Chapter 4: The Sister Who Came Back from the Dead
I read Victoria's message four times.
Mom isn't the one who arranged Nia's accident.
Then the second message.
And Daniel isn't the only child she took.
I immediately called her.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
Then someone answered.
“Marcus?””
My younger sister sounded different. Older. Frightened.
“Victoria, where are you?””
“Somewhere Mom can't hear me.””
“What's going on?””
“I can't explain everything over the phone.””
“Then tell me what you can.””
She hesitated.
“Is Nia with you?””
I glanced toward the sofa.
Nia was sitting beside David, clutching the hospital bracelet.
“Yes.””
“Put her on.””
I handed her the phone.
“It's Victoria.””
Nia looked confused.
“Victoria?””
She took the phone.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Then Nia whispered, “You knew?””
Victoria began crying.
“I knew some of it.””
Nia stood abruptly.
“Some of it? You knew I was alive?””
“I found out two years ago.””
“And you did nothing?””
“I was trying to get you out.””
Nia's face hardened.
“Out of where?””
“The clinic.””
Nia went completely still.
I took the phone back.
“Victoria, start talking.””
“I was there the night Mom brought Nia in.””
My stomach tightened.
“You were in the clinic?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Mom threatened me.””
“With what?””
Victoria gave a bitter laugh.
“You really don't know what our mother is capable of, do you?””
I looked at Nia.
She was shaking her head.
“Victoria,” I said, “I want the truth. All of it.””
“Then listen carefully. The accident wasn't random.””
David stopped typing.
“What do you mean?”” I asked.
“Someone tampered with Nia's car.””
The room fell silent.
Nia grabbed my arm.
“Who?””
“I don't know who physically did it. But I know who paid for it.””
My jaw tightened.
“Who?””
“My father.””
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Our father had been dead for nearly twenty years.
“That's impossible.””
“I found the transfer records in his old office. Money was moved through an account connected to a private security company. The final payment went to someone who worked for the delivery company involved in the crash.””
“Victoria, Dad died before Nia and I even met.””
“Exactly.””
She paused.
“That's why I think the accident was planned long before it happened.””
David moved closer.
“Ask her where she found the records.””
I repeated the question.
“In the locked study at the country estate. Mom kept the room exactly as Dad left it. She told everyone it was because she couldn't bear to change anything.””
“Have you seen the documents?””
“Yes. I photographed them.””
“Send them.””
“I can't. Mom monitors the estate network.””
“Then leave.””
“I tried.””
Her voice cracked.
“She took my passport.””
I closed my eyes.
“Victoria, where are you now?””
“An apartment in West London. I got away three nights ago.””
“Why didn't you call me?””
“Because someone followed me from the estate. Yesterday, I found my car's tracking device.””
David mouthed something to me.
Ask for the address.
I did.
Victoria gave it to me.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Marcus, there's another reason you need to hurry.””
“What?””
“Daniel has a sister.””
Nia dropped the bracelet.
It struck the floor.
“No,” she whispered.
I stared at the phone.
“What did you say?””
Victoria was crying openly now.
“Mom told everyone Nia delivered one baby. But there were twins.””
Nia staggered backward.
I caught her before she fell.
“Twins?”” I repeated.
“Yes. A boy and a girl.””
Nia covered her mouth.
“I had twins?””
“I'm sorry.””
“Where is my daughter?””
Victoria took a shaky breath.
“I don't know. Mom told me the girl was adopted by another family. But I found two birth records.””
“Where?””
“In Dad's study.””
“Send me the photographs.””
“I will. But there's something else.””
I waited.
“Mom wasn't alone. The doctor who signed Nia's death certificate was working with someone inside Carter Holdings.””
David looked up sharply.
“Who?””
Victoria whispered a name.
“Richard Hayes.””
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
Richard was my chief financial officer.
He had worked beside me for twelve years.
He had attended my wedding.
He had stood at my funeral reception after Nia's supposed death and told me I needed to be strong.
“Are you sure?””
“I saw his signature on the payment authorization.””
David took out his phone.
“I'll contact the authorities.””
“No!”” Victoria shouted.
“Why not?””
“Because Richard knows every person in our security department. If he finds out we're investigating, he'll destroy everything.””
I looked at David.
He slowly lowered his phone.
“Then we need evidence before anyone knows what we're doing,” I said.
Victoria exhaled.
“Meet me tomorrow morning. There's a storage facility near Paddington. I have copies of the documents there.””
“Send me the location.””
“I will.””
“And Victoria?””
“Yes?””
“Don't go anywhere alone.””
She was silent.
Then she whispered, “Marcus, I'm not afraid of Mom anymore.””
The call ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Nia sat down slowly.
Her hands were trembling.
“Twins,” she whispered.
I knelt in front of her.
“We'll find them.””
She looked at me.
“You have to understand something.””
“What?””
“If there really were two babies, I want both of them. I don't care about your mother's money. I don't care about the company. I want my children.””
I pressed her hands against my chest.
“So do I.””
David cleared his throat.
“Marcus, there's one more issue.””
I turned.
“What?””
He placed his laptop on the coffee table.
“The medical records from the clinic have been partially recovered.””
“Already?””
“Your mother used a private medical facility that recently changed ownership. I contacted an administrator I know.””
He turned the screen toward us.
Two birth records appeared.
Both dated October eighteenth.
One listed a male infant.
The other listed a female infant.
Under the father's name was mine.
Under the mother's name was Nia's.
But the guardian information was different.
The boy had been registered under Eleanor Carter.
The girl had been registered under a woman named Claire Whitmore.
I looked at David.
“Who is Claire Whitmore?””
He swallowed.
“Marcus, I think you should sit down.””
“Tell me.””
“Claire Whitmore is Richard Hayes's wife.””
Nia began crying again.
I stared at the screen.
My mother's lies had not ended with stealing one child.
She had divided my family between two households.
And the woman raising my daughter was married to the man who had helped destroy my marriage.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Victoria.
It contained one photograph.
A little girl with dark curls stood beside a Christmas tree.
She was holding a stuffed rabbit.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten caption.
Our little Lily. Four years old.
I zoomed in on her face.
She had Nia's eyes.
And my mother's unmistakable dimple.
Then I noticed the date of the photograph.
It had been taken three days earlier.
May you like
My daughter was alive.
And she was living with the man who had helped bury her mother.
