Chapter 10: The Baby in the Photograph
I stared at the photograph until the edges blurred.
My mother was sitting in a hospital bed, holding a newborn baby wrapped in a pink blanket.
She looked exhausted but happy.
Beside her stood a younger woman with dark hair and a small silver necklace.
I didn't recognize her.
I turned the photograph over again.
The truth about Maya's real inheritance begins here.
"What does this mean?"" I asked.
Nobody answered.
My father stood beside the bed, his hands trembling.
Vanessa watched him with an expression I had never seen before.
She wasn't smiling.
She was waiting.
"Richard," I said.
"Who is the baby?""
He swallowed.
"Your half-sister.""
The words seemed to echo around the room.
I looked at him.
"Mom had another child?""
He shook his head.
"Not your mother.""
"Then who?""
He closed his eyes.
"Your biological mother.""
For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood him.
"What?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Now you understand why your mother was so interested in that baby.""
I turned toward her.
"Explain.""
She smiled faintly.
"Your father had a life before Evelyn. A life he conveniently never discussed.""
Dad looked at me.
"I was young.""
"How young?""
"Twenty-three.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"I was engaged to a woman named Claire. We were supposed to get married. She became pregnant, but things weren't working between us.""
"What happened?""
"She left.""
Vanessa interrupted.
"She didn't leave. Your father abandoned her.""
Dad glared at her.
"That's not true.""
"Really? Then tell Maya why Claire spent years trying to contact you.""
I looked between them.
"Claire is my mother?""
Dad nodded slowly.
My legs felt weak.
"Then who was Evelyn?""
His expression crumpled.
"She was the woman who raised you. She was your mother in every way that mattered.""
I turned away.
I remembered Evelyn brushing my hair before school.
I remembered her teaching me to ride a bicycle.
I remembered her sitting beside my bed when I had nightmares.
She was my mother.
But now I was being told that the woman who gave birth to me was someone else.
"Did Mom know?""
Dad nodded.
"She knew before we got married.""
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"Because Evelyn wanted to raise you without making you feel different.""
I looked at the photograph.
"And the baby?""
Dad hesitated.
"Claire had another daughter years later.""
I stared at him.
"How many children did she have?""
"Two.""
"Where is she now?""
Vanessa answered.
"Her name is Sophie.""
I felt dizzy.
"Does she know about me?""
"I don't know," Dad said.
Vanessa laughed.
"Of course she knows. Your mother made sure of that.""
I turned toward her.
"What does that mean?""
She walked to the desk and picked up the photograph.
"Evelyn discovered Claire had another daughter. She found out the girl was struggling financially, and she decided to help.""
"Why?""
"Because your mother had a habit of rescuing people.""
Vanessa tossed the photograph back onto the desk.
"She created a trust for Sophie.""
I looked at Dad.
"With what money?""
He didn't answer.
Vanessa smiled.
"Your mother's inheritance.""
My stomach tightened.
"What inheritance?""
Dad finally spoke.
"Evelyn inherited property from her parents. Several commercial buildings, investments, and a substantial amount of money.""
I stared at him.
"How much?""
"Nearly four million dollars.""
The room fell silent.
Four million.
My mother had possessed that kind of wealth, and I had spent years wearing secondhand clothes while Vanessa told me there wasn't enough money for school activities.
"Where is it now?""
Dad looked toward the floor.
"Most of it is in a protected trust.""
"Whose trust?""
He hesitated.
"Evelyn established it before she died.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"She put everything in that trust to spite me.""
I looked at her.
"Why would she do that?""
"Because she wanted to make sure I never received anything.""
The answer came too quickly.
I turned toward Bear.
He had been listening quietly.
"Do you know about this?""
He nodded.
"Your mother told us she was setting up something for both girls.""
"Both girls?""
"Yes. You and Sophie.""
I looked down at the photograph again.
My mother hadn't forgotten me.
Even while fighting illness, financial deception, and fear, she had been thinking about another child who needed help.
"Did she leave us equal shares?""
Bear hesitated.
"She wanted you both to have security. But the exact terms are in the trust documents.""
I turned toward Dad.
"Where are those documents?""
He looked uncomfortable.
"With the attorney.""
"Martin?""
He nodded.
I felt a strange anger rising.
"Then why didn't he tell me?""
"Because the trust was confidential.""
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
"Don't look so surprised, Maya. Your mother was planning to give millions to a girl she barely knew while leaving you with a father who couldn't even afford to attend your graduation.""
I turned toward her.
"At least she planned for someone else's future.""
Her face tightened.
"Watch your mouth.""
"No.""
I stepped closer.
"You don't get to tell me what to say anymore.""
She looked at Dad.
"Richard, control your daughter.""
He didn't move.
For the first time, he didn't defend her.
I picked up the photograph.
"Where can I find Sophie?""
Dad looked at me.
"I don't know.""
Vanessa's lips curled.
"Try the address your mother kept hidden.""
She reached into her handbag and removed a folded piece of paper.
She threw it onto the desk.
I opened it.
It contained an address in a neighboring town.
And a name.
*SOPHIE BENNETT.*
I looked at Vanessa.
"Why do you have this?""
She smiled.
"Because I've known about her for years.""
My stomach dropped.
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't want you meeting her.""
"Why?""
Vanessa leaned closer.
"Because Sophie knows what Evelyn did with the money.""
I stared at her.
"What did she do?""
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
"She transferred the entire inheritance into a trust that cannot be accessed until both daughters agree.""
I looked at Dad.
"Both daughters?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
I understood.
My signature.
Sophie's signature.
Two people who had never met, holding the key to millions of dollars.
But Vanessa wasn't finished.
"There's one more thing, Maya.""
She pointed at the photograph.
"Your mother didn't just leave Sophie money.""
"What else?""
"She left her something that could put your father in prison.""
Dad's head snapped up.
"Vanessa!""
She ignored him.
Then she looked directly at me.
"Your sister has the original medical records.""
I gripped the photograph.
"How do you know?""
Vanessa smiled.
"Because I was the one who delivered them.""
Before I could ask another question, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I opened the message.
*UNKNOWN: Maya, my name is Sophie. I know who you are. I've been waiting for this day.*
A second message arrived.
*UNKNOWN: Please come alone. There is something your mother wanted you to see before Vanessa finds out I'm still alive.*
I stared at the screen.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
May you like
She was watching me.
And for the first time, I wondered whether my new sister was hiding from the same woman who had destroyed my childhood.
