Chapter 4: The Daughter Who Wasn't His
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
I stared at Stephanie, waiting for her to take back what she had just said.
She didn't.
Instead, she lowered herself into the chair and pressed both hands against her face.
"Say that again," I whispered.
Stephanie shook her head.
"Claire, please.""
"No. You don't get to drop something like that and then ask me to be quiet. Which one of us isn't Dad's daughter?""
Nathan looked toward the conference room door.
Alexander stood beside me, his expression unreadable.
Mr. Bennett carefully gathered the documents.
"I believe we should pause until everyone understands the implications of this conversation.""
"Nobody is leaving," I said.
Stephanie looked at me.
"Mom made me promise not to tell you.""
"Mom is dead.""
The words came out harsher than I intended.
For the first time that morning, Stephanie looked genuinely wounded.
Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded photograph.
It was a picture of our mother standing outside a hospital. She was younger, perhaps thirty, and holding a newborn baby wrapped in a pink blanket.
On the back, someone had written:
Claire Elizabeth Carter. March 14.
My birthday.
I looked at Stephanie.
"What am I supposed to see?""
She swallowed.
"That's you.""
"I know.""
"Look at the bracelet.""
I turned the photograph over.
A tiny hospital bracelet circled the baby's wrist.
The writing was blurry, but I could make out the name of the hospital.
St. Mary's.
Stephanie leaned forward.
"Mom told me that you were born at St. Mary's. But Dad was overseas that month.""
I frowned.
"He was working in London.""
"That's what Mom told everyone.""
"Where are you going with this?""
Stephanie wiped her cheek.
"Three months ago, I found an old envelope in her bedroom. It contained a letter from a doctor. Mom had written that she was afraid Dad would discover the truth.""
My stomach tightened.
"What truth?""
Stephanie looked at Nathan.
He nodded reluctantly.
"Tell her.""
She took a shaky breath.
"Your biological father might not be Richard Carter.""
The room seemed to grow smaller.
I looked at Alexander.
He reached for my hand.
"Claire, breathe.""
I pulled away.
Not because I didn't want his comfort.
Because I couldn't bear anyone touching me while my entire identity was being questioned.
"Who is he?"" I asked.
Stephanie shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"I'm not!""
"Then why did you say one of us isn't Dad's daughter?""
"Because Dad told me!""
Nathan leaned forward.
"He said he had proof.""
I turned toward him.
"And you believed him?""
"He showed Stephanie some documents.""
"What documents?""
"An old medical record. A letter. Something about a private clinic.""
I stared at my sister.
"You knew this for months?""
Stephanie nodded.
"And you decided to keep it from me?""
"I was trying to protect you.""
"By stealing my inheritance?""
She looked down.
"I didn't think it would go this far.""
Alexander finally spoke.
"That's a convenient explanation for someone whose name appears on a fraudulent transfer.""
Stephanie glared at him.
"You have no idea what my father threatened to do.""
"Your father?"" I repeated.
She froze.
I slowly turned toward her.
"You mean our father?""
Stephanie didn't answer.
Alexander pulled out a chair.
"Let's establish one thing. Whether Richard Carter is Claire's biological father has no bearing on the legal ownership of the estate unless a valid legal claim exists. We need evidence, not threats.""
Mr. Bennett nodded.
"Precisely.""
I looked at the attorney.
"Can we get the original medical records?""
"With the appropriate authorization, yes.""
"Then get them.""
Stephanie stood.
"Claire, please don't do this.""
I looked at her diamond ring.
"Do what?""
"Destroy everything.""
I laughed once.
"You destroyed everything six years ago when you decided Nathan belonged to you. You destroyed it again when you used Mom's illness to access her accounts. And now you're asking me to protect you?""
Stephanie's face crumpled.
Nathan reached for her.
She slapped his hand away.
Alexander placed the photograph inside the folder.
"Mr. Bennett, please preserve every document connected to the estate. We also need an independent forensic examination of the signatures.""
"Already arranged," the attorney replied.
Nathan stood.
"I'm done here.""
Alexander looked at him.
"One more thing, Mr. Hayes. Don't move any money connected to your company.""
Nathan's expression hardened.
"Are you threatening me?""
"I'm giving you an opportunity not to make your situation worse.""
Nathan grabbed Stephanie's handbag.
"Come on.""
She didn't move.
For the first time, she seemed unsure whether she wanted to follow him.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
The color drained from her face.
I recognized the name.
UNKNOWN CALLER.
She declined it.
A second later, a message appeared.
Stephanie read it.
Then she looked directly at me.
"He knows.""
"Who?""
She whispered.
"Dad.""
That evening, Alexander and I returned to our home in Boston.
I sat at the kitchen island, staring at the untouched cup of tea in front of me.
Alexander loosened his tie.
"You should eat something.""
"I'm not hungry.""
"Claire.""
I looked up.
"Do you think I'm his daughter?""
He pulled out the chair beside me.
"I think you're the woman I married. And no document can change that.""
I smiled weakly.
"That's a very polished answer.""
"It's the only answer that matters to me.""
He took my hand.
"But we need to find out the truth.""
I nodded.
Then I remembered something.
"Alex, why did Mom call you six weeks ago?""
He looked at me carefully.
"She said someone had visited her.""
"Who?""
"She didn't know his real name. He introduced himself as a representative of your father's attorney.""
"What did he want?""
"Your mother said he asked about your birth records.""
I sat upright.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because she begged me not to frighten you before we understood what was happening.""
I stared at him.
"What else?""
Alexander hesitated.
"She gave me something.""
He walked toward his study.
A minute later, he returned carrying a small cream-colored envelope.
My name was written across it.
I recognized my mother's handwriting.
"She gave this to you?""
"Yes. She told me to open it only if you and Stephanie were both implicated in the estate dispute.""
I took the envelope.
Inside was a small brass key and a handwritten note.
Claire,
The truth is in the blue box.
Your father never knew where I kept it.
Please don't trust anyone who tells you that blood is more important than love.
I turned the note over.
Nothing else.
"What blue box?""
Alexander shook his head.
"I don't know.""
I stared at the key.
Then my phone vibrated.
A text message appeared from an unknown number.
Your mother lied about your father.
A second message followed.
But she also lied about your sister.
May you like
Before I could respond, another message arrived.
Ask Stephanie what happened at the hospital on the night you were born.
