Chapter 8: The Child They Stole
Nobody moved.
The bracelet trembled between Helen's fingers.
Daniel stared at it.
“What do you mean, you switched him?””
Helen looked at me.
“I made the decision.””
My throat tightened.
“Why?””
“Because I was told you would never be allowed to keep your son.””
“By whom?””
Helen looked at Richard.
“By him.””
Richard's face hardened.
“You don't know what you're talking about.””
“I know exactly what I'm talking about.””
Helen stepped closer.
“Your husband came to me that night.””
Daniel whispered, “Why?””
“He was terrified.””
“Of what?””
“Sarah.””
Jessica stared at her.
“My mother?””
Helen nodded.
“She had threatened to expose the financial crimes.””
Daniel looked at Richard.
“So Dad wanted to protect himself.””
“No.””
Helen shook her head.
“Your father changed his mind.””
Richard snapped, “Don't.””
Helen ignored him.
“He came to me and said, ‘Protect my son.’”
I felt tears fill my eyes.
“My son?””
Helen nodded.
“He knew Richard was planning to take the baby.””
Daniel looked stunned.
“Take me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because Richard believed your father would surrender everything if his child was in danger.””
Richard said nothing.
Daniel turned toward him.
“You were going to kidnap me?””
Richard's face hardened.
“Your father was unstable.””
“Answer me.””
“I never touched you.””
“But you planned it.””
Richard looked away.
Helen continued.
“I was told to move the baby.””
I stepped toward her.
“Which baby?””
Helen's eyes filled with tears.
“That is the part I've carried for thirty years.””
She held out the bracelet.
It read:
*BABY BOY — CARTER*
Daniel reached for it.
His fingers touched the faded plastic.
“This was mine?””
Helen nodded.
“Yes.””
I stared at her.
“Then why did you say you switched him?””
“Because I did.””
She took another bracelet from her pocket.
This one was smaller.
It read:
*BABY GIRL — CARTER*
I stared at it.
Daniel looked confused.
“Who was the girl?””
Helen looked at Evelyn.
“Her.””
Evelyn's expression changed.
“My mother believed I was the baby girl.””
Helen shook her head.
“She was.””
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“And you were Sarah's daughter?””
“Yes.””
“Then who was my biological mother?””
Helen looked at me.
My heart stopped.
“You.””
The word echoed in the garage.
I shook my head.
“No.””
Helen nodded.
“You gave birth to Daniel.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
A sob escaped him.
I covered my mouth.
All these years.
All those doubts.
All those secrets.
I had never stopped being his mother.
And now I knew I had also been his biological mother.
Helen continued.
“Your husband wasn't trying to replace your child.””
“Then what did he do?””
“He tried to hide Daniel's identity.””
“Why?””
“Because Sarah believed Daniel was hers.””
I looked at Jessica.
She was crying silently.
“My mother…”
“Sarah had lost her baby girl years earlier.””
Evelyn stared at Helen.
“What?””
Helen looked at her.
“Your mother was told you died.””
Evelyn staggered backward.
“No.””
“She was shown the wrong records.””
“Who did that?””
Richard answered.
“Your father.””
Jessica turned toward him.
“You knew?””
Richard's voice was cold.
“Your mother was dangerous.””
“You told her her daughter died?””
“She wouldn't cooperate otherwise.””
Evelyn looked like she had been struck.
“So my entire life…”
Richard said nothing.
“My mother spent years believing I was dead.””
“Yes.””
“And you knew I was alive?””
“Yes.””
Evelyn's face crumpled.
Daniel stared at Richard.
“You destroyed two families.””
Richard looked at him.
“I kept the company alive.””
“You destroyed my father.””
“He destroyed himself.””
“You manipulated my DNA.””
“To protect you.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You keep saying that.””
Richard's eyes hardened.
“Because it's true.””
“No.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“You protected your money.””
Richard suddenly pulled out his phone.
“Then perhaps you should see what your father was doing before he died.””
He pressed a button.
A recording played.
My husband's voice.
Richard, I know what you've done.
Richard's younger voice answered.
You don't understand.
I understand perfectly.
Then my husband's voice became quieter.
If you hurt Margaret or my son, I'll destroy everything.
The recording stopped.
Richard put the phone away.
“Your father was going to expose me.””
“Then why didn't he?””
Richard stared at me.
“Because Jessica's mother got to him first.””
Jessica's eyes widened.
“My mother?””
Richard nodded.
“She followed him to the garage.””
“What happened?””
“She confronted him.””
“About what?””
“The baby.””
Daniel's face tightened.
“Me?””
“She believed you were her child.””
Helen shook her head.
“She was wrong.””
Richard continued.
“She threatened to take you.””
“And Dad?””
“He panicked.””
“What happened?””
Richard looked at me.
“Your husband drove away.””
“Then?””
“He collapsed.””
I remembered the phone call.
The hospital.
The endless hallway.
My husband's cold hand.
Daniel was crying now.
“You let us believe he died of a heart attack.””
“He did.””
Helen interrupted.
“No.””
Everyone turned.
Helen's face was pale.
“He didn't.””
Richard stared at her.
“You promised.””
Helen shook her head.
“I promised to stay silent. I never promised to lie forever.””
She looked at Daniel.
“Your father was poisoned.””
Jessica gasped.
“By whom?””
Helen looked at Richard.
Richard's expression finally cracked.
“No.””
Daniel whispered, “You killed my father.””
Richard stepped backward.
“You don't understand.””
Daniel lunged.
I grabbed him.
“Daniel!””
Richard ran.
Evelyn shouted, “Stop him!””
But Richard disappeared between the cars.
Daniel pulled free.
“We need to find him.””
Helen grabbed his arm.
“Not yet.””
“Why?””
“Because the poison wasn't administered by Richard.””
Daniel stopped.
“What?””
Helen looked at Jessica.
“It was given to your father by someone he trusted.””
Jessica's eyes widened.
“No.””
Helen nodded.
“The same person who helped Richard frame your mother.””
Daniel slowly turned toward me.
I could see the realization forming in his face.
“Who?””
Helen answered:
“Your father's doctor.””
Then Daniel's phone rang.
The caller ID showed a name none of us expected.
*Dr. Samuel Miller.*
Jessica stared at the screen.
“My father.””
Daniel answered.
A man's voice came through.
“Daniel, don't trust Helen.””
Daniel said nothing.
Then the voice continued.
“Your mother has been lying to you for thirty years.””
I grabbed Daniel's wrist.
“Hang up.””
He didn't.
The voice became urgent.
“If you want to know who really killed your father, come to the old Carter house.””
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
“Because I have the original DNA results.””
A pause.
Then:
“And they prove Margaret isn't your mother.””
The call ended.
Daniel stared at his phone.
I whispered, “He's lying.””
Helen looked at me.
“I don't think he is.””
Daniel turned.
“What?””
Helen's face had gone pale.
“Because Samuel Miller wasn't your father's doctor.””
May you like
She swallowed.
“He was Sarah's husband.””
