Chapter 10: The Child Who Was Never Supposed to Exist
The gunshot shattered the silence.
Maya screamed.
Lily dropped to her knees.
Daniel grabbed both girls and pulled them behind him.
“Everybody stay where you are!””
Detective Harper immediately raised her weapon.
“Daniel Hayes! Put your hands where we can see them!””
A second gunshot echoed from inside the house.
Robert pushed me behind the stone fountain.
“Get down!””
I dropped to the ground.
“Where did that come from?”” I shouted.
Robert pointed toward the basement window.
“There's another entrance. Daniel isn't alone.””
Two officers moved toward the side of the building while Detective Harper called for additional units.
I couldn't stop looking at Maya.
Her little face appeared in the illuminated doorway.
She was crying.
“Daddy!””
I started forward.
Daniel pressed something against her shoulder.
“Another step, Marcus, and this becomes much worse.””
I stopped.
“Let her go.””
Daniel smiled.
“You really haven't changed. Always running toward whatever you think belongs to you.””
“She's eight years old.””
“And she's worth twelve million dollars.””
I felt sick.
Lily began crying beside Maya.
“Please don't hurt my sister.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“Quiet.””
Maya moved in front of Lily.
“She didn't do anything!””
Daniel grabbed Maya's arm.
I nearly lost control.
“Take your hands off her!””
Detective Harper spoke calmly.
“Daniel, this ends tonight. We have officers surrounding the property. There's nowhere for you to go.””
He laughed.
“You think this is about escaping?””
He reached into his coat and pulled out a folded document.
“This is about ownership.””
Robert stepped out from behind the fountain.
“Daniel.””
My uncle's smile disappeared.
For the first time that night, he looked genuinely surprised.
“Robert.””
“Let the children go.””
Daniel laughed.
“You should have stayed dead.””
Robert slowly raised both hands.
“I didn't come here to fight you.””
“No. You came here to take what's mine.””
Robert shook his head.
“Nothing here belongs to you.””
Daniel held up the document.
“The trust says otherwise.””
Detective Harper took one step forward.
“Put the document down.””
Daniel ignored her.
He looked directly at me.
“Your grandfather left a provision. The three biological heirs must be identified before the funds can be released.””
I glanced at Robert.
“Three?””
My father nodded.
“You, Maya, and Lily.””
Daniel smiled.
“Exactly. But there's a problem.””
He unfolded the document.
“Someone altered the original medical records. According to the records, one of the children was born from a pregnancy that never existed.””
I stared at him.
“What are you talking about?””
Daniel looked toward Lily.
Then Maya.
“One of these girls was never part of the original pregnancy.””
Rachel's voice suddenly came from behind the police line.
“That's a lie!””
I turned.
Rachel had arrived with an officer.
She moved forward, tears streaming down her face.
“Both girls are mine. I carried them. I gave birth to them.””
Daniel laughed.
“You carried one.””
Rachel stopped.
He pointed toward Maya.
“Ask Eleanor.””
My mother wasn't there.
But her confession from earlier suddenly came back to me.
The twins were born prematurely. One was stronger than the other.
I looked at Robert.
“Tell me the truth.””
My father lowered his eyes.
“Your mother gave birth to two babies. But one of them wasn't biologically hers.””
The world seemed to stop.
“What?””
Robert continued.
“Claire was your biological mother. Rachel was her sister. When Claire died, Rachel took responsibility for you before Daniel intervened.””
I looked toward Maya.
“And the twins?””
Robert swallowed.
“Rachel gave birth to Maya and Lily. But there was another baby at the clinic that night.””
Daniel smiled.
“Now we're getting somewhere.””
He held up another document.
“The third baby was recorded as deceased.””
My hands began shaking.
“Who was that baby?””
Daniel looked directly at me.
“Your biological child.””
I couldn't understand.
“What?””
He nodded.
“Vanessa was pregnant before she married you. She gave birth to a boy at the same clinic. The child was declared dead, but he was transferred to another family.””
My chest tightened.
I turned toward the direction of the police vehicles.
Vanessa.
She had known about another child.
Another baby.
Another secret.
Daniel continued.
“Your grandfather discovered the truth. That's why he created the trust for the three children. You, Maya, and Lily were supposed to share the estate. The boy was excluded because his birth record was altered.””
I stared at Robert.
“Is this true?””
He nodded.
“Your fatherhood records were manipulated to hide the connection between the children.””
I felt dizzy.
“How many children have been taken?””
Daniel smiled.
“More than you could imagine.””
Detective Harper raised her voice.
“Daniel, put the weapon down!””
He turned toward her.
For a split second, his attention shifted away from the girls.
Robert moved.
He rushed forward and grabbed Daniel's arm.
The weapon fell.
Detective Harper shouted.
Two officers charged through the doorway.
Daniel fought violently, knocking over a small table and sending a glass vase crashing against the floor.
Robert pinned his arm.
The officers forced Daniel to the ground and secured his wrists.
“Get your hands off me!”” Daniel screamed.
Nobody listened.
I ran toward Maya.
She threw herself into my arms.
“Daddy!””
I held her so tightly she could barely breathe.
“I'm here, baby. I'm here.””
Lily stood nearby, trembling.
Rachel dropped to her knees and opened her arms.
“Lily?””
The little girl stared at her.
“Are you my mommy?””
Rachel began sobbing.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
Lily hesitated before stepping forward.
Rachel wrapped her arms around her.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then Detective Harper approached.
“Mr. Hayes, we need to search the basement. Daniel mentioned documents that may help us identify the other children.””
Robert looked toward the staircase.
“The safe.””
I held Maya's hand.
“What's inside?””
My father stared at the basement door.
“Everything Daniel has spent thirty years hiding.””
We followed the officers downstairs.
The basement smelled of dust and damp wood.
A large metal safe stood behind a filing cabinet.
Robert entered a six-digit code.
The door opened.
Inside were folders, photographs, bank statements, and several small boxes.
Detective Harper began photographing everything.
Then she found a thick brown envelope.
Its label read:
*CHILDREN — ORIGINAL RECORDS — CONFIDENTIAL.*
She opened it.
There were birth certificates.
Adoption agreements.
Medical reports.
And photographs of children.
Dozens of them.
I looked at the first page.
My name appeared at the top.
Below it was a section titled:
*BIOLOGICAL DESCENDANTS — CONFIRMED.*
Three names were listed.
Marcus Hayes.
Maya Rose Hayes.
Lily Bennett.
But a fourth name had been added in handwriting.
*NOAH BENNETT — LOCATION UNKNOWN.*
I stared at it.
“Who is Noah?””
Robert's face changed.
He picked up the photograph attached to the record.
A baby boy.
A small bracelet around his wrist.
Then he whispered:
“That's the child Vanessa gave birth to.””
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
May you like
One message.
*YOU FOUND THE GIRLS. NOW FIND YOUR SON.*
