Chapter 8: The Evidence Hidden Away
Christopher didn’t speak for almost a minute after saying those words.
My anger was still there.
My confusion was still there.
But beneath everything was something else.
Fear.
Because if Christopher’s father had truly been involved, then the person who had destroyed Lauren’s life was someone who had sat at our family dinners.
Someone who had held our sons as babies.
Someone who had smiled in our home.
“Tell me what happened,” I said.
Christopher rubbed his hands together.
“When my father arrived, Lauren panicked.””
“Was he alone?””
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
“Who was with him?””
Christopher looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
I stared.
“Again?””
“I saw another car.””
“But not who was inside?””
“No.””
“Convenient.””
His face tightened.
“I’m not lying.””
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.””
He looked hurt.
But he didn’t argue.
“Go on.””
Christopher took a deep breath.
“My father told Lauren she needed to leave.””
“And she refused?””
“Yes.””
“What did he do?””
“He threatened her.””
My stomach turned.
“With what?””
“He said he could make sure she never saw the baby.””
I closed my eyes.
“That’s horrible.””
“Yes.””
“And you just stood there?””
The question hurt him.
But I needed the answer.
“I tried to stop him.””
“Did you?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
“My father and I argued.””
“Then?””
“He told me if I cared about my future, I would walk away.””
My heart tightened.
“Your future with me.””
Christopher looked down.
“Yes.””
The room felt painfully quiet.
“So he knew about us.””
“Yes.””
“And he used me.””
“I think so.””
I walked to the window.
Outside, the morning sun was rising.
A beautiful morning.
A terrible morning.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
Christopher’s voice was barely audible.
“Because Lauren disappeared.””
“That’s not an answer.””
“I was afraid.””
“Of your father?””
“Yes.””
I turned.
“You were afraid of a dead man?””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“I was afraid of what he had done.””
That stopped me.
“What do you mean?””
Christopher stood.
“He was powerful.””
“So?””
“He had connections.””
“To what?””
“Everything.””
The way he said it made me uncomfortable.
“Christopher.””
He walked toward a cabinet near the hallway.
“I kept something.””
My heart sank.
“What?””
He opened the cabinet and pulled out an old brown envelope.
I had never seen it before.
“Where did you get that?””
“Lauren gave it to me.””
“When?””
“That night.””
I stared.
“You had evidence?””
“Yes.””
“And you hid it?””
His expression broke.
“I kept it because I didn’t know who to trust.””
“You could have trusted me.””
“I know.””
“Then why didn’t you?””
He opened the envelope.
Inside were photographs.
Documents.
A hospital bracelet.
I picked up the first photograph.
A younger Christopher.
A younger Lauren.
They were standing outside a hospital.
Lauren’s hand rested on her pregnant belly.
I looked at the date.
October 14th.
The same night.
The same night everything changed.
“What is this?””
Christopher looked at the photo.
“That was taken hours before she disappeared.””
I turned to another document.
A medical record.
The name on it made my hands shake.
Lauren Bennett.
Delivery admission.
The date was twenty-two years ago.
I looked at Christopher.
“She gave birth?””
He nodded.
“She was admitted.””
“But you said—”
“I know what I said.””
My heart raced.
“Then what happened?””
Christopher’s face became pale.
“The record was changed.””
“What?””
“Someone altered it.””
“How do you know?””
“Because Lauren found the original.””
I looked down.
The final document was a birth certificate.
The baby’s name was covered.
Only one line was visible.
Mother: Lauren Bennett.
Father: Unknown.
I felt dizzy.
“Christopher…”
He whispered:
“She had Daisy.””
The room went silent.
The truth was no longer a possibility.
It was real.
A child had existed.
A child everyone had hidden.
A child who had spent twenty-two years away from us.
Then Christopher’s phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“What?””
I watched him answer.
“Hello?””
A voice came through.
I couldn’t hear the words.
But I saw Christopher’s face lose all color.
“Where did you get this number?””
Silence.
Then:
“No.””
More silence.
“I told you that was over.””
My heart stopped.
Whoever was calling knew him.
Knew the past.
Knew everything.
Christopher’s voice became desperate.
“You stay away from my family.””
A pause.
Then he hung up.
I stared.
“Who was that?””
He didn’t answer.
“Christopher.””
He looked at me.
“It was someone who knows where Daisy came from.””
“And?””
May you like
His voice dropped.
“They know she’s here.””
