Chapter 8: The Lie That Destroyed Two Families
Brittany stood in the doorway wearing dark sunglasses and a black coat.
Her hair was perfectly styled.
Her makeup was flawless.
But her face was pale.
Darius rose slowly.
“What are you doing here?””
Brittany removed her sunglasses.
“I came to collect my belongings.””
“You could have waited.””
“I don't need your permission.””
Linda stood.
“Brittany.””
The two women stared at each other.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Brittany laughed.
“Of course you're here.””
Linda's expression hardened.
“I should have told Darius the truth years ago.””
“Yes, you should have. But you didn't.””
“Because Renee begged me to give you a chance to leave this family alone.””
Brittany rolled her eyes.
“Renee always knew how to make herself look like a victim.””
Darius stepped between them.
“Enough. I want the truth.””
Brittany looked at him.
“You heard a story from a woman who has hated me for six years.””
“Did you tell people Kayla was your biological daughter?””
“No.””
Linda immediately shook her head.
“Don't lie.””
Brittany turned toward her.
“Stay out of this!””
Darius slammed his palm against the desk.
“Answer me!””
Brittany flinched.
Then she took a breath.
“I never said Kayla was biologically mine.””
Linda opened the folder.
“Then explain these messages.””
She placed several printed pages on the table.
They were screenshots of conversations between Brittany and another woman.
Darius picked them up.
The first message read:
I don't understand why Renee gets to keep the little girl when I was the one who wanted her.
Another message followed.
Kayla should have been mine from the beginning.
Then:
One day, I'll have my place in that child's life, whether Renee likes it or not.
Darius looked up.
“Are these real?””
Brittany stared at the papers.
“I was emotional.””
“That's not an answer.””
“I was grieving what I lost.””
“What did you lose?””
Brittany's face crumpled.
“My baby.””
Silence.
For the first time, Darius saw something resembling genuine grief in her expression.
“My daughter was born prematurely. I was terrified. The doctors kept talking about complications.
I couldn't afford everything she needed. I was alone.””
Linda softened slightly.
“Brittany, you weren't alone. Renee offered to help.””
Brittany laughed bitterly.
“She offered help, but she got everything.””
Darius frowned.
“What did she get?””
“A beautiful daughter. A loving husband. A perfect home. And everyone praised her for being a wonderful mother.””
Brittany's voice trembled.
“Meanwhile, I was left with nothing.””
Linda stepped closer.
“You were not left with nothing. Your daughter was placed with a family who could care for her. You signed the documents.””
Brittany shook her head.
“I was young.””
“You were twenty-nine.””
“I was frightened!””
“And Renee tried to help you.””
Brittany looked away.
“I know.””
The admission surprised everyone.
Darius studied her.
“Then why did you spend years trying to get close to Kayla?””
Brittany wiped her cheek.
“Because she reminded me of the child I lost.””
Darius's expression hardened.
“Kayla isn't a replacement for your daughter.””
“I know that!””
“Then why did you treat her as though she owed you something?””
Brittany had no answer.
Linda opened another folder.
“There is something else.””
Brittany immediately looked alarmed.
“Don't.””
Linda ignored her.
“Renee discovered that Brittany had contacted the family who adopted her daughter.””
Darius looked up.
“Brittany's daughter?””
“Yes.””
Brittany's eyes filled.
“I was trying to find out whether she was okay.””
Linda nodded.
“At first, perhaps. But then you began sending letters.””
Darius looked at Brittany.
“Did you?””
She said nothing.
Linda continued.
“You told the adoptive family that you had changed your mind. You wanted them to return the child.””
Brittany shook her head.
“I never demanded that.””
“You threatened legal action.””
“I had rights!””
“Not after you signed the adoption documents.””
Darius looked between them.
“Was this why Renee was afraid?””
Linda nodded.
“She knew Brittany was becoming obsessed with getting her daughter back. Then Brittany began confusing Kayla with the child she had given up.””
Brittany's voice rose.
“I never confused them!””
Linda placed another letter on the table.
“Then explain this.””
Darius read it.
It was written by Renee.
Brittany came to the house yesterday. She called Kayla her little girl and asked me to let her hold her. When I refused, she said I was keeping something that belonged to her.
Darius looked up.
Brittany's eyes were fixed on the floor.
“Is this true?””
She whispered something.
“What?””
“I loved Kayla.””
Darius shook his head.
“You don't hurt a child because you love her.””
“I never wanted to hurt her!””
“Then why did you shave her head?””
Brittany looked at him.
For a moment, she seemed unable to speak.
Then she finally said:
“Because she reminded me of Renee.””
Darius stared.
Brittany continued.
“Every time I looked at those curls, I saw her. Every time Kayla smiled, I saw Renee smiling. Even when she wore that little ribbon, I remembered the photographs from the hospital.””
She wiped her face.
“I thought that if I changed something about her, perhaps I could finally stop feeling like I was competing with a woman who wasn't even alive.””
Darius's expression turned cold.
“You destroyed something my daughter loved because you couldn't deal with your own pain.””
Brittany began crying.
“I know.””
“No, you don't.””
He pointed toward the staircase.
“She asked me whether her mother would still think she was beautiful. Do you understand what you've done?””
Brittany lowered her head.
For the first time, she looked ashamed.
But the apology came too late.
A few minutes later, Marcus returned from the kitchen with another document.
“Darius, I checked something with the hospital records department.””
Darius turned.
“What?””
“They confirmed that the original nursery records still exist. The photograph Linda brought appears to be authentic.””
Brittany looked up.
“What does that prove?””
Marcus placed a copy on the desk.
“It confirms that two children were born that night and that both mothers were recorded separately.””
Darius nodded.
“Good.””
“But there's an additional notation.””
Marcus pointed toward a line near the bottom.
“The newborn identified as Brittany's daughter was transferred to neonatal care. Renee's daughter was released into her parents' care.””
Brittany stared at the document.
Darius looked at her.
“So there was never any confusion about which baby was mine.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Not according to these records.””
Darius exhaled.
He had been terrified that something had happened to Kayla's identity.
Now he knew that at least one part of the story was clear.
Kayla was his daughter.
Renee's daughter.
The little girl who had inherited her mother's smile and her father's stubborn determination.
Nothing Brittany said could change that.
Then Marcus examined the bottom of the record.
“Wait.””
“What?””
“There is a note about an additional person present during the birth.””
Linda leaned forward.
“Who?””
Marcus read the name.
Then he looked at Brittany.
“Your mother.””
Brittany's face drained of color.
Darius frowned.
“Why would her mother be there?””
Linda looked at Brittany.
“Because she was the person who helped arrange the adoption.””
Brittany closed her eyes.
Darius stared at her.
“Your mother knew?””
Brittany nodded slowly.
“She knew everything.””
“Where is she now?””
Brittany didn't answer.
Linda spoke.
“Her name is Patricia Collins. She lives outside Savannah.””
Darius looked at Marcus.
“Can we contact her?””
Marcus nodded.
“I can try.””
Brittany suddenly stepped forward.
“Leave my mother out of this!””
Darius stared at her.
“Why?””
“Because she has nothing to do with what happened today.””
“Perhaps not. But she may know why you believed you had a claim to Kayla.””
Brittany shook her head.
“You're going too far.””
Darius looked at her.
“You crossed that line when you hurt my daughter.””
An hour later, Patricia Collins answered Marcus's call.
She was initially reluctant to speak.
But when Marcus explained that Renee's husband had discovered the old hospital records, Patricia became silent.
Finally, she agreed to speak with them by video call.
Her face appeared on the study computer screen.
She was an elderly woman with silver hair and tired eyes.
“Darius?”” she asked.
“Yes, ma'am.””
Patricia looked at Brittany.
Her expression changed.
“Oh, Brittany.””
Brittany looked away.
“Mom, don't.””
Patricia sighed.
“I told you this day would come.””
Darius leaned forward.
“Mrs. Collins, I need to understand what happened six years ago.””
Patricia closed her eyes.
Then she said something nobody expected.
“Brittany didn't just give up a baby. She made me promise to keep something from her.””
Darius frowned.
“What?””
Patricia looked directly at the camera.
“The truth about the family who adopted her daughter.””
Brittany stood abruptly.
“TURN IT OFF!””
Darius looked at her.
“What family?””
Patricia began crying.
“The people who adopted Brittany's little girl weren't strangers.””
Darius felt his stomach tighten.
“Who were they?””
Patricia looked at her daughter.
Then she whispered:
“They were connected to Renee.””
Brittany covered her face.
And before Patricia could explain further, the video call suddenly disconnected.
Marcus tried calling again.
No answer.
Darius stared at the blank screen.
“What does she mean?””
Linda slowly lowered herself into a chair.
“I think I know.””
Darius turned.
“Tell me.””
Linda looked at Brittany.
“Renee didn't just help Brittany find a family for her daughter.””
She paused.
“She helped her find a family that would never abandon that little girl.””
Darius frowned.
“Who?””
Linda looked toward the photograph on the desk.
Then she said:
“Renee's own sister.””
Darius went completely still.
His wife had helped arrange for Brittany's biological daughter to be raised by her own family.
And Brittany had spent six years hiding the truth.
May you like
But why?
And what had happened to that little girl?
