Chapter 7: The Third Child
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I stared at the photograph Margaret had placed in my hands.
Three children.
One girl and two boys.
Elizabeth stood behind them, smiling, her arms wrapped protectively around their shoulders. She looked younger than the woman in the hospital photographs, but there was no mistaking her face.
My mother.
I examined the children.
The girl had dark hair and a small crescent-shaped birthmark beneath her ear.
One boy had a scar above his right eyebrow.
Daniel.
The other boy had light hair and a round face.
I looked at Margaret.
“Who is he?””
She lowered her eyes.
“His name was Michael.””
“Was?””
Margaret nodded slowly.
“He was Elizabeth's firstborn son.””
Richard took the photograph from me.
“This is impossible. Elizabeth never mentioned another child.””
“She did,” Margaret replied.
“But only to me.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Where is Michael?””
Margaret's lips trembled.
“I don't know.””
Richard slammed the photograph onto the table.
“Margaret, you have been keeping secrets for twenty-four years. I need the truth now.””
She flinched.
“I was afraid.””
“Of whom?””
“Thomas. And someone much more powerful.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Why were there three children?””
Margaret took a shaky breath.
“Elizabeth gave birth to Michael two years before you and Daniel were born. His father was a man named Alexander Reed.””
Richard went completely still.
“Alexander?””
Margaret nodded.
“He worked for the Carter company. He and Elizabeth were in love, but your grandfather refused to accept their relationship. He believed Alexander was only interested in the family fortune.””
Daniel frowned.
“Then why isn't Michael in the trust?””
“Because Thomas arranged for him to be adopted.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Did Elizabeth agree?””
“No. She was told Michael had died shortly after birth.””
Margaret wiped her cheeks.
“She believed it until she discovered a payment made to a private adoption agency. She spent months searching for him. By the time she found evidence that he was alive, she was already pregnant with you and Daniel.””
Richard sat down heavily.
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“Because she didn't trust you.””
The words struck him harder than a slap.
Daniel looked at Margaret.
“Who was Alexander Reed?””
Margaret hesitated.
“Your mother's first love.””
“Is he still alive?””
She nodded.
“He was the man who delivered the three of you to the hospital.””
I frowned.
“Delivered us?””
Margaret closed her eyes.
“He was a doctor.””
Richard looked at her sharply.
“Alexander Reed was an obstetrician?””
“Yes.””
I felt a strange chill.
The man in the photograph beside Elizabeth had been wearing a doctor's coat.
And beneath the photograph, there was a name.
Dr. Alexander Reed.
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“I've heard that name.””
He searched through his files.
After a few seconds, he showed us a photograph.
A middle-aged man stood beside a hospital entrance.
The caption read:
*DR. ALEXANDER REED — FORMER MEDICAL DIRECTOR, ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL.*
“He retired twelve years ago,” Daniel said.
“Nobody knows where he lives.””
Richard stood.
“Find him.””
Daniel nodded.
But before anyone could move, Margaret grabbed my hand.
“There is something else.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“Michael was not the only child Thomas took away.””
My heart began pounding.
“What do you mean?””
Margaret stared at me.
“After Elizabeth died, Thomas arranged for you and Daniel to be separated. He told the authorities that all three children were dead. But Michael had already been adopted by someone outside the country.””
“Where?””
Margaret shook her head.
“I don't know. Elizabeth left a letter with his name, but Thomas found it before I could.””
Richard turned toward her.
“Why didn't you tell us this before?””
“Because the person who adopted Michael was a member of the Carter family.””
Daniel frowned.
“Who?””
Margaret looked directly at Richard.
“Your mother.””
Richard's face went white.
“My mother died when I was twenty.””
Margaret nodded.
“She adopted Michael before she died. She raised him under another name.””
Silence filled the room.
Richard took a step backward.
“That's impossible.””
Margaret reached into her handbag and removed an old envelope.
It was addressed to Richard.
His mother's handwriting was unmistakable.
He opened it with trembling fingers.
Inside was a short letter.
Richard, if you ever discover what happened to Elizabeth's children, find Michael. He is the only one who knows why Alexander disappeared. Do not trust Thomas. And do not trust the man who tells you he saved Elizabeth.
Richard read the final sentence twice.
Then he looked at me.
“I thought I knew who had betrayed my sister.””
Daniel's phone suddenly rang.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through.
“Daniel?””
Daniel froze.
“Who is this?””
“My name is Michael.””
I grabbed the armrest of my wheelchair.
The caller continued.
“I've been waiting for you to find your sister.””
Daniel looked at me.
Then he whispered, “Where are you?””
The man answered.
“Across the street from the Carter estate.””
Daniel moved toward the exit.
But the caller said one more thing.
“Don't bring Richard.””
Then the call ended.
And Richard's phone immediately received a photograph.
It showed a man standing outside the estate gates.
He had the same crescent-shaped birthmark as mine.
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Underneath the picture were seven words:
*YOUR THIRD CHILD IS NOT YOUR BROTHER.*
