Chapter 13: The Document That Could Take Ethan Away
Daniel stared at Margaret.
For several seconds, the noise around him seemed to disappear.
Police radios crackled. Officers moved around the farmhouse. An ambulance attendant spoke to Rebecca.
But Daniel heard only one sentence.
Ethan isn't your biological son.
He looked at Thomas.
“Tell me she's lying.””
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“Daniel…”
“Tell me she's lying!””
His father struggled to answer.
Margaret adjusted her handbag.
“There's no reason to shout. The truth is finally coming out.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“You let me raise him. You watched me love him. You watched me search for him when Ray took him away.””
Margaret shrugged.
“You were a good father. Nobody disputes that.””
“Then why are you doing this?””
“Because he's my child.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You haven't called him once in twelve years.””
“I had my reasons.””
“You didn't attend his birthday parties. You didn't watch him learn to walk. You weren't there when he had nightmares. You weren't there when he broke his arm.””
Margaret's expression remained cold.
“And yet here we are.””
Daniel stepped toward her.
Hank immediately moved beside him.
“Easy.””
Margaret reached into her handbag and removed a thick envelope.
“This is the document I mentioned.””
Officer Bennett stepped forward.
“Hand it to me.””
Margaret shook her head.
“It concerns a private family arrangement.””
“Given the circumstances, nothing about this is private anymore.””
Margaret reluctantly handed over the envelope.
Inside was a hospital birth record dated December seventeenth, fourteen years earlier.
The mother's name was Margaret Parker.
Two children were listed.
One male.
One female.
The male child's original name was Ethan Reeves.
The female child's name was Olivia Reeves.
Daniel stared at the document.
“Why does it say Reeves?””
Margaret answered calmly.
“Samuel was listed as the biological father.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
Daniel turned toward him.
“You knew?””
Thomas nodded.
“I found out after Ethan was born.””
Daniel felt sick.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because your mother told me the hospital records were wrong. She said Samuel had agreed to keep the truth hidden.””
Margaret interrupted.
“Samuel was never supposed to be involved in raising either child.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Then why did you give Ethan to Linda?””
Margaret's expression changed slightly.
“Because I needed him somewhere safe.””
“Safe from what?””
“From the people who wanted the inheritance.””
Daniel looked toward Rebecca.
She was reading the birth certificate.
Then she noticed something.
“Margaret, this isn't the original.””
Margaret stiffened.
“What?””
Rebecca pointed at the bottom.
“The hospital seal is a photocopy. The original record would have a handwritten verification number.””
Officer Bennett examined it.
“She's right.””
Margaret's jaw tightened.
“It's an official copy.””
“Not necessarily,” Rebecca replied.
She reached into the blanket covering her lap and pulled out a small plastic sleeve.
Inside was a faded hospital bracelet.
The name printed on it was:
*BABY BOY REEVES — DECEMBER 17.*
Daniel stared.
“Where did you get that?””
Rebecca swallowed.
“I found it in the farmhouse. Olivia gave it to me.””
Margaret's expression changed completely.
“Where is that bracelet?””
Rebecca held it tighter.
“Somewhere you can't reach.””
Officer Bennett examined the bracelet.
“Is there anything else?””
Rebecca nodded.
“Olivia told me the original hospital records were hidden in the trust office.””
Thomas looked up.
“Your grandfather kept a separate medical file. He knew Margaret had arranged the adoption without Daniel's knowledge.””
Daniel stared at him.
“Adoption?””
Thomas nodded.
“Your grandfather discovered that the hospital records had been altered. He tried to reverse the arrangement.””
Margaret laughed.
“He couldn't reverse anything. The papers were signed.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“Not all of them.””
She pointed toward the final page of the trust agreement.
“The original documents state that Ethan was legally adopted by Daniel and Linda under a sealed family adoption order.””
Daniel's breathing slowed.
“So…”
Rebecca nodded.
“Even if Margaret is his biological mother, she has no automatic parental rights.””
Margaret's face darkened.
“That's not true.””
Officer Bennett looked at her.
“That's something a family court can determine.””
Margaret took a step backward.
“You can't keep him from me.””
Daniel finally spoke.
“Watch me.””
A police officer approached.
“Officer Bennett, we've got an update.””
She turned.
“What is it?””
“The county hospital confirmed that the original adoption order exists. They're sending a certified copy.””
Margaret's composure cracked.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression changed.
She answered.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice came through.
Margaret listened.
Then she whispered:
“What do you mean she escaped?””
Daniel looked at Hank.
Hank heard it too.
Margaret turned away.
“Where is she?””
The caller answered.
Margaret closed her eyes.
Then she ended the call.
Officer Bennett stepped forward.
“Who was that?””
Margaret said nothing.
Rebecca suddenly understood.
“Olivia.””
Margaret looked at her.
“She's not supposed to be involved.””
Rebecca stood despite her injuries.
“She's your daughter!””
Margaret's voice became sharp.
“She was supposed to stay out of this.””
Daniel moved closer.
“Where is Olivia?””
Margaret stared at him.
Then she gave a small, bitter smile.
“Ask Samuel.””
Everyone turned toward the doctor.
Samuel had been sitting inside a police vehicle.
He looked up.
“Don't listen to her.””
Officer Bennett approached.
“Dr. Reeves, where is your daughter?””
Samuel swallowed.
“I don't know.””
Margaret laughed.
“He knows exactly where she is.””
Samuel's eyes filled.
Then he finally spoke.
“Olivia has the original trust documents.””
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“Where?””
Samuel looked at Margaret.
“She's going to the courthouse.””
Margaret's face went white.
Because the courthouse was where the original will had to be filed before the inheritance could be transferred.
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And if Olivia reached it first, Margaret would lose the only thing she had spent fourteen years protecting.
Her control.
