Chapter 7: The Father Who Stole My Life
For a moment, I couldn't hear anything.
Not Daniel.
Not Claire.
Not even the alarm that had started sounding somewhere down the hallway.
I stared at the birth certificate.
My name.
My mother's name.
And Daniel's.
Daniel Whitmore.
The man who had held me while I cried over Marcus.
The man who had attended my mother's funeral.
The man who had kissed my forehead and called me sweetheart.
My father.
“No,” I whispered.
Daniel took a step toward me.
“Give me the folder, Nia.””
I backed away.
“Is it true?””
“It's complicated.””
“Is it true?””
He glanced at Claire.
“She doesn't understand what she's showing you.””
Claire shook her head.
“I understand perfectly.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Claire, sit down.””
“You told me I was crazy.””
“Because you were sick.””
“You told me nobody wanted me.””
“I was protecting you.””
Claire laughed bitterly.
“From my own mother?””
Daniel turned toward me.
“Nia, listen. Your mother and I had a relationship long before you were born. She was unhappy in her marriage, and I was there for her.””
I stared at him.
“My mother was married?””
“Yes.””
“To whom?””
He didn't answer.
I looked down at the birth certificate again.
“Who raised me?””
“Margaret.””
“Was she married when I was born?””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“This isn't the place to discuss it.””
“Then where?””
“Somewhere private.””
I laughed.
It came out as a broken, ugly sound.
“You've had three years to tell me the truth. Three years, Daniel.””
He stepped closer.
“Your mother wanted you to believe something different.””
“What did she want me to believe?””
“That I was just another family friend.””
I shook my head.
“Why?””
“Because she was afraid.””
“Of you?””
His silence answered me.
A nurse appeared in the doorway.
“Is everything all right?””
Daniel immediately changed his expression.
He smiled politely.
“Family disagreement. Nothing serious.””
I held up the birth certificate.
“Call the police.””
The nurse looked between us.
Daniel sighed.
“I'm afraid my daughter is having a difficult evening.””
I felt sick hearing him say it.
“Don't call me that.””
His smile vanished.
The nurse reached for the phone on the wall.
Daniel moved quickly.
He grabbed the red folder and shoved it beneath his coat.
I lunged for it.
“Give it back!””
He pushed past me.
Claire screamed.
“Don't let him leave!””
The nurse stepped into his path.
“Sir, I need you to stop.””
Daniel grabbed her shoulder and shoved her aside.
She stumbled against the wall.
I ran after him.
He reached the corridor, but two security guards were already approaching.
“Mr. Whitmore?”” one called.
Daniel raised both hands.
“There's been a misunderstanding.””
I stood behind them, shaking.
“He assaulted a nurse. He took evidence. Call the police.””
Daniel turned toward me.
His eyes were cold.
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
“Neither did I when I trusted you.””
He looked at the guard.
“She's emotionally unstable. Her boyfriend disappeared three years ago, and she's been imagining things ever since.””
I almost laughed.
“Tell them who you are, Daniel.””
He said nothing.
“Tell them you're my father.””
The guard frowned.
Daniel's face tightened.
Then he smiled.
“She's adopted.””
I stared at him.
“I'm not.””
“Your mother never completed the paperwork.””
Claire appeared behind me.
“That's another lie.””
She held up a second document.
“Mom kept the original.””
Daniel's eyes widened.
For the first time, I saw real fear in his face.
The security guards took him into a nearby office while they contacted the police.
Claire pulled me into the room.
“Are you okay?””
I shook my head.
She wrapped her arms around me.
“I'm sorry.””
“Why are you apologizing?””
“Because I knew there was something about you.””
I pulled away.
“What do you mean?””
Claire hesitated.
“Mom told me before she died that Daniel was your biological father. But she said she had proof somewhere else.””
“Where?””
“She didn't tell me.””
“Did she say anything about my real father?””
Claire looked down.
“She said the man who raised you was a good person.””
I felt a strange ache in my chest.
My mother had never spoken much about my childhood.
She always said my father died when I was too young to remember.
I had believed her.
“Did Daniel know about me from the beginning?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he wait?””
Claire looked toward the corridor.
“Because your mother refused to let him near you.””
I sat down.
The memories were coming back in fragments.
Daniel appearing at family dinners.
Daniel buying me birthday presents.
Daniel attending my university graduation.
He had always been there.
Not as a father.
As a family friend.
A man my mother trusted until she discovered what he really was.
“Claire,” I whispered, “why did he take you?””
She sat beside me.
“Because I remembered something.””
“What?””
“The night I disappeared.””
I looked at her.
“I remember being taken from the shopping center. A man carried me to a car. I couldn't see his face, but I remember his voice.””
She swallowed.
“He told me my mother had asked him to take me somewhere safe.””
“Was it Daniel?””
Claire nodded.
“He was younger. But I remember his voice.””
I covered my mouth.
“Why did he keep you?””
“Because I saw something.””
“What?””
Claire leaned closer.
“Your mother had another daughter before me.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Claire nodded.
“A baby. A little girl who died shortly after birth.””
I stared at her.
“Mom never told me.””
“She told me Daniel was responsible.””
My heart started pounding.
“How?””
“Mom discovered that Daniel had been stealing money from the family business. When she confronted him, he threatened to expose her relationship with him and destroy her marriage.””
Claire looked directly at me.
“He said he could make her lose every child she ever had.””
A cold shiver moved down my spine.
Before I could ask another question, a police officer entered.
“Ms. Bennett?””
I stood.
“Yes?””
“We need you to come with us.””
“Why?””
He glanced toward the office where Daniel was being questioned.
“Mr. Whitmore has filed a complaint against you.””
I stared at him.
“For what?””
The officer hesitated.
“Alleged theft of confidential medical records and assault.””
Claire grabbed my hand.
“He's lying!””
The officer remained professional.
“I'm not arresting anyone right now. I just need a statement.””
I looked toward the office.
Daniel was watching me through the glass.
He raised his hand.
And smiled.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Marcus.
*Nia, get out of there. Daniel just made a call.*
I typed quickly.
*He's already here. The police have him.*
Marcus replied:
*That's not what I'm talking about.*
Another message arrived.
*He's not trying to escape. He's trying to make sure someone else reaches Claire first.*
I looked at my sister.
Then toward the main entrance.
A woman in a hospital uniform was standing there.
May you like
She held a clipboard.
And she was asking the receptionist for Claire's room number.
