Chapter 16: The Child My Father Never Told Me About
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
The photograph trembled in my hands.
My father was holding a newborn baby.
The hospital bracelet carried a name I had never heard before.
Rebecca Reed.
And beneath the photograph, his handwriting contained a sentence that made no sense.
For the day Laura learns the truth about her family.
I looked at Rachel.
"Samuel has a child?""
Rachel didn't answer immediately.
"That's what the photograph suggests. It doesn't prove the baby was his.""
"Then whose baby was it?""
"We need to establish that.""
I called Samuel.
He answered quickly.
"Laura?""
"Who is Rebecca Reed?""
Silence.
I looked at Rachel.
"Samuel, answer me.""
His voice became quieter.
"Where did you find that name?""
"At Vanessa's apartment. There was a photograph of my father holding a newborn. The baby's hospital bracelet said Rebecca Reed.""
Another silence.
Then Samuel said, "You need to come back.""
"No. I'm done being sent from one office to another while everyone decides what I deserve to know.""
"Laura—"
"Did my father have another child?""
Samuel exhaled.
"Yes.""
The word seemed to drain the air from the room.
I gripped the edge of the desk.
"Who?""
"Her name was Rebecca.""
"Who was her mother?""
"I can't explain everything over the phone.""
"Then explain one thing. Why did my father hide her?""
Samuel's voice broke.
"Because her mother died shortly after she was born, and the people who wanted control of your father's company had already begun using family connections to threaten him.""
I looked at Rachel.
"Was Rebecca yours?""
"No.""
"Then why does she have your surname?""
Samuel paused.
"Because I raised her.""
My stomach tightened.
"You raised my father's child?""
"Yes.""
"Without telling me?""
"Your father asked me to protect her. He believed she would be safer if she had a different legal identity.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Is she alive?""
"Yes.""
"Where is she?""
"I don't know where she is right now.""
That answer frightened me more than anything else.
"What do you mean you don't know?""
"She left the country several years ago. We lost contact after she discovered some of the records had been altered.""
Rachel stepped closer.
"Samuel, we're coming to your office. Please don't leave.""
He agreed.
Before ending the call, I asked one final question.
"Did Daniel know about Rebecca?""
Samuel didn't hesitate.
"Yes.""
My blood went cold.
"How?""
"Your father told him before he died. Daniel promised to help protect her.""
I laughed once, without humor.
"Daniel promised a lot of things.""
When we arrived at Samuel's office, he was standing beside the window.
He looked older than he had the day before.
The photograph lay on his desk.
Samuel picked it up.
"Your father loved both of you," he said.
I felt anger rise.
"Then why did he make me live my entire life without knowing I had a sister?""
"Because he thought he was protecting you.""
"Everyone keeps saying that. My father, you, Tasha. Meanwhile, people were stealing from me, lying to me, and making decisions about my life.""
Samuel lowered his head.
"I know.""
He opened a drawer and removed a sealed envelope.
"Your father left this for you.""
I took it.
The envelope had my name written across the front.
Inside was a letter.
My dearest Laura,
If you are reading this, then the people I trusted to protect the truth have failed.
There is something I should have told you years ago.
You have a sister.
Her name is Rebecca. Her mother, Anna, worked with me during the early years of Bennett Development Group. She discovered that Patrick was using company records to secure loans against properties he did not own.
When Anna became pregnant, she feared Patrick would use the child to pressure me.
She asked Samuel to raise Rebecca if anything happened to her.
After Anna died, I kept Rebecca's existence private. I believed the safest way to protect her was to keep her outside the family business.
I was wrong to keep you in the dark.
I wanted to tell you when the danger passed. It never did.
I stopped reading.
My eyes blurred.
Rachel sat beside me.
I continued.
Daniel learned about Rebecca when he discovered the original trust records. He promised to protect her. But I later found evidence that he had been communicating with Patrick.
If Daniel ever tries to take control of the company, do not assume he is acting alone.
Find Rebecca. She has something I could not safely keep.
The letter ended with a sentence that made my hands go numb.
She has the original recording of Anna's final conversation with me.
I looked up.
"Anna's final conversation?""
Samuel nodded.
"Anna believed Patrick was planning to steal the company. She recorded a conversation with your father before she disappeared.""
"Disappeared?""
Samuel looked uncomfortable.
"She died in a car accident.""
"Was it investigated?""
"Yes. But there were questions about the circumstances.""
I looked back at the letter.
"Where is Rebecca now?""
Samuel opened another file.
He handed me a copy of a travel document and an old email address.
"Your father kept every message she sent him. The last one came from a small town in Oregon.""
Rachel took the document.
"We'll have to verify this information and locate her through proper channels.""
My phone rang.
Michael Grant.
"Laura, the emergency hearing has been moved forward. Daniel's attorney is already at the courthouse.""
I looked at the clock.
We had less than two hours.
"What's happening?""
"Daniel has submitted another document. A purported letter from your father stating that he intended to transfer the company to Daniel before his death.""
I stared at Samuel.
"That's impossible.""
Samuel nodded.
"Your father never signed such a letter.""
Michael continued.
"There's something else. Daniel is claiming you obtained confidential company records unlawfully.""
Rachel took the phone.
"We have original ownership documents and evidence of forged transfers.""
"Bring everything," Michael said.
"And Laura, don't speak to Daniel without me present.""
We hurried to the courthouse.
Daniel was standing outside the courtroom with his attorney.
When he saw me, his expression shifted.
For a moment, I saw the man I had married.
Then he smiled.
"Laura. We need to talk.""
I walked past him.
He caught my arm.
"Please.""
Rachel immediately stepped between us.
"Don't touch her.""
Daniel released me.
His eyes moved to the envelope in my hand.
"What's that?""
"Something you should have told me about.""
His face changed.
"Samuel talked to you.""
"Yes.""
Daniel glanced toward the courtroom.
"Laura, you don't understand what your father did.""
"Then explain it.""
He leaned closer.
"Rebecca isn't who you think she is.""
I felt my heart pound.
"Who is she?""
Daniel looked toward his attorney.
Then he whispered:
"She's the reason your father started all of this.""
Before I could respond, the courtroom doors opened.
A clerk called our names.
Daniel stepped away.
May you like
And as I entered the courtroom, he said one last thing.
"Ask Samuel who really signed Rebecca's birth certificate.""
