Chapter 9: The Other Daughter
The woman walked toward the house.
Marcus locked the front door.
“Everybody back.””
Maya couldn't stop staring through the shattered window.
The woman looked like Sarah.
But something about her felt different.
Colder.
Sarah moved beside Maya.
“Don't look at her.””
“Why?””
“Because she wants you to recognize her.””
Maya turned.
“Who is she?””
Sarah's voice trembled.
“Your twin.””
Maya stared at her.
“My what?””
Sarah closed her eyes.
“You had a twin.””
Marcus looked at Sarah.
“You never told me.””
“I was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
“That Thomas would find her.””
Maya's voice broke.
“Where is she now?””
Sarah looked toward the woman outside.
“Standing in our yard.””
The front door shook.
The woman knocked once.
Then twice.
Then she spoke.
“Maya.””
Maya flinched.
Her voice sounded almost identical to hers.
Marcus moved in front of Maya.
“Leave.””
The woman laughed.
“You've been saying that for seventeen years.””
Marcus looked at Sarah.
“Who is she?””
Sarah whispered,
“Her name is Mia.””
Maya stared.
“Mia?””
Sarah nodded.
“I named you both before they took you.””
The door shook again.
Mia called out.
“Sarah, open the door.””
Sarah didn't move.
Mia laughed.
“Or should I call you Aunt Sarah?””
Maya looked sharply at Sarah.
“Aunt?””
Sarah's face crumpled.
“She's my niece.””
Marcus stared.
“I don't understand.””
Rebecca's voice suddenly came through the phone.
“I can explain.””
Maya grabbed the phone.
“Then explain everything.””
Rebecca took a breath.
“When you and Mia were born, Thomas decided one child would inherit everything.””
Maya looked at Thomas.
“He chose me.””
Thomas said nothing.
“He chose Maya,” Rebecca continued.
“And he wanted Mia gone.””
Maya's eyes filled.
“What happened to her?””
Rebecca's voice cracked.
“She was given to another family.””
Mia's voice came through the door.
“They called me Emily.””
Maya froze.
Mia continued.
“They told me my real mother died.””
Sarah began crying.
“I searched for you.””
“You didn't search hard enough.””
“I couldn't find you.””
“You didn't try.””
“I did!””
Mia's voice became cold.
“You had Maya.””
Maya looked at Sarah.
“You chose me?””
Sarah shook her head.
“No.””
Mia laughed.
“That's what everyone says.””
Marcus looked at Thomas.
“You knew.””
Thomas finally spoke.
“Yes.””
Maya stared at him.
“You separated twins.””
“I saved one.””
“And destroyed the other.””
Thomas's jaw tightened.
“You were the child who mattered to the family.””
Maya stepped forward.
“I am not a possession.””
Mia suddenly kicked the door.
The frame cracked.
Marcus pulled Maya back.
“Stay behind me.””
Mia called through the door.
“You're protecting her again.””
Marcus looked toward the door.
“I don't know you.””
“You know my face.””
“I know what you've been told.””
Mia laughed.
“Then ask Sarah what happened at the hospital.””
Marcus turned.
Sarah shook her head.
“Not now.””
“Tell me.””
Sarah looked at Maya.
Then at Marcus.
“The doctors gave us two bracelets.””
Maya stared.
“One said Maya.””
Sarah nodded.
“The other said Mia.””
“What happened to Mia's bracelet?””
Sarah's eyes dropped.
“Vanessa took it.””
Everyone turned toward Vanessa.
She was crying.
“I was told to.””
Maya stared at her.
“By Thomas?””
Vanessa nodded.
“And you gave it to him?””
“I gave him the baby records.””
Marcus stepped toward her.
“You helped steal a child.””
“I was terrified.””
“You were paid.””
Vanessa's face collapsed.
“Yes.””
Maya looked at the woman outside.
Mia stood perfectly still.
Then she lifted something in her hand.
A hospital bracelet.
Old.
Faded.
The letters were still visible.
*BABY GIRL REED.*
Maya's eyes widened.
“Reed?””
Thomas said nothing.
Mia smiled.
“My name wasn't Mia.””
She looked directly at Thomas.
“You gave me your last name.””
Thomas whispered,
“Enough.””
“No.””
Mia held up another document.
“You want to know why he hid me?””
She looked at Maya.
“Because I'm not just your twin.””
Maya's breathing stopped.
“What else?””
Mia's eyes filled with tears.
“I'm the legal owner of half of Thomas's estate.””
Thomas lunged toward the door.
Marcus caught him.
Mia stepped backward.
“That's why he needed me erased.””
Thomas shouted,
“She's lying!””
Mia smiled.
“I brought the original will.””
She held up a thick envelope.
Maya looked at Thomas.
“Is it true?””
Thomas didn't answer.
Marcus grabbed the envelope when Mia slipped it through the broken doorway.
He opened it.
His eyes moved down the page.
Then stopped.
“What?””
Maya asked.
Marcus looked at her.
“This isn't just about the estate.””
He turned the page.
“There are names here.””
Sarah stepped closer.
“What names?””
Marcus pointed.
“The people who helped Thomas.””
Maya looked at the list.
Vanessa.
Daniel.
Two doctors.
A judge.
A police officer.
Then one final name.
Marcus's hand began to shake.
Maya read it.
*Marcus Johnson.*
Her father's name.
Maya stared at him.
“No.””
Marcus looked horrified.
“I didn't do this.””
Thomas smiled.
Maya stepped away.
“You're on the list.””
“I swear to you, Maya, I never knew.””
Mia looked at Thomas.
“He signed it.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I never signed anything.””
Thomas laughed softly.
“You did.””
Marcus stared at him.
“When?””
Thomas pointed at the blue box.
“Before Maya was born.””
Marcus's face went pale.
Then he remembered.
A document Vanessa had brought him seventeen years ago.
A hospital consent form.
He had signed it without reading.
Marcus whispered,
“What did I sign?””
Thomas smiled.
“Your daughter's death certificate.””
Maya stared at her father.
And Sarah suddenly screamed.
May you like
“Marcus, run!””
A gunshot exploded from outside.
