Chapter 4: The Daughter My Father Hid
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Vanessa's words remained suspended in the air.
“It's Maya.””
I looked at my daughter.
She stood beside the desk, her face drained of color, one hand gripping the edge of the wooden cabinet.
Michael slowly removed his glasses.
“Vanessa, explain exactly what you mean.””
On the phone, Vanessa was breathing heavily.
“Daniel, your father knew. He knew everything.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“Stop speaking in riddles. What does Maya have to do with my father?””
Vanessa began crying.
“Your father had an affair with my mother before you and I ever met. I was young when he discovered I was pregnant. He paid her to leave the country.””
I stared at the photograph.
The woman beside my father.
The woman I had never met.
“Are you telling me Maya is your sister?””
“No,” Vanessa whispered.
“I'm telling you Maya is your daughter.””
The room tilted.
I looked at Michael.
He was already shaking his head.
“That's impossible.””
I turned toward Vanessa.
“What did you just say?””
“Maya is not your biological daughter, Daniel.””
My knees nearly gave way.
Maya stared at me.
“Dad?””
I immediately moved toward her.
“Don't listen to this. She's trying to hurt us.””
Vanessa continued.
“Your father arranged everything. He knew Maya's mother couldn't raise her alone. He paid for the adoption and made sure you believed the biological paperwork was correct.””
I looked at Michael.
“Is there any truth to this?””
He didn't answer immediately.
That silence was worse than anything Vanessa had said.
“Michael!””
He placed both hands on the desk.
“Daniel, your father did arrange a private guardianship agreement when Maya was born. But that doesn't mean Vanessa's story is accurate.””
I turned toward my daughter.
She was crying now.
“Dad, am I not your daughter?””
I dropped to my knees.
I took both her hands.
“Look at me, Maya.””
She struggled to meet my eyes.
“Whatever some piece of paper says, you are my daughter. Nothing changes that.””
“But what if it's true?””
“Then I'll love you exactly the same way tomorrow as I did yesterday.””
She threw her arms around my neck.
I held her tightly.
Behind us, Michael cleared his throat.
“Daniel, there's something else you need to understand.””
I didn't release Maya.
“What?””
“Your father established a trust for Maya. A substantial one.””
“How substantial?””
“Forty-two million dollars.””
I slowly stood.
“What?””
Michael opened the blue folder and pulled out another document.
“Your father placed the trust beyond Richard's control. However, there's a clause that becomes active when Maya turns eighteen. Until then, the guardian has complete authority over certain investment decisions.””
I looked at the signature.
My own name appeared beneath the guardianship authorization.
But the signature wasn't mine.
“Who signed this?””
Michael examined it.
“Someone used your identity.””
“Richard?””
“Possibly. But there's another problem.””
He turned the page.
The guardian listed on the document wasn't me.
It was Vanessa.
My stomach tightened.
Vanessa had been legally appointed to manage Maya's inheritance.
And I had never known.
I called her again.
She answered immediately.
“Why are you listed as Maya's guardian?””
Vanessa was silent.
“Daniel, I can explain.””
“Did you marry me to gain access to her trust?””
“No.””
“Then why did you sign these documents?””
“Because your father asked me to.””
I stared at the paperwork.
“My father died eleven months ago. You've been lying to me ever since.””
“I was protecting Maya!””
“From whom?””
Her voice dropped.
“From Richard.””
I glanced at Michael.
“Richard?””
“He wants the trust. He has wanted it since your father died. The baby was supposed to be the final piece of the arrangement.””
I looked at the phone.
“What arrangement?””
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
“The baby was supposed to become the legal heir to the family fortune. Once you signed the adoption documents, Richard would have control of the trust through a separate company.””
Michael suddenly leaned forward.
“Vanessa, who is the baby's biological mother?””
There was a long silence.
Then Vanessa answered.
“Someone Daniel knows.””
I felt my heart pounding.
“Who?””
Before she could answer, the call ended.
I immediately called back.
Disconnected.
Michael grabbed his phone.
“I need to contact the hospital where the baby was born.””
Maya stood beside me.
“Dad?””
I turned.
She was holding the photograph of my father and Vanessa.
“Why would Grandpa keep this secret?””
I looked at the picture.
For the first time, I noticed something written in the lower corner.
A date.
And beneath it, two words.
For Maya.
My father's handwriting.
I turned the photograph over.
There was another message.
When she asks who her mother is, tell her the truth.
I stared at the words.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
If you want to meet Maya's biological mother, come to St. Mary's Hospital. Alone.
May you like
A second message followed.
And bring the original birth certificate.
