Chapter 12: The Woman Who Gave Me Away
I thought I had misunderstood her.
"My real mother?""
Victoria nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at Dad.
He seemed as confused as I was.
"Victoria, what are you talking about?""
She smiled sadly.
"Daniel isn't Margaret's biological son.""
The room became completely silent.
Mom stepped forward.
"That's a lie.""
Victoria held up the photograph.
"Then explain this.""
It showed a young woman holding a newborn baby.
The baby was wrapped in a white blanket.
On the back was a date.
My birthday.
And beneath it, in my father's handwriting, were four words.
Our son. Our secret.
I looked at Dad.
He couldn't meet my eyes.
"Tell me she's lying.""
He sat down slowly.
"Daniel...""
"No. Don't start with that.""
I felt my voice rising.
"Tell me she's lying!""
Mom began crying.
Dad looked at her.
Then he looked at me.
"You're my son.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He swallowed.
"Margaret raised you. She loved you. She has always been your mother.""
I turned toward Mom.
She was shaking her head.
"Daniel, sweetheart, nothing changes how much I love you.""
I wanted to believe her.
But the photograph was still in Victoria's hand.
"Who is the woman?""
Victoria smiled.
"Her name is Helen.""
Andrew stepped forward.
"That's impossible.""
Victoria looked at him.
"Why?""
"Because Helen was my mother.""
My head spun.
Dad closed his eyes.
"There's something I never told either of you.""
He looked at Andrew.
"Your mother had another child after you were born.""
Andrew stared.
"What?""
"A little girl.""
Victoria laughed.
"And that little girl was given to Margaret and Robert.""
Mom covered her mouth.
I looked at her.
"Is that true?""
She nodded slowly.
"Your father and I couldn't have children after we lost our baby. Helen wanted her daughter to have a stable home.""
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
I wasn't Robert and Margaret's biological son.
I was the son of the woman who had given Andrew away.
Andrew was my biological brother.
Michael was my biological cousin.
Evelyn was my sister.
And Victoria had somehow managed to turn all of us against each other.
But something still didn't make sense.
"Why did you hide this?"" I asked Dad.
He looked devastated.
"Because Helen made us promise never to tell you unless she came forward herself.""
"Why?""
"She believed you would be safer growing up with us.""
Victoria laughed.
"Safer? Look at him now.""
The police officer moved closer.
"Mrs. Carter, put the photograph down.""
Victoria ignored him.
She looked at Mom.
"You got to raise her child. You got to be called Mother. You got everything I wanted.""
Mom stepped forward.
"I loved Daniel as my own.""
Victoria's expression twisted.
"And I spent my entire life watching you enjoy a family that should have been mine.""
I stared at her.
"Is that why you did all this?""
"Partly.""
"Partly?""
She looked toward Michael.
"Your brother was supposed to inherit the business. But Robert kept changing the rules. He gave you control.
He gave Evelyn a trust. He even brought Andrew back into the family.""
Dad shook his head.
"I was trying to make things right.""
Victoria laughed.
"You were trying to buy forgiveness.""
Then she turned toward me.
"Rachel understood something your father never did. People don't care about family. They care about money.""
I took a step forward.
"Where is Rachel?""
Victoria smiled.
"She went to find Helen.""
My heart stopped.
"Why?""
"Because Helen has the final document.""
"What document?""
Victoria looked directly at me.
"The original adoption agreement. It names the person who paid to have you removed from her custody.""
I looked at Dad.
He was crying now.
"Who paid?""
Victoria leaned closer.
"Your biological mother.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't make sense.""
"She didn't want you growing up poor. She was offered money by someone who promised you a better life.""
"Who?""
Victoria opened her mouth.
But Michael interrupted.
"Don't listen to her.""
Everyone turned.
He stepped toward me.
"Daniel, I found the original agreement two months ago.""
My stomach tightened.
"Where?""
"In Dad's old office.""
"And who paid Helen?""
Michael looked down.
Then he answered.
"Grandfather.""
I frowned.
"Our grandfather?""
Michael nodded.
"He paid Helen to give you to Robert and Margaret because he wanted an heir who would inherit the family company.""
Dad looked away.
I felt sick.
My entire life had been arranged by people who treated children like pieces on a financial board.
Mom came toward me.
"Daniel, I don't care who gave birth to you. I chose you every single day.""
I looked at her.
She was crying.
And I believed her.
I reached for her hand.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A woman's voice came through.
"Daniel?""
I froze.
"Who is this?""
"My name is Helen.""
I couldn't speak.
She continued.
"I know you've heard things about me. Some of them are true. Some aren't.""
"Where are you?""
"At the old church near your father's property.""
"Why are you there?""
"Because Rachel came to see me.""
My stomach tightened.
"What did she want?""
"She wanted the adoption agreement.""
"Do you have it?""
"Yes.""
"Then give it to the police.""
Helen began crying.
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because the document proves something much worse.""
I looked toward Dad.
He was staring at me.
Helen whispered:
"Daniel, the man who paid to take you away wasn't your grandfather.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Then who?""
A long silence followed.
Finally, she answered.
"Your biological father.""
I couldn't breathe.
"But Robert is my father.""
"Robert raised you. He loved you. But he isn't the man who gave you life.""
I closed my eyes.
"Who is?""
Helen's voice trembled.
"His younger brother.""
I looked at Dad.
He stood motionless.
Mom whispered something I couldn't hear.
Helen continued.
"Daniel, your biological father is the man who died in the coffin at your father's funeral.""
I dropped the phone.
Victor Hale.
The man everyone had buried under Robert Carter's name.
My biological father.
And before I could process that revelation, another message appeared on my screen.
It was from Rachel.
*I've found Helen. She knows everything. If you want her alive, bring me the original Northbridge key.*
I looked at the silver key in my hand.
Then at the man who had raised me.
May you like
And for the first time, I wondered whether my father's greatest secret wasn't that he had faked his death.
It was that he had spent forty-two years protecting me from the truth about my birth.
