Chapter 7: The Daughter My Mother Gave Away
I read the message three times before I could make sense of it.
She says Nia isn't the only child she gave away.
My mother had another child?
I looked at Richard.
"How many children does my mother have?""
Richard adjusted his cufflinks.
"That's a question you should ask her.""
"You've spent the last twenty minutes telling me things about my family. You don't get to suddenly become mysterious.""
He gave me a cold smile.
"Your mother has always been good at keeping secrets.""
Detective Bennett stepped between us.
"Mr. Whitmore, you're coming with us.""
Richard didn't resist.
He simply looked at me.
"Be careful what you uncover, Michael. Some families are better left buried.""
The officers escorted him outside.
Andrew remained in custody, answering questions from another detective.
I turned toward Bennett.
"I need to go to the hospital.""
She nodded.
"We'll arrange an escort.""
"Why? Do you think someone will attack my mother again?""
"I think someone has already tried.""
That answer was enough.
Twenty-five minutes later, I walked into the hospital room where Evelyn was recovering.
She was sitting upright, wearing a pale blue hospital gown. A bandage covered her forehead, and her left wrist was wrapped in gauze.
When she saw me, her eyes filled.
"Michael.""
I crossed the room and hugged her carefully.
"Mom, why didn't you tell me?""
She closed her eyes.
"I was hoping you'd never have to know.""
"How many children do you have?""
Her face crumpled.
"Three.""
I stepped back.
"Three?""
She nodded.
"Three children. Two daughters and a son.""
I stared at her.
"Who are they?""
She reached for my hand.
"You're my youngest.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't make sense. I'm twenty-eight. Dad died when I was eleven. You told me you were married to him for years before I was born.""
"We were.""
"Then how could you have two daughters before me?""
She looked toward the window.
"Your father and I weren't always together.""
I sat down.
"Start from the beginning.""
She took a shaky breath.
"Before I met your father, I was engaged to a man named Samuel Carter. We were young. I was twenty, and he was twenty-two. We had a daughter together.""
"What happened?""
"He left.""
"Why?""
"He was involved with people who weren't safe. He owed money. When I became pregnant, he disappeared.""
I listened without interrupting.
"Your sister was born in 1995. Her name was Grace.""
I frowned.
"Where is she?""
"I gave her up for adoption.""
The words landed heavily.
"Why?""
"Because I couldn't support her. I was working two jobs, living in a one-bedroom apartment, and her father was gone. A family offered her a home.""
"Did you ever see her again?""
My mother nodded.
"Once.""
"When?""
"About ten years ago. She was a teenager. She found me through an adoption agency.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"She asked me not to.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"And Nia?""
My mother's expression changed.
She stared at the blanket.
"Nia was born before you.""
I waited.
"After I met your father, we tried to have a child. But I suffered a miscarriage. It nearly destroyed me.""
Her voice trembled.
"Your father was working constantly. I was lonely. One night, I made a terrible mistake.""
I felt something twist in my stomach.
"Mom.""
"I had an affair.""
I stood.
"With Richard?""
She nodded.
I couldn't speak.
"Nia was born nine months later," she continued.
"Richard knew she was his daughter. Your father knew too.""
"Then why did Dad raise her?""
My mother began crying.
"Because your father loved her.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't make sense. You told me Nia was Richard's daughter.""
"She was raised by Richard. But biologically, she's Richard's daughter too. What I didn't tell you is that your father was listed as her legal guardian for several years.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Richard's wife had died shortly after Nia was born. He was struggling with his businesses, and I was afraid he would use her as leverage against me. Your father helped arrange the guardianship.""
I sat again.
"So Nia and I are...""
"Not biologically related.""
I exhaled.
"But she was my father's responsibility.""
My mother nodded.
"He loved her like a daughter.""
I thought about the photograph.
Nia beside my father.
The old note.
The recording.
"Did she know?""
"Yes.""
"All her life?""
"Richard told her when she was sixteen.""
I looked away.
"And she still married me.""
My mother closed her eyes.
"That's why I tried to stop it.""
I stood abruptly.
"Why didn't you tell me before the wedding?""
"I tried.""
"When?""
"Three weeks ago. I called you, but Nia answered.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did she say?""
"She told me you were busy. Then she came to see me the following morning.""
My mother reached for the glass of water on the bedside table.
"She asked me for your father's documents. She said she wanted to help you understand your inheritance.""
"Did you give them to her?""
"I thought she wanted to protect you.""
I walked toward the window.
Everything was becoming worse.
Nia knew about my father's past.
She knew about the money.
She knew about my mother's secrets.
And she had married me anyway.
"Mom, why did you say she wasn't supposed to survive the drive here?""
My mother looked at me.
"Because I recognized Andrew.""
"How?""
"He was outside my apartment two nights ago. He told me to stop investigating. I refused.""
She took a breath.
"Yesterday, he followed me to the old house. When I confronted him, he attacked me. I managed to escape, but he chased me.""
"Did Nia know?""
My mother hesitated.
"I don't know.""
I looked at her.
"Mom, I need the truth.""
She reached under her pillow and pulled out a folded photograph.
"This is why I think Nia may have been involved.""
I took it.
The photograph showed Nia standing outside a hospital.
Beside her was a woman I didn't recognize.
The woman held a newborn baby.
On the back, my mother had written:
Grace. 1998.
I looked up.
"Why does this say Grace?""
My mother whispered, "Because that's your sister.""
I studied the woman's face.
Then I noticed something.
The woman holding the baby had the same distinctive scar above her left eyebrow as Nia.
My hands began to shake.
"Mom, who is this woman?""
She swallowed.
"That's Grace.""
I stared at the photograph.
The baby was Nia.
My mother nodded.
"Your sisters knew each other long before you did.""
I couldn't understand.
"Why?""
"Because Richard arranged their adoptions. He wanted both girls close to him.""
"Then why did you say Grace was adopted by another family?""
"She was. But Richard paid that family to let him maintain contact.""
My phone rang.
Detective Bennett.
I answered.
"Michael, I need you to come back to the station.""
"Why?""
"We found something in Andrew's vehicle.""
"What?""
There was a pause.
"Your wife's passport.""
I frowned.
"Why would that be in his car?""
Bennett lowered her voice.
"Because she was supposed to leave the country tonight.""
I looked at my mother.
Then the detective added something that made my blood run cold.
"Mr. Carter, we also found a second passport.""
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It was issued under the name Grace Carter.
My missing sister.
