Chapter 7: The Sister Nobody Knew Existed
“Rebecca Shaw is your husband's half-sister.””
I stared at the phone, waiting for Adrian Bell to take the words back.
He didn't.
“That isn't possible,” I whispered.
“I'm afraid it is.””
“Marcus's father died six years ago. If he had another daughter, Marcus would know.””
“Would he?””
The question made my stomach turn.
I looked across Camille's living room toward the crib where Lily slept. My daughter had no idea that strangers were discussing her bloodline, her inheritance, and the circumstances of her birth as though she were a piece of property.
“Tell me everything,” I said.
“Not over the phone. I can meet you tomorrow morning.””
“I'm not waiting until tomorrow. You contacted my sister. You knew about the hospital.
You knew about the trust. You owe me answers.””
Adrian was silent for several seconds.
“Your father-in-law, Richard Carter, had a relationship with a woman named Elaine Shaw more than thirty years ago. Rebecca was born from that relationship. Richard provided financial support for a period, but the arrangement was never formally acknowledged by the family.””
“And Diane knew?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“She discovered the relationship years ago. According to documents I reviewed, she negotiated a settlement with Elaine.””
I felt a cold pressure in my chest.
“What kind of settlement?””
“Financial support in exchange for confidentiality.””
“And Rebecca?””
“Rebecca was a child. She wasn't involved in those negotiations.””
I pressed my free hand against my forehead.
“So Diane knew Marcus had a half-sister, but she hid her from him.””
“That appears to be the case.””
“Why would she suddenly care about Rebecca's daughter now?””
“Because Richard's trust contains a provision for descendants whose existence was concealed from the family. If a concealed descendant is verified, the trust administrator must review the distribution of certain assets.””
I thought of the amendment Marcus had signed.
“And if the records are disputed?””
“The distribution can be suspended while the dispute is investigated.””
“Which means someone could keep Rebecca's daughter from inheriting.””
“Or keep your daughter from inheriting,” Adrian said.
“Depending on how the amendment is interpreted.””
I sat down heavily.
The picture was becoming clearer, but it was also becoming more frightening.
Diane had concealed Rebecca's existence for decades. Now that Rebecca had a daughter of her own, the old secret threatened the Carter estate.
But why had someone used Lily's records?
“Did Rebecca know who her father was?”” I asked.
“Yes.””
“Did she know about the trust?””
“She had recently begun seeking legal recognition of her relationship to Richard Carter.””
“And that is why she was at the hospital?””
“No. She was there because she was giving birth.””
His answer was so blunt that I almost laughed.
For a moment, I had been imagining a conspiracy in which Rebecca herself had deliberately placed her baby beside mine to claim part of Marcus's inheritance.
But Rebecca was a woman who had just delivered a child. She deserved the same presumption of innocence I had been denied.
“Did you meet her?”” I asked.
“No. I was there to speak with Diane about the amendment.””
“You said you were investigating the trust.””
“I am a private investigator hired by a representative of the estate. My assignment was to establish whether the beneficiary verification process had been manipulated.””
“Who hired you?””
“I can't disclose that until we meet.””
“Then I have no reason to trust you.””
“You shouldn't trust me simply because I'm telling you something you want to hear, Mrs. Carter. Verify what I say.””
I appreciated the answer more than I wanted to.
“Tomorrow morning,” I said.
“But if I discover you're lying to me, I'll make sure the police know your name.””
“That is entirely fair.””
I ended the call.
Camille stood in the doorway, holding a folded baby blanket.
“What happened?””
I told her.
When I finished, she sat beside me and stared at the floor.
“Do you think Marcus knew?””
“I don't know anymore.””
“Would he hide a sister from you?””
“I don't think so.””
“But?””
I looked toward the crib.
“But I didn't think he would throw us out of our home either.””
Camille reached for my hand.
“You don't have to decide what to believe tonight.””
I wanted to accept that comfort.
Instead, I called Marcus.
He answered immediately.
“Nia? Is Lily okay?””
“She is. I need to ask you something.””
“Anything.””
“Did you know your father had another daughter?””
Silence.
Not a brief pause while someone searches for an answer.
A deep, complete silence.
Then Marcus said, “Who told you that?””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“So you knew.””
“No. I mean—I've heard rumors.””
“What rumors?””
He exhaled.
“When Dad died, I found a letter in his study. It mentioned a woman named Elaine and a child he had supported. Mom told me the woman had been trying to extort money from him.””
“Did you believe her?””
“I was twenty-nine. Dad was dead. Mom showed me a letter from a lawyer demanding money, and she said the whole thing was a scam.””
“Did you ever investigate?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because I trusted her.””
I closed my eyes.
There it was again.
Trust.
The word that had destroyed our marriage for three days, and now seemed to explain nearly every secret in the Carter family.
“Did you sign a document authorizing a review of potential beneficiaries before Lily was born?”” I asked.
Marcus didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, “Yes.””
My heart sank.
“You told me you had no idea about the amendment.””
“I didn't know what the document would be used for. Mom said it was a routine update to the trust administration. She told me the lawyer needed my signature because Dad's estate had never been fully settled.””
“And you signed it without reading it?””
“I read the first page. The rest was attached as an appendix.””
“Marcus.””
“I know how that sounds.””
“It sounds like you gave someone permission to interfere with our daughter's future without knowing what you were signing.””
His breathing grew uneven.
“I never intended to hurt Lily.””
“Intentions aren't the same as consequences.””
“I know.””
I heard a door close on his end.
Then he spoke more quietly.
“Mom called me ten minutes ago. She says you have been talking to a private investigator. She wants me to bring you home before you make things worse.””
My stomach tightened.
“How does she know I've spoken to Adrian?””
Marcus went silent.
“Marcus?””
“She didn't say his name.””
“But she knew I was talking to someone.””
“Yes.””
I stood and walked toward the window.
“Your mother is watching this investigation.””
“I don't know what she's doing.””
“Then start finding out.””
He sounded desperate now.
“Nia, please. Come home. We can figure this out together.””
I looked at the crib.
At Camille, who was quietly washing bottles in the kitchen.
At the bag Diane had packed as though my life could be reduced to a few essential belongings.
“I'm not coming home until I know my daughter is safe.””
“She is safe.””
“You told me that the hospital report was enough to throw us out. You don't get to decide what safe means anymore.””
He didn't argue.
Instead, he whispered, “I love you.””
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
I loved him too.
That was the cruelest part.
“I need to see what you do next, Marcus,” I said.
“Not what you promise.””
I ended the call.
At 11:17 p.m., a message arrived from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of a handwritten letter.
I recognized Richard Carter's signature from the birthday cards Marcus kept in his study.
The letter began:
To my son, Marcus. If you are reading this, then Diane has probably told you that Elaine Shaw was trying to take advantage of our family.
I read the next line.
Do not believe her.
My hands began to shake.
The message included one final sentence beneath the photograph.
Your father knew the truth about Rebecca, and he left evidence proving it.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
Ask your mother what she did with the original birth certificate.
