Chapter 4: The Sister Nobody Mentioned
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Vanessa stood in the middle of my father's study, staring at the photograph in my hand as if it were a weapon.
Nia remained beside the desk, her handbag lying open on the carpet.
I looked from one woman to the other.
"Your sister?"" I finally asked Vanessa.
She closed her eyes.
"Michael, please.""
"Was that your sister?""
"Yes.""
"Did she have a child with my father?""
Vanessa's lips trembled.
"Her name was Claire.""
I stared at her.
"How long have you known?""
She didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"How long?""
"Eleven years.""
The answer hit harder than I expected.
Eleven years.
My father had spent eleven years keeping this secret, and my wife had known about it before we even got married.
I looked at the photograph again.
The baby couldn't have been more than a few hours old.
"Where is the child now?""
Vanessa wiped her eyes.
"I don't know.""
"Don't lie to me.""
"I'm not!""
Nia quietly spoke.
"He's alive, sir.""
Vanessa spun toward her.
"Shut your mouth!""
I raised my voice.
"Let her speak!""
Nia flinched, but continued.
"Your father told me the boy was placed with a family after Claire died.""
"Claire died?""
Vanessa sat down heavily.
"She died three weeks after giving birth.""
I looked at her.
"Why didn't my father tell me?""
"Because he was ashamed.""
"Of having another child?""
"Of what happened afterward.""
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
"Claire and your father were together before he met your mother. They had a relationship that nobody knew about. When Claire became pregnant, he promised to take responsibility. But your grandfather threatened to destroy his career if he acknowledged the child.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't sound like my father.""
"You didn't know everything about him.""
The words irritated me.
My father had raised me alone after my mother died. He had taught me to tell the truth, keep my promises, and never take advantage of people who trusted me.
I had believed those lessons came from a man who lived by them.
Now I wasn't sure what to believe.
"Why did Claire give the baby away?""
Vanessa looked toward the photograph.
"She didn't want to.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"After she died, your father tried to bring the boy into his life. But there were legal complications. Claire had signed temporary guardianship papers before her death. The family that took him refused to return him.""
"Why didn't my father fight?""
"He did.""
Vanessa's voice cracked.
"That's when Edward got involved.""
I remembered the account.
The trust.
The suspicious signatures.
"What did Edward have to do with any of this?""
Vanessa stood.
"Edward helped your father establish a trust to protect the child's future. Your father wanted to make sure the boy would never have to worry about money.""
"Then why is the money being transferred now?""
She looked away.
"I don't know.""
I laughed without humor.
"You expect me to believe you know the entire history of this secret child but have no idea where four hundred thousand dollars went?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
I turned to Nia.
"How did you become involved?""
Nia took a breath.
"Your father started talking to me about Claire about a year ago. At first, I thought he was confused. But he remembered her name, her birthday, and the hospital where she gave birth.""
"Did he tell you who the boy was?""
"Not his full name. He only called him Samuel.""
Samuel.
I repeated the name silently.
My father had never mentioned a Samuel.
"Why did he trust you with the key?""
Nia looked down.
"Because I promised him I would protect the boy.""
Vanessa let out a bitter laugh.
"You? Protect him? You're a housekeeper!""
Nia didn't respond.
Instead, she reached into her handbag and pulled out a small envelope.
"This is the last letter your father gave me.""
She placed it on the desk.
My hands felt strangely numb as I opened it.
The letter was written in my father's familiar handwriting.
Michael,
If Nia has given you this letter, then I have failed to explain something important while I still had the chance.
There is a child who belongs to me. His name is Samuel. He is not responsible for the mistakes I made, and neither is his mother.
I have spent too many years allowing other people to decide what happens to him.
The money I placed in the trust was never intended for Vanessa, Daniel, or anyone else.
It belongs to Samuel.
But there is something you must understand before you open the cabinet.
The person who arranged the transfer of his inheritance knows where he lives.
And that person has already approached him.
I stopped reading.
My eyes returned to the final paragraph.
Someone knew where Samuel lived.
Someone had approached him.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Who?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know.""
I placed the letter on the desk.
"You're running out of chances to tell me the truth.""
Vanessa suddenly began crying.
Not quietly.
She covered her face and sank into the chair.
"Michael, I didn't want any of this to happen.""
"Then why did it?""
"Because Daniel made a mistake.""
I froze.
"Your brother?""
She nodded.
"Daniel was desperate. He owed money to people he shouldn't have borrowed from. He told me he needed help. I thought we could use some of the money temporarily and replace it before anyone noticed.""
"Four hundred thousand dollars is temporary?""
"It wasn't supposed to be that much!""
I stared at her.
"How much did you take?""
She looked at the floor.
"More than I intended.""
"Where is it?""
"I don't know exactly.""
I picked up my phone.
"Then we'll let the police find out.""
Vanessa rushed toward me.
"Michael, don't!""
I stepped back.
"Why are you protecting him?""
"Because he's my brother!""
"And Samuel is your nephew!""
She went silent.
For the first time, I saw something resembling shame on her face.
Then she whispered, "You don't understand what Daniel did.""
"What did he do?""
Vanessa looked at Nia.
"He didn't just take the money.""
Her voice became almost inaudible.
"He found Samuel.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"What happened?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know.""
Nia stepped forward.
"That's not true, Mrs. Vanessa.""
My wife looked up sharply.
Nia's hands were trembling.
"Your brother came here three weeks ago. He told Mr. Richard that Samuel was in danger.""
I turned toward her.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"Because your father asked me not to.""
"Why?""
Nia looked at the photograph.
"Because he believed the person threatening Samuel was someone inside this family.""
Before I could ask another question, the front door slammed.
Footsteps crossed the hallway.
Then a man's voice called out.
"Vanessa? Are you awake?""
My wife immediately stood.
I recognized the voice.
Daniel.
May you like
And judging by the way Vanessa suddenly stopped crying, I knew he hadn't come to visit.
He had come to make sure something remained hidden.
