Chapter 12: The Price of a Child
I read the message again.
Release the funds or Oliver will disappear.
My grandmother had created the private account to protect us.
Now someone was using a child to threaten us.
Eleanor immediately contacted the bank's security department.
"Freeze all pending authorization requests," she ordered.
"Nobody accesses this account without direct verification.""
Vanessa took photographs of the screen.
"This is attempted extortion.""
My father was already dialing the police.
"Oliver is in danger.""
I looked at the last message.
"Where is Madison?""
Vanessa checked her phone.
"I've been trying to reach her.""
"Call again.""
She did.
Straight to voicemail.
My father paced the office.
"I should have told you about Rachel years ago.""
I looked at him.
"Yes. You should have.""
He stopped.
"I was ashamed.""
"Of what?""
"Of abandoning her. Of letting my father control my life. Of building a new family while pretending the first one never existed.""
I stared at him.
"Did you know she had a child?""
"No.""
"Did you ever try to find her?""
He shook his head.
"I was told she had moved overseas.""
I looked at the photograph of Rachel and Madison.
"She spent her whole life believing you abandoned her.""
Dad's eyes filled.
"I know.""
For a moment, I wanted to comfort him.
Then I remembered the notebook.
The secret accounts.
The thirty years of silence.
I couldn't make his regret my responsibility.
Vanessa's phone rang.
She answered.
"Madison?""
Her expression changed.
"Where are you?""
A woman's voice came through the speaker.
I recognized it immediately.
Madison.
"I'm at a motel outside the city.""
"Are you alone?""
"Yes.""
"Where is Oliver?""
There was a pause.
"With Daniel.""
My father grabbed the phone.
"Where is my grandson?""
Madison started crying.
"Robert?""
"Madison, listen to me. We're going to bring Oliver home.""
"You don't understand. Daniel said he would take him out of the country.""
Vanessa took the phone back.
"Madison, why did you help him?""
"I didn't. I thought he was taking Oliver somewhere safe.""
"Did you know Daniel was his biological father?""
Silence.
Then Madison whispered, "Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
She had known.
Not when she first met Ethan.
Not when Oliver was born.
But recently.
She had discovered the truth and still allowed Daniel to take her child.
"Madison," I said.
She started sobbing.
"Claire, I'm sorry.""
"Where is Daniel?""
"I don't know exactly. He told me to meet him at a motel, but he left before I arrived.""
"Why?""
"He said he needed to secure the money first.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She nodded.
"Madison, did he tell you about the private account?""
"Yes.""
"Did he threaten you?""
"He said if I didn't cooperate, he would make sure I lost Oliver.""
My father spoke quietly.
"He's your father too.""
Madison went silent.
"What?""
"Robert Bennett. I'm your biological father.""
I could hear her breathing.
Then she laughed once.
It was a broken, disbelieving sound.
"That's impossible.""
"I have the DNA report.""
"Daniel told me.""
"Daniel lied.""
Madison began crying harder.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
My father closed his eyes.
"Because I didn't know.""
She hung up.
I looked at the phone.
"She needs time.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"We don't have much time. Daniel has a flight scheduled tonight.""
"Then we find him.""
Detective Harris arrived at the bank twenty minutes later.
He examined the authorization request and listened to the recordings from my grandmother.
When Vanessa played the video identifying Daniel as Oliver's biological father, he immediately requested a copy.
"This changes the investigation," he said.
"Can you track Daniel?"" I asked.
"We're working on it. His passport was flagged earlier today.""
My father leaned forward.
"Then arrest him.""
"We need to locate him first.""
I looked at the detective.
"Can you protect Oliver?""
He nodded.
"We've issued an alert to the relevant authorities. If Daniel attempts to cross the border with the child, he should be stopped.""
Should.
That word terrified me.
I sat beside the bank's conference table, staring at my grandmother's letter.
There was one more envelope inside the velvet pouch.
It was addressed to Madison.
I opened it carefully.
The letter was short.
Madison,
If you are reading this, then you finally know who you are.
I am sorry I could not find your mother sooner. I am sorry the adults around you allowed anger and money to become more important than family.
You have a right to know where you came from. But you do not have to become like the people who hurt you.
Your sister Claire may be the first person in this family who can offer you something that money never could.
An honest choice.
I folded the letter.
My grandmother had called Madison my sister.
Not my enemy.
Not a rival.
My sister.
And I wondered whether there was still a chance to save her.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Madison.
*I found something in Daniel's bag. I think it proves everything.*
A photograph followed.
It showed a hospital record.
Oliver's birth certificate.
The original one.
The father's name was clearly visible.
Daniel Foster.
But there was something else.
The record listed a second child.
A twin.
I stared at the screen.
"Vanessa?""
She looked over.
"What?""
I enlarged the photograph.
"Oliver had a twin?""
Vanessa took the phone.
Her face went pale.
The record showed two births.
Oliver Foster.
And a girl named Emily Foster.
Both born on the same day.
But only Oliver had been registered under Madison's name.
"Where is the other child?"" I asked.
Madison sent another message.
*Daniel told me the girl was adopted. He said she was never part of the arrangement.*
My father looked stunned.
"Another grandchild?""
I stared at the document.
The adoption record was dated three days after the birth.
The adoptive parents' names had been blacked out.
Vanessa examined the bottom of the page.
"There's a case number.""
She searched it.
Then stopped.
"What is it?"" I asked.
She looked at me.
"The adoption was handled by the same agency that arranged Rachel's adoption thirty years ago.""
I felt a chill.
The same people.
The same family secret.
The same pattern repeating itself.
Detective Harris took the photograph.
"Where is Madison now?""
"Outside the city," I replied.
He immediately made a call.
Then my phone rang.
Madison.
I answered.
"Where are you?""
Her voice was trembling.
"Claire, I found the little girl.""
I stood.
"What?""
"Emily. She's alive.""
"Where?""
Madison began crying.
"At Patricia's house.""
My father grabbed his coat.
Detective Harris raised his hand.
"Nobody moves until we establish what's happening.""
Then Madison whispered something that made all of us freeze.
"Patricia has been raising her.""
I stared at the phone.
"Why would Patricia raise Daniel's daughter?""
Madison's voice broke.
"Because she told everyone Emily was Ethan's child.""
A terrible silence followed.
Then Madison added:
"And Claire, there's something else. Patricia has a document with your signature. It says you agreed to adopt Emily as part of your marriage to Ethan.""
I looked at the detective.
My father was already shaking his head.
I had never signed such a document.
But Patricia had apparently prepared an entire future for me.
A future in which I married Ethan, accepted his debts, raised another woman's child, and surrendered my inheritance.
Detective Harris picked up his radio.
"We're going to Patricia's house.""
Before he left, my phone vibrated one last time.
May you like
A message from Madison.
*Please hurry. Patricia just told Emily that her real mother is dead.*
