shook her head.
“Keep reading.”
He continued.
“Sophia did not abandon this family.”
“She was forced to leave.”
“The child she carried was taken from her.”
Daniel stopped.
“The child?”
Victoria looked away.
“Mom.”
He continued.
“The Carter fortune was never intended for my son.”
Daniel's hands began shaking.
“Then who?”
He read the next sentence.
“The true heir is the first biological descendant of Robert Carter.”
Daniel froze.
“Robert?”
Victoria said nothing.
“My father's brother?”
“Yes.”
“But Robert died before I was born.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“He disappeared.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You told me he died.”
“I was protecting you.”
“From what?”
“The truth.”
Daniel threw the letter onto the table.
“Enough.”
Victoria started crying.
“Daniel.”
“Who was Robert?”
“Your father's older brother.”
“And Sophia?”
“His wife.”
Daniel stared.
“Then what happened to their child?”
Victoria couldn't answer.
“Mom!”
She whispered:
“She was taken.”
“By whom?”
“Your grandfather.”
Daniel looked horrified.
“Why?”
“Because the child was the rightful heir.”
“And the baby?”
Victoria nodded.
“That's your wife.”
Daniel went completely still.
“Emily?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“Emily was Robert's daughter.”
“And her mother?”
“Sophia.”
Daniel stared at the letter.
Everything he knew about his marriage suddenly looked like a lie.
At the hospital, I was staring out the window when the door opened.
A woman entered.
She was in her sixties.
Gray hair.
Tired eyes.
She stopped when she saw me.
“Oh.”
I frowned.
“Can I help you?”
She began crying.
“My name is Sophia Bennett.”
My heart stopped.
I had heard that name.
In the letter.
In the doctor's explanation.
“Why are you here?”
She walked closer.
“Because I have spent twenty-nine years looking for you.”
I stared.
“I don't understand.”
“You were taken from me.”
My hand moved protectively over my stomach.
“Who are you?”
“Your mother.”
I couldn't breathe.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“My mother's name was Elizabeth.”
“Elizabeth raised you.”
“Then who are you?”
“Your biological mother.”
The room spun.
Sophia sat beside me.
“Your grandfather changed your records.”
“Why?”
“To protect the inheritance.”
“What inheritance?”
“The Carter trust.”
I stared at her.
“Why would I be involved?”
“Because your father was Robert Carter.”
I whispered:
“Daniel's uncle?”
Sophia nodded.
“Your father was murdered.”
I covered my mouth.
“Who killed him?”
She looked down.
“Arthur Carter.”
Daniel's supposed father.
The man everyone believed had built the Carter empire.
I couldn't speak.
Sophia reached into her bag.
She removed an old photograph.
A young woman stood beside a newborn baby.
Sophia.
The baby wore a tiny silver bracelet.
The letter E was engraved on it.
“That was you.”
I looked at the baby.
“I don't remember.”
“You were only a few hours old.”
“What happened?”
“Your grandfather ordered you taken away.”
“Why?”
“Because Robert had discovered the truth.”
“What truth?”
Sophia's voice became quiet.
“The Carter fortune had never belonged to Arthur.”
I stared.
“Then who owned it?”
“Robert.”
My stomach tightened.
“And my baby?”
Sophia looked at me.
“Your child is Robert's first direct descendant.”
I whispered:
“So my baby inherits everything.”
“Yes.”
A knock sounded.
Daniel entered.
He saw Sophia.
His face went pale.
“Sophia.”
She stood.
“Daniel.”
He looked at me.
Then at her.
“You're really alive.”
“Yes.”
“You were my father's wife.”
“Yes.”
“And Emily…”
Sophia nodded.
“She is your father's brother's daughter.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“What did my family do?”
Sophia answered:
“Everything they could to keep the truth buried.”
Daniel walked toward me.
“Emily, I'm sorry.”
I looked at him.
“You believed your mother.”
“I know.”
“You threw me away.”
“I know.”
“You let her accuse me of cheating.”
“I know.”
“You didn't even come after me.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“I was wrong.”
I turned away.
“It's too late.”
He whispered:
“I know.”
Then Sophia suddenly looked toward the door.
“Victoria knows I'm here.”
Daniel froze.
“How?”
“She has people watching the hospital.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
Sophia's face became serious.
“Because the baby is almost impossible for her to control now.”
A security officer rushed into the room.
“Mr. Carter.”
Daniel turned.
“Your mother is here.”
My blood went cold.
“She's downstairs.”
The officer nodded.
“And she brought two men.”
Sophia grabbed my hand.
“We have to leave.”
Daniel looked toward the hallway.
Then the lights went out.
A voice came through the darkness.
“Emily.”
Victoria.
“Open the door.”
Daniel moved between us and the entrance.
Victoria spoke again.
“You don't know what you're carrying.”
I held my stomach.
“What does she mean?”
Sophia whispered:
May you like
“She knows about the original heir.”
Then the door handle began moving.
