Chapter 6: The Daughter They Stole From Me
Nobody moved.
The clock above the fireplace ticked loudly.
My mother was staring at the photograph as if the little girl might suddenly step out of it.
I looked at her.
"Mom, what are you saying?""
She shook her head.
"I don't understand.""
"She was your daughter?""
"I lost the baby.""
Her voice cracked.
"I was told I lost the baby.""
Vivian sat down heavily.
"Elena, you were unconscious when she was born.""
My mother slowly turned toward her.
"Born?""
Vivian nodded.
"The accident caused complications. You were taken into emergency surgery. The doctors delivered the baby prematurely.""
My mother gripped the edge of the table.
"Was she alive?""
"Yes.""
"Was she healthy?""
Vivian began crying.
"She needed treatment. But she survived.""
My mother made a small sound.
It wasn't quite a sob.
It was the sound of someone realizing that an entire part of her life had been stolen.
"Where is she?""
Vivian looked at Daniel.
He remained silent.
My father stepped toward us.
"Lena, please sit down.""
I turned on him.
"Don't tell me to sit down.""
"You're not understanding.""
"Then explain why you signed a document allowing someone to take my mother's baby!""
Marco closed his eyes.
My mother walked toward him.
"You told me she died.""
He looked at her.
"I was told she wouldn't survive.""
"By whom?""
He didn't answer.
"Who took my daughter?""
Daniel finally spoke.
"I did.""
My mother slapped him.
The sound echoed through the living room.
"You stole my child!""
Daniel touched his cheek.
"She was dying. I gave her a chance.""
"You had no right!""
"I had every right to protect her.""
"Protect her from what?""
Daniel looked toward my father.
"From you.""
My mother stared at him.
Then she began to cry.
I stepped closer.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel straightened his jacket.
"Your mother was unstable. She was injured, confused, and unable to care for a premature infant. I offered to take the child temporarily.""
"Temporarily?""
He nodded.
"But the paperwork was complicated.""
"Six years of complicated paperwork?""
He ignored me.
My mother grabbed his sleeve.
"Where is my daughter?""
Daniel pulled away.
"She's safe.""
"Where?""
"That's none of your business.""
My father moved toward him.
"Daniel, stop.""
Daniel turned.
"You've benefited from this arrangement for six years, Marco. Don't suddenly pretend you have a conscience.""
I looked at my father.
"What arrangement?""
He didn't answer.
Daniel continued.
"The baby was transferred to a private care facility. Later, she was placed with a family.""
My mother covered her mouth.
"Adopted?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes.""
"Without my permission?""
"Your consent was obtained through legal guardianship documents.""
"Forged documents?""
He looked away.
That was enough.
I grabbed my phone.
"I'm calling the police.""
Daniel laughed.
"Go ahead.""
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded sheet of paper.
"Before you do, perhaps you should look at this.""
He placed it on the table.
It was a birth certificate.
The child's name was Sophie Elena Brooks.
The mother's name was Elena Alvarez.
The father's name was Daniel Brooks.
My mother stared at it.
"Why is your name on the father's line?""
Daniel shrugged.
"Someone had to take responsibility.""
"You weren't the father.""
"Biologically, no.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Your mother was involved with someone else before she married Marco.""
My mother shook her head.
"That's a lie.""
Daniel continued.
"She had a relationship with a man who disappeared before you were born. When she discovered she was pregnant with Sophie, she knew the truth would destroy her marriage.""
My mother slapped the table.
"You're lying!""
Daniel smiled without warmth.
"Then explain why the hospital records show no biological father.""
I looked at my mother.
She was crying.
But she wasn't looking at Daniel.
She was looking at my father.
"Marco," she whispered.
My father lowered his head.
"Please.""
"Tell her.""
He said nothing.
"Tell Lena what you did.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"Dad?""
My father finally looked at me.
"Sophie was not my biological daughter.""
I couldn't move.
"But she was your child," I said.
He nodded.
"I knew that.""
"And you let them take her?""
"I was told she would be better off.""
My mother stepped forward.
"You were her father in every way that mattered.""
Marco's eyes filled.
"I know.""
"Then why?""
He looked at Daniel.
"Because he promised me something.""
Daniel laughed.
"Don't blame me for your decision.""
My father turned toward him.
"You promised the company would remain under my control.""
"And it did.""
"You promised Vivian would leave me alone.""
Daniel's expression changed.
I looked between them.
"What does Vivian have to do with this?""
Vivian stood slowly.
"Everything.""
She reached into her handbag and removed a small photograph.
It showed my father holding a newborn baby.
A woman lay in the hospital bed behind him.
My mother.
But the date was not October 15.
It was October 16.
My father was smiling.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten message.
*My two girls. Everything I ever wanted.*
I stared at him.
"You were happy.""
He looked at the photograph.
For the first time, he began crying.
"I loved both of you.""
My mother approached him.
"Then why did you let them take her?""
He wiped his face.
"Because Daniel said he would destroy you if I didn't cooperate.""
"How?""
My father looked at me.
"He had evidence of something that could send your mother to prison.""
My mother froze.
"What evidence?""
Daniel suddenly moved toward the front door.
"That's enough.""
My father ignored him.
"Six years ago, Daniel discovered that someone had been using your mother's identity to move money out of the family trust. He had documents showing transactions in her name.""
My mother stared at him.
"Those transactions were fabricated.""
"I know that now.""
"Then why didn't you defend me?""
He looked away.
"Because the money was already gone.""
I frowned.
"What money?""
My father swallowed.
"Your grandfather's estate.""
The room fell silent.
He explained that nearly three million dollars had disappeared from the trust in the months surrounding the accident. Daniel had arranged the transfers through shell companies, using forged signatures and false authorization documents.
But my father had signed some of the transactions himself.
He had helped.
And when the money disappeared, he became vulnerable to blackmail.
"I thought if I stayed quiet, Daniel would leave us alone," he said.
My mother stared at him.
"You let him take my child.""
"I thought she would be safe.""
"You let him tell our daughter I was dead.""
"I thought I was protecting Lena.""
I stepped backward.
My father reached for me.
I moved away.
"Don't touch me.""
He stopped.
For several seconds, the only sound was the clock.
Then Vivian spoke.
"There's something you still don't know.""
Daniel spun around.
"Vivian.""
She ignored him.
"Your father didn't just sign the documents. He also signed the papers that transferred Sophie to another family.""
My mother looked at Marco.
He began shaking his head.
"No.""
Vivian removed one final document.
"This is the adoption authorization.""
My mother grabbed it.
The signature at the bottom was unmistakable.
Marco Alvarez.
Beside it was a second signature.
Daniel Brooks.
And underneath the signatures was the name of the adoptive family.
*Richard and Catherine Miller.*
My mother stared at the page.
"Where are they?""
Vivian hesitated.
"They live in Austin.""
My mother looked up.
"Does Sophie know?""
Vivian shook her head.
"She was raised believing Catherine Miller gave birth to her.""
My mother began sobbing.
I wrapped my arms around her.
Then I looked at my father.
"How old is Sophie now?""
"Six," he whispered.
I did the calculation.
Six years old.
The same age as the lie.
My mother wiped her tears.
"We're going to find her.""
Daniel stepped toward the door.
"You can't.""
I turned.
"Watch me.""
He smiled.
"You think the Millers will hand over a child because a woman walks into their house claiming to be her biological mother?""
My mother lifted her chin.
"I don't need them to hand her over. I need them to know the truth.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Then you'll have to explain why your daughter was legally adopted.""
My mother held the document against her chest.
"She was stolen.""
Daniel leaned closer.
"And if you tell the police everything, Marco goes to prison. The trust gets frozen. Lena loses her inheritance.""
I looked at him.
"You think I care about the inheritance?""
He gave me a cold smile.
"You will when you discover what else your grandfather left you.""
Then he walked out.
My father remained standing beside the fireplace.
Vivian followed Daniel without looking back.
I helped my mother sit down.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A little girl's voice came through.
"Hello?""
I looked at my mother.
"Who is this?""
The girl giggled softly.
"My name is Sophie.""
My mother's entire body went rigid.
I put the call on speaker.
"Hi, Sophie," I whispered.
"How old are you?""
"I'm six.""
My mother began crying silently.
Then the little girl asked a question.
"Are you Lena?""
I couldn't breathe.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
There was a pause.
Then Sophie whispered:
"Uncle Daniel said you're not supposed to know I'm real.""
My mother covered her mouth.
I looked at the screen.
The call was still connected.
"Sophie, where are you?""
The little girl answered.
"I'm at home. But there's a lady here who says she knows my real mommy.""
My mother stood up so quickly that the chair fell behind her.
"What lady?"" I asked.
Sophie lowered her voice.
"The lady who came to see me yesterday.""
A door slammed somewhere on her end.
Then a woman's voice shouted:
"Sophie! Put that phone down!""
The little girl began crying.
"She's here again.""
My mother reached for the phone.
"Baby, listen to me. What's the lady's name?""
Sophie whispered two words.
And my mother nearly collapsed.
May you like
"Vivian Brooks.""
Then the call ended.
