Chapter 13: The Woman Who Gave Birth to My Sister
I read the sentence again.
Then again.
*Vanessa is not the woman who stole Olivia. She is Olivia's biological mother.*
“No,” Olivia whispered.
She shook her head, backing away from the desk.
“No. That's not true.””
I reached for her hand.
“Olivia, look at me.””
She pulled away.
“Vanessa is my mother?””
Robert examined the medical report.
“According to this document, yes.””
Olivia laughed, but there were tears in her eyes.
“The woman who threw me away is my mother?””
I didn't know what to say.
The room suddenly felt too small.
For twenty-seven years, Olivia had believed her birth mother had died. She had grown up wondering why she wasn't wanted, why she had been abandoned, why nobody had come looking for her.
And now we had discovered that the woman who had helped raise me had given birth to her.
I looked at Robert.
“Explain.””
He turned the report toward us.
“Vanessa was nineteen when Olivia was born. She was unmarried, and her family was involved in a business dispute with your grandfather.””
“Why did she give Olivia to Catherine?”” I asked.
“She didn't. Catherine believed Olivia was her biological daughter. The birth records were altered.””
Olivia stared at him.
“So Catherine wasn't my mother?””
Robert hesitated.
“Biologically, perhaps not. But she was your mother in every way that mattered. She raised you for three days before you were taken, and she spent the rest of her life trying to find you.””
Olivia closed her eyes.
I looked at the old photograph again.
Vanessa was holding a newborn baby.
Beside her stood my grandfather.
“Why would Grandpa hide this?””
Robert turned to another document.
“Because he knew Vanessa had given birth to Daniel Reed's child.””
My stomach dropped.
“Daniel?””
Robert nodded.
“Daniel was involved with Vanessa before she married your father. When she became pregnant, Eleanor arranged for the baby to be presented as Catherine and Arthur's child.””
Olivia looked horrified.
“So Daniel is my biological father?””
“The documents suggest that.””
She sat down.
I felt anger rising inside me.
Vanessa had lied to everyone.
She had stolen Olivia from Catherine.
She had married my father.
She had watched me grow up believing I was her daughter.
And now we were discovering that the entire family had been built on lies.
I called my father.
He answered immediately.
“Emily? Where are you?””
“Dad, we found something.””
“What?””
I looked at Olivia.
Then I told him.
There was silence.
Finally, he spoke.
“Bring the documents home.””
“Dad, there's more. We found evidence that Daniel may be Olivia's biological father.””
My father inhaled sharply.
“Where did you get that?””
“Grandpa's archive.””
“Listen to me carefully. Do not leave that building until I get there.””
The call ended.
Robert began copying the files.
Olivia stood beside the photograph, staring at Vanessa's face.
“I want to ask her something.””
I knew exactly what she meant.
“You want to confront her?””
“I want to hear her say it.””
Robert shook his head.
“That could be dangerous.””
Olivia looked at him.
“Dangerous? I've spent my entire life not knowing who I was. I'm done being protected from the truth.””
We returned to the mansion an hour later.
My father was waiting in the living room.
He had the original transfer agreement spread across the table.
When he saw Olivia, he stood.
“Are you all right?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
He hugged her.
She allowed him to hold her for a moment.
Then she stepped away.
“Dad, I need you to tell me something.””
He looked at her.
“Anything.””
“Did you know Vanessa was pregnant before you married her?””
My father frowned.
“No. She told me she had never been married and had no children.””
Olivia nodded.
“And did you know she was involved with Daniel?””
My father's expression darkened.
“No.””
“Then she lied to you too.””
Before he could respond, the front door opened.
Vanessa walked in.
She wasn't alone.
Daniel followed her.
My father stepped forward.
“You have some nerve coming here.””
Vanessa ignored him.
Her eyes moved toward Olivia.
For the first time, I saw something other than hatred in her expression.
Fear.
Olivia approached her.
“Am I your daughter?””
Vanessa stopped.
Daniel looked at her.
“Don't answer that.””
Olivia turned toward him.
“Why? Are you afraid I'll learn something else?””
Vanessa placed her handbag on the table.
“You don't understand what you're looking at.””
Olivia's voice trembled.
“Did you give birth to me?””
Vanessa looked down.
Then she nodded.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
Olivia's face crumpled.
“Why?””
Vanessa began speaking quickly.
“I was young. I had no money. Daniel and I weren't married. Eleanor said the baby would destroy everything.””
“So you gave me away?””
“I was told Catherine would raise you. I was told you would have a good life.””
“You let her believe I died!””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know Eleanor would take it that far.””
Olivia stepped closer.
“You watched me grow up in foster care?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
“Did you ever look for me?””
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
Daniel grabbed her arm.
“We're leaving.””
My father moved between them.
“Not until you explain the company fraud.””
Daniel smiled.
“You should be careful, Arthur. You're not in a position to threaten anyone.””
Robert entered from the hallway holding a folder.
“Actually, Daniel, he is.””
Daniel's smile disappeared.
Robert placed the documents on the table.
“We have the original trust records, the medical payments, the forged transfer agreement, and your grandfather's video.””
Daniel stared at the folder.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
“You told me those records were destroyed.””
Vanessa's face went pale.
I realized something.
She hadn't been afraid of us discovering Olivia's identity.
She had been afraid of us discovering who had paid to keep the secret.
And Daniel had just confirmed it.
My father turned toward him.
“You were involved in my daughter's disappearance.””
Daniel said nothing.
Then Vanessa suddenly laughed.
“You still don't understand, Arthur.””
She reached into her handbag.
She pulled out a small photograph and placed it on the table.
It showed my mother sitting beside an elderly man in a wheelchair.
My father stared.
“Who is that?””
Vanessa smiled.
“Ask your wife.””
Then she walked out.
Daniel followed.
Olivia picked up the photograph.
On the back, my mother's handwriting read:
The man who knows what really happened to Henry.
May you like
And beneath it was a name.
*Dr. Malcolm Pierce.*
