Chapter 9: The Daughter Nobody Was Looking For
Elena was silent when I showed her the document.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then she began shaking.
"Marcus...""
I sat beside her hospital bed.
"Who is she?""
Elena covered her mouth.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Her name was Lily.""
I felt my heart stop.
"Lily?""
She nodded.
"She was born before Ava.""
I stared.
"Before Ava?""
"Yes.""
I looked at the document again.
The date was five years earlier.
That was the year before Noah was born.
I remembered Elena being hospitalized briefly after what she had described as a medical emergency.
She had told me she had suffered a severe infection.
She had spent three days at the private medical institute.
I had visited every day.
She had seemed exhausted but relieved when the doctors finally discharged her.
I had never questioned what happened.
"What did they tell you?""
Elena wiped her cheeks.
"They said the pregnancy had ended early.""
I swallowed.
"Was she alive?""
Elena nodded.
"She was born alive.""
I closed my eyes.
Another child.
Another baby we had been told was dead.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Elena looked at me.
"Because I didn't know.""
I stared.
"What?""
"I heard her cry. I remember that much. But when I woke up, they told me there had been a complication and that the baby hadn't survived.""
She began crying harder.
"They wouldn't let me see her.""
I held her hand.
"Who was there?""
"Whitmore. Richard. And Margaret.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Your aunt Margaret?""
Elena nodded.
"She told me I was lucky to be alive.""
I looked down.
The seventh child's file contained a hospital transfer number.
There was also a photograph.
A tiny newborn wrapped in a white blanket.
On the back, someone had written:
Female infant. Healthy. Transfer approved.
I couldn't breathe.
"Where is she now?""
Elena shook her head.
"I don't know.""
I looked toward the door.
Daniel entered.
He had been speaking to the officers downstairs.
"Marcus, we have a problem.""
I stood.
"What now?""
He placed his phone on the bedside table.
A news alert was visible.
*POLICE RAID PRIVATE MEDICAL INSTITUTE AFTER DISCOVERY OF ILLEGAL CHILD TRANSFERS.*
I stared.
"Good.""
Daniel shook his head.
"There's more.""
He enlarged the photograph.
A woman was being escorted from the building.
I recognized her.
Aunt Margaret.
She was wearing a beige coat and carrying a leather handbag.
The caption identified her as a witness.
"She's been detained," Daniel said.
I looked at him.
"Good.""
"Marcus, she was carrying documents.""
"What documents?""
"Records relating to a child registered under a different name.""
I felt my pulse quicken.
"Whose child?""
Daniel hesitated.
"An eighteen-year-old girl.""
Elena suddenly sat up.
"Where?""
Daniel turned toward her.
"We don't know yet.""
Elena grabbed my arm.
"Marcus, find her.""
I looked at my wife.
"Do you think it's Lily?""
She nodded.
"Margaret told me once that she had a daughter.""
I frowned.
"She never had children.""
"That's what she told everyone.""
Elena began crying again.
"She said she had lost her only child years ago. But I remember seeing a little girl in her photographs.""
I stared.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I thought I was losing my mind.""
She pressed her fingers against her temples.
"Marcus, Margaret was always there. Every time they moved me, she knew where I was. Every time I tried to escape, she appeared.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Where is she being held?""
"At the police station.""
"Take me there.""
At 10:15 a.m., I sat across from my aunt in an interview room.
She looked older than I remembered.
Her silver hair was pulled back.
Her hands were folded neatly on the table.
When she saw me, she smiled.
"Marcus.""
I stared at her.
"Don't.""
Her smile faded.
"You're angry.""
"You helped steal my children.""
She sighed.
"You're making assumptions.""
"Seven children, Margaret. Seven.""
She looked toward the officer.
"I would like a lawyer.""
"Of course," I said.
"But before your lawyer arrives, I want one answer.""
She looked at me.
"What?""
"Where is Lily?""
For the first time, her expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
Her fingers tightened around each other.
"Who?""
"Elena's daughter.""
Margaret leaned back.
"Your wife has been through a terrible experience. She may not remember things correctly.""
I placed the photograph on the table.
The newborn.
The transfer record.
The name Lily.
Margaret looked at it.
Then she slowly closed her eyes.
"She was never supposed to know.""
I leaned forward.
"Where is she?""
Margaret didn't answer.
I pushed the photograph closer.
"Where is my daughter?""
She looked at me.
"She's alive.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Where?""
Margaret shook her head.
"She's not a child anymore.""
"Where is she?""
"She's eighteen.""
I stared.
"Who raised her?""
Margaret looked down.
"Me.""
I felt sick.
"You raised my daughter?""
She nodded.
"She believes I'm her mother.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Does she know about us?""
"No.""
"Does she know Elena is alive?""
"No.""
I closed my eyes.
Another child.
Another life.
Another birthday we had missed.
Another daughter who had grown up believing she had no parents.
"What's her name?""
Margaret looked at me.
"Grace.""
I stared.
"Grace?""
"She chose the name herself.""
"Where is she?""
Margaret finally spoke.
"She lives in Boston.""
I leaned closer.
"Give me her address.""
Margaret shook her head.
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because she doesn't know the truth.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You've had eighteen years to tell her.""
Margaret looked at me.
"Do you think I wanted to steal her?""
I said nothing.
She continued.
"Your father ordered the transfer. He said the baby would be safer with me.""
"Why would my father take his own granddaughter?""
"Because she was born with a condition.""
I frowned.
"What condition?""
"She had a rare blood disorder. The doctors believed she might need a bone marrow transplant.""
I stared.
"That doesn't explain anything.""
Margaret leaned closer.
"Your father had discovered that Richard was selling medical records and arranging illegal transfers. He believed the baby would be used in one of his experiments.""
I shook my head.
"You're saying you were protecting her?""
Margaret nodded.
"At first.""
"And later?""
She looked away.
"Later, I couldn't give her back.""
The room went silent.
"Why?""
"She called me Mommy.""
I stared at her.
"You stole a child because she loved you?""
Margaret began crying.
"I raised her. I fed her. I stayed awake when she was sick. I watched her take her first steps.""
"You did those things for a child who wasn't yours.""
"She was mine in every way that mattered.""
I stood.
"No. She was Elena's daughter.""
Margaret looked up.
"And what would you have done? Taken her away from the only mother she'd ever known?""
I stared at her.
For the first time, I understood why the truth was so complicated.
Margaret had committed something unforgivable.
But Grace was eighteen.
She had a life.
Friends.
Memories.
A woman she believed was her mother.
I couldn't simply walk into that life and destroy everything.
But I couldn't leave her in the dark either.
"Give me her number.""
Margaret shook her head.
Then she reached into her coat.
The officer immediately stood.
"Ma'am, keep your hands visible.""
Margaret slowly removed a small photograph.
She placed it on the table.
It showed a young woman with blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
She was standing beside a university fountain.
I stared.
She looked like Elena.
The shape of her eyes.
The curve of her smile.
Even the small scar above her left eyebrow.
My hands began shaking.
"That's her?""
Margaret nodded.
"That's Grace.""
I touched the photograph.
"Where is she now?""
"She should be at work.""
"Where?""
Margaret gave me the name of a small bookstore in Boston.
Then she whispered something else.
"There's something you should know about her.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"She isn't the only one who believes I'm her mother.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Margaret looked toward the door.
"Her father knows.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"Who?""
She lowered her voice.
"Richard.""
By noon, we had located Grace.
Daniel arranged a secure video call through the police department.
I sat in a conference room with Elena on a hospital tablet beside me.
Ava and Noah were with Mrs. Bennett in a protected family room.
The screen flickered.
A young woman appeared.
She had blonde hair tied in a loose ponytail.
A gray sweater.
A small silver necklace.
She looked confused.
"Hello?""
I swallowed.
"Grace?""
"Yes. Who are you?""
"My name is Marcus Hayes.""
Her expression changed.
"Why are you calling me?""
I glanced at Elena.
She was already crying.
I took a breath.
"Grace, there's something important we need to tell you.""
She frowned.
"Is Margaret okay?""
I hesitated.
"She's safe. But she's been detained by the police.""
Grace immediately stood.
"What? Why?""
"Because she was involved in something serious.""
"That's impossible.""
I looked at Elena.
She leaned toward the tablet.
"Grace?""
The young woman stared.
"Who is that?""
Elena tried to speak.
Her voice broke.
"My name is Elena.""
Grace shook her head.
"Okay...""
Elena covered her mouth.
"Sweetheart, I think I may be your birth mother.""
Grace went completely still.
Then she laughed nervously.
"What?""
I looked at her.
"Your birth records may have been changed.""
"No.""
"Grace—"
"No!""
She stood up.
"Margaret is my mother.""
Elena began crying.
"I know she raised you.""
"She's my mother!""
"I know, sweetheart.""
Grace looked at the screen.
"Why are you doing this?""
I tried to answer.
"Because you deserve to know the truth.""
She shook her head.
"Who is that man?""
"I'm Marcus.""
"Why are you calling me?""
I looked at her.
"Because I believe I'm your biological father.""
She stared.
Then she whispered:
"You're lying.""
I shook my head.
"I wish I were.""
Grace backed away from the camera.
"No. No, this is crazy.""
Elena reached toward the screen.
"Please, Grace. Just listen.""
The young woman began crying.
"Why didn't you come for me?""
Elena closed her eyes.
"Because they told me you were dead.""
Grace covered her mouth.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she looked at me.
"Do I have brothers or sisters?""
I nodded.
"Two.""
"Who?""
"Ava and Noah.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Are they real?""
I almost smiled.
"They're very real.""
Grace sat down.
Then she whispered:
"Can I meet them?""
I looked at Elena.
My wife nodded through tears.
"Of course.""
Grace looked at the camera again.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
She swallowed.
"Margaret told me not to trust anyone from your family.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Why?""
"Because she said my biological father had another daughter.""
I frowned.
"Who?""
Grace looked directly into the camera.
"She said I had a twin sister.""
The room went silent.
Elena's face drained of color.
"What?""
Grace nodded.
"She said there were two babies.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was already searching the original registry.
Then he stopped.
His expression changed.
"Marcus...""
"What?""
He turned the screen toward me.
The seventh-child record had a second line beneath it.
*TWIN B — TRANSFERRED SEPARATELY.*
My stomach dropped.
There had been two girls.
One raised by Margaret.
One taken somewhere else.
I looked at Grace.
"Do you know where your sister is?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
Then she hesitated.
"Actually...""
"What?""
Grace looked frightened.
"There's a girl at my university who looks exactly like me.""
I stared.
"What?""
"Same face. Same hair. Same little scar.""
Elena began sobbing.
Grace continued.
"She has the same birthday too.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Find her.""
He began typing.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
And slowly lowered it.
I stared.
"What happened?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Richard has been released.""
My blood ran cold.
"How?""
"Someone posted his bail using money from an account connected to the family trust.""
I looked toward the door.
"Where is he?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Boston.""
I turned back toward Grace's image.
"Grace, listen to me. Do not leave your university. Stay with the police.""
She nodded.
Then she whispered:
"Marcus?""
"Yes?""
"That girl who looks like me...""
Her voice trembled.
"She's standing outside my apartment right now.""
The video suddenly shook.
A shadow crossed behind her.
Grace turned.
Someone knocked on her door.
Three times.
Then a woman's voice came through the speaker.
"Grace?""
Grace froze.
It was a voice I recognized.
Vanessa Cole.
May you like
"Open the door, sweetheart.""
The call disconnected.
