Chapter 8: The Photograph That Changed Everything
By the time I reached home, three missed calls from Olivia were waiting on my phone.
I didn't answer immediately.
I was beginning to understand that every person connected to my family had a different version of the truth.
My father had hidden an account Olivia were waiting on my phone.
I didn't answer immediately.
I was beginning to understand that every person connected to my family had a different version of the truth.
My father had hidden an account.
My uncle had controlled a trust.
Tyler had created a business.
And a woman I'd never known existed was claiming to be my sister.
I needed someone who could explain the past without trying.
My uncle had controlled a trust.
Tyler had created a business.
And a woman I'd never known existed was claiming to be my sister.
I needed someone who could explain the past without trying to sell me a version of it.
So I called Olivia.
She answered on the first ring.
"Emily?""
"I need to see you.""
"Of course.""
"Today to sell me a version of it.
So I called Olivia.
She answered on the first ring.
"Emily?""
"I need to see you.""
"Of course.""
"Today.""
There was a pause.
"All right. There's a café near your father's old office. Can you meet me there?""
I.""
There was a pause.
"All right. There's a café near your father's old office. Can you meet me there?""
I agreed.
Before leaving, I asked Mrs. Alvarez to stay with the girls.
Michael insisted that the security officer accompany me.
I didn't argue.
Twenty minutes later, I walked into the café.
Olivia was sitting agreed.
Before leaving, I asked Mrs. Alvarez to stay with the girls.
Michael insisted that the security officer accompany me.
I didn't argue.
Twenty minutes later, I walked into the café.
Olivia was sitting near the window.
Up close, the resemblance was unmistakable.
We had the same green eyes.
The same narrow chin.
Even the same habit near the window.
Up close, the resemblance was unmistakable.
We had the same green eyes.
The same narrow chin.
Even the same habit of pressing our lips together when we were nervous.
She stood when she saw me.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then she said:
"You look like Mom.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Do you have of pressing our lips together when we were nervous.
She stood when she saw me.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then she said:
"You look like Mom.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Do you have pictures?""
Olivia nodded.
She pulled a small envelope from her handbag.
Inside were several photographs.
The first showed a young woman with long brown hair holding a baby.
The second showed her sitting beside a man in pictures?""
Olivia nodded.
She pulled a small envelope from her handbag.
Inside were several photographs.
The first showed a young woman with long brown hair holding a baby.
The second showed her sitting beside a man in a hospital room.
The third showed the woman standing in front of a house.
I recognized her immediately.
a hospital room.
The third showed the woman standing in front of a house.
I recognized her immediately.
My mother.
But the man beside her wasn't my father.
"Who is that?""
Olivia looked at the photograph.
"His name was Jonathan Morgan.""
I sat down.
"Was he your father?""
She nodded.
"He died when I was young. My mother marriedMy mother.
But the man beside her wasn't my father.
"Who is that?""
Olivia looked at the photograph.
"His name was Jonathan Morgan.""
I sat down.
"Was he your father?""
She nodded.
"He died when I was young. My mother married your father when I was four.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did you say she had another child twelve years before me?""
"Because she did. But the man your father when I was four.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did you say she had another child twelve years before me?""
"Because she did. But the man who raised me wasn't your father.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Why did Mom give you up?""
Olivia's expression softened.
"She didn't want to.""
I looked up.
"What who raised me wasn't your father.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Why did Mom give you up?""
Olivia's expression softened.
"She didn't want to.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"My mother tried to keep me. But Jonathan's family fought for custody after he died. She couldn't afford the legal battle, and your father offered to help.""
I felt confused.
"Help?""
"My mother tried to keep me. But Jonathan's family fought for custody after he died. She couldn't afford the legal battle, and your father offered to help.""
I felt confused.
"Help how?""
"He paid for my adoption.""
I stared at her.
"My father paid for you to be adopted?""
Olivia nodded.
how?""
"He paid for my adoption.""
I stared at her.
"My father paid for you to be adopted?""
Olivia nodded.
"He said he wanted me to have a stable home. He told my mother she could visit me whenever she wanted.""
"Did she?""
"At first. Then the visits stopped"He said he wanted me to have a stable home. He told my mother she could visit me whenever she wanted.""
"Did she?""
"At first. Then the visits stopped.""
I looked down at the photographs.
"Why?""
Olivia took a breath.
"Because your father convinced her that staying away was better for me.""
I couldn't speak.
She continued.
"Mom married your father when.""
I looked down at the photographs.
"Why?""
Olivia took a breath.
"Because your father convinced her that staying away was better for me.""
I couldn't speak.
She continued.
"Mom married your father when she was thirty-two. She was already struggling financially. She wanted to start over. Your father gave her that opportunity.""
I studied the photograph of my mother.
"Did she love him?""
"I think so.""
"Then why did she was thirty-two. She was already struggling financially. She wanted to start over. Your father gave her that opportunity.""
I studied the photograph of my mother.
"Did she love him?""
"I think so.""
"Then why did he hide you from me?""
Olivia looked toward the window.
"Because he was afraid you'd discover the truth about the trust.""
I leaned forward.
"What truth?""
Olivia opened her handbag and removed he hide you from me?""
Olivia looked toward the window.
"Because he was afraid you'd discover the truth about the trust.""
I leaned forward.
"What truth?""
Olivia opened her handbag and removed a second envelope.
Inside was a letter.
The paper was yellowed.
The handwriting was delicate.
It was my mother's.
To my daughters,
*If you are reading this together, then perhaps the world has a second envelope.
Inside was a letter.
The paper was yellowed.
The handwriting was delicate.
It was my mother's.
To my daughters,
If you are reading this together, then perhaps the world has finally given you a chance to know each other.
I have loved you both from the moment I knew you existed.
I made mistakes. I trusted people who promised finally given you a chance to know each other.
I have loved you both from the moment I knew you existed.
I made mistakes. I trusted people who promised to protect us. I allowed fear to make decisions for me.
But I never intended for either of you to grow up believing you to protect us. I allowed fear to make decisions for me.
But I never intended for either of you to grow up believing you were alone.
I stopped reading.
My eyes were burning.
Olivia continued softly.
"She wrote that before she died.""
I looked at her.
"When did she die?""
" were alone.*
I stopped reading.
My eyes were burning.
Olivia continued softly.
"She wrote that before she died.""
I looked at her.
"When did she die?""
"Two years after you were born.""
I shook my head.
"No. My father told me she died when I was six.""
Olivia looked down.
"That's what I was told too.""
I stared at her.
Two years after you were born.""
I shook my head.
"No. My father told me she died when I was six.""
Olivia looked down.
"That's what I was told too.""
I stared at her.
"What do you mean?""
She slid another document across the table.
A hospital record.
The patient's name was Margaret Hayes.
The date was"What do you mean?""
She slid another document across the table.
A hospital record.
The patient's name was Margaret Hayes.
The date was eighteen years earlier.
I read the next line.
Cause of death: cardiac arrest.
My mother's death had occurred when I was six.
eighteen years earlier.
I read the next line.
Cause of death: cardiac arrest.
My mother's death had occurred when I was six.
The date was correct.
But the emergency contact listed on the document was Daniel Hayes.
Not my father.
"Why was my uncle listed?""
Olivia looked uncomfortable.
"Because your father was out of the country.""
I looked up.
"OutThe date was correct.
But the emergency contact listed on the document was Daniel Hayes.
Not my father.
"Why was my uncle listed?""
Olivia looked uncomfortable.
"Because your father was out of the country.""
I looked up.
"Out of the country?""
She nodded.
"He was in London with Daniel. They were meeting with the original trust administrator.""
I felt cold.
"My father told of the country?""
She nodded.
"He was in London with Daniel. They were meeting with the original trust administrator.""
I felt cold.
"My father told me he was at a construction conference.""
"Maybe he was.""
"Why didn't he come home when my mother died?""
Olivia didn't answer.
I looked at the me he was at a construction conference.""
"Maybe he was.""
"Why didn't he come home when my mother died?""
Olivia didn't answer.
I looked at the letter again.
Then something caught my attention.
A sentence near the bottom.
I know your father will try to protect you from the things he has done. Please don't confuse his love with innocence.
I felt my letter again.
Then something caught my attention.
A sentence near the bottom.
I know your father will try to protect you from the things he has done. Please don't confuse his love with innocence.
I felt my hands tremble.
"What did he do?""
Olivia lowered her voice.
"I don't know everything. But I found a diary.""
She placed a small leather notebook on the table.
hands tremble.
"What did he do?""
Olivia lowered her voice.
"I don't know everything. But I found a diary.""
She placed a small leather notebook on the table.
It was worn at the edges.
The first page carried my mother's handwriting.
I opened it.
Most of the entries were ordinary.
ShoppingIt was worn at the edges.
The first page carried my mother's handwriting.
I opened it.
Most of the entries were ordinary.
Shopping lists.
Appointments.
Notes about school.
Then I found an entry dated six months before my birth.
*Daniel came again today. He says the trust is in danger. Robert lists.
Appointments.
Notes about school.
Then I found an entry dated six months before my birth.
Daniel came again today. He says the trust is in danger. Robert insists he can fix everything, but I don't believe him anymore.
I turned the page.
I asked Robert why Tyler Carter insists he can fix everything, but I don't believe him anymore.
I turned the page.
*I asked Robert why Tyler Carter was visiting the office. He said he was only helping with paperwork. But I saw the way Daniel looked at him. They was visiting the office.
He said he was only helping with paperwork. But I saw the way Daniel looked at him. They are hiding something.*
I stopped.
Tyler.
My husband.
His name had appeared in are hiding something.*
I stopped.
Tyler.
My husband.
His name had appeared in my mother's diary before I was born.
I read the next entry.
*Robert says Tyler is a good young man. He wants him to marry my mother's diary before I was born.
I read the next entry.
*Robert says Tyler is a good young man. He wants him to marry Emily one day. I told him that was absurd.
Emily is only a child. But Robert said Tyler understands the business better than anyone.*
My Emily one day. I told him that was absurd. Emily is only a child. But Robert said Tyler understands the business better than anyone.*
My stomach dropped.
I looked at Olivia.
"Tyler knew my family before he met me.""
She nodded.
"Apparently.""
I continued reading.
The final entry was dated three weeks before my mother died.
*I have stomach dropped.
I looked at Olivia.
"Tyler knew my family before he met me.""
She nodded.
"Apparently.""
I continued reading.
The final entry was dated three weeks before my mother died.
I have found the original trust papers. The money belongs to my daughters. Daniel and Robert have been moving funds without permission. If anything happens to me, I need someone to tell Emily the truth.
I put found the original trust papers. The money belongs to my daughters. Daniel and Robert have been moving funds without permission. If anything happens to me, I need someone to tell Emily the truth.*
I put the diary down.
My mother had known.
She had known something was happening.
And she had tried to leave evidence.
"Olivia, did you find anything else?""
She the diary down.
My mother had known.
She had known something was happening.
And she had tried to leave evidence.
"Olivia, did you find anything else?""
She reached into her handbag.
"Yes.""
She removed a photograph.
This time, it showed three men standing outside a bank.
One was my father.
One was Daniel.
The third was a reached into her handbag.
"Yes.""
She removed a photograph.
This time, it showed three men standing outside a bank.
One was my father.
One was Daniel.
The third was a younger man.
I recognized him immediately.
Tyler.
But he looked barely twenty-five.
The date printed younger man.
I recognized him immediately.
Tyler.
But he looked barely twenty-five.
The date printed on the back was twelve years earlier.
I stared at the photograph.
"How old was Tyler?""
"Twenty-five, according to the date.""
I did the calculation.
He had met my father when I on the back was twelve years earlier.
I stared at the photograph.
"How old was Tyler?""
"Twenty-five, according to the date.""
I did the calculation.
He had met my father when I was sixteen.
He had been around my family for years before our marriage.
And I had never known.
Olivia leaned closer.
"There's something else.""
She turned the photograph over.
On the back, my was sixteen.
He had been around my family for years before our marriage.
And I had never known.
Olivia leaned closer.
"There's something else.""
She turned the photograph over.
On the back, my mother had written:
Robert, Daniel, and Tyler. The three men who promised to protect my daughters.
I felt sick.
"They were working together all this time.""
Olivia nodded.
mother had written:
Robert, Daniel, and Tyler. The three men who promised to protect my daughters.
I felt sick.
"They were working together all this time.""
Olivia nodded.
"I think so.""
I looked at her.
"Why did you come looking for me now?""
She hesitated.
"Because I found the original trust agreement.""
"Where?""
"In the box"I think so.""
I looked at her.
"Why did you come looking for me now?""
She hesitated.
"Because I found the original trust agreement.""
"Where?""
"In the box my adoptive mother left me.""
She pulled out a folded legal document.
The trust had been established by our grandmother.
Both our names were listed.
But there was an additional clause.
I read it twice.
The money my adoptive mother left me.""
She pulled out a folded legal document.
The trust had been established by our grandmother.
Both our names were listed.
But there was an additional clause.
I read it twice.
The money could only be released after both daughters reached adulthood and personally confirmed their identities.
If one daughter was unable to appear, the other could petition the court to protect the trust.
I could only be released after both daughters reached adulthood and personally confirmed their identities.
If one daughter was unable to appear, the other could petition the court to protect the trust.
I looked up.
"Why didn't you claim it?""
"Because I didn't know the trust existed until last year.""
"Then why didn't you contact me?""
"I tried.""
She opened her phone.
There were several looked up.
"Why didn't you claim it?""
"Because I didn't know the trust existed until last year.""
"Then why didn't you contact me?""
"I tried.""
She opened her phone.
There were several emails.
All addressed to an account I hadn't used since college.
"I sent letters too. But every one was returned.""
I felt a chill emails.
All addressed to an account I hadn't used since college.
"I sent letters too. But every one was returned.""
I felt a chill.
"Who had access to my old mail?""
Olivia looked at me.
"Your father.""
I closed my eyes.
He had hidden.
"Who had access to my old mail?""
Olivia looked at me.
"Your father.""
I closed my eyes.
He had hidden her.
He had hidden the trust.
He had hidden the account.
And Tyler had known all along.
My phone rang.
Michael.
I her.
He had hidden the trust.
He had hidden the account.
And Tyler had known all along.
My phone rang.
Michael.
I answered.
"Emily, where are you?""
"With Olivia.""
"Are you safe?""
"Yes. What's happened?""
He took a breath.
"We've located the original business account.""
My answered.
"Emily, where are you?""
"With Olivia.""
"Are you safe?""
"Yes. What's happened?""
He took a breath.
"We've located the original business account.""
My heart started pounding.
"And?""
"It's not registered to Tyler.""
"Who owns it?""
"Daniel Hayes.""
I looked at Olivia.
She went pale heart started pounding.
"And?""
"It's not registered to Tyler.""
"Who owns it?""
"Daniel Hayes.""
I looked at Olivia.
She went pale.
Michael continued.
"But that's not the worst part.""
"What is?""
"We found a payment authorization submitted.
Michael continued.
"But that's not the worst part.""
"What is?""
"We found a payment authorization submitted this morning.""
"For what?""
"An international wire transfer.""
"How much?""
"Nine hundred thousand dollars.""
I gripped the table.
"Where is it going?""
Michael paused.
Then he said:
"An account registered under the this morning.""
"For what?""
"An international wire transfer.""
"How much?""
"Nine hundred thousand dollars.""
I gripped the table.
"Where is it going?""
Michael paused.
Then he said:
"An account registered under the name Robert Hayes.""
My father's name.
"That's impossible.""
"Emily, the account is in the Cayman Islands.""
I looked at Olivia.
She was staring at me.
"Michael, my father is dead.""
"I know.""
"Then who name Robert Hayes.""
My father's name.
"That's impossible.""
"Emily, the account is in the Cayman Islands.""
I looked at Olivia.
She was staring at me.
"Michael, my father is dead.""
"I know.""
"Then who is receiving the money?""
Michael's voice dropped.
"We're trying to find out. But the account was opened using a passport issued to a living person is receiving the money?""
Michael's voice dropped.
"We're trying to find out. But the account was opened using a passport issued to a living person.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"What person?""
Michael answered:
"Robert Hayes.""
For a moment, the entire café seemed to disappear.
My father had been dead for two.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"What person?""
Michael answered:
"Robert Hayes.""
For a moment, the entire café seemed to disappear.
My father had been dead for two years.
His funeral had been attended by hundreds of people.
I had watched them lower his coffin into the ground.
I had placed flowers on his grave.
And now someone was using his identity to receive nearly years.
His funeral had been attended by hundreds of people.
I had watched them lower his coffin into the ground.
I had placed flowers on his grave.
And now someone was using his identity to receive nearly a million dollars.
I looked at Olivia.
She was crying.
Then she whispered:
"Emily, there's something I didn't tell you.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She took my hand.
"I a million dollars.
I looked at Olivia.
She was crying.
Then she whispered:
"Emily, there's something I didn't tell you.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She took my hand.
"I saw our father last month.""
My breath stopped.
"What?""
Olivia shook her head.
"Not Robert. Our biological father.""
"Jonathan?""
saw our father last month.""
My breath stopped.
"What?""
Olivia shook her head.
"Not Robert. Our biological father.""
"Jonathan?""
May you like
She nodded.
"He's alive.""
