Chapter 9: The Daughter Brittany Tried to Forget
Darius couldn't process what Linda had just said.
“Renee's sister?””
Linda nodded.
“Her name was Caroline.””
Darius remembered her.
Caroline Mitchell had lived in Oregon and rarely visited Georgia.
She and Renee had been close during childhood, but their relationship had become strained after their parents died.
“Caroline adopted Brittany's baby?””
“Not exactly,” Linda explained.
“She became the child's legal guardian through the adoption arrangement. It was a private process handled through the proper authorities.””
Darius looked at Marcus.
“Can we verify this?””
Marcus nodded.
“We'll need the relevant records, but we can investigate the legal history.””
Brittany was standing near the window.
Her arms were folded tightly across her chest.
“Why are you all acting like this is some kind of mystery?””
Darius turned.
“Because you've spent six years lying.””
“I didn't lie about Kayla.””
“You allowed me to believe you had no history with my wife.””
“I didn't think it mattered.””
“You entered my home, became engaged to me, and tried to control my daughter. It matters.””
Brittany looked away.
Linda spoke again.
“Caroline raised that little girl.””
Brittany's expression changed.
“She didn't raise her.””
Linda stared.
“She did.””
“She took her away from me.””
“You signed the documents.””
“I was recovering! I wasn't thinking clearly!””
Patricia's voice suddenly returned through the computer.
The call had reconnected.
“Brittany, stop.””
Everyone turned toward the screen.
Patricia looked exhausted.
“Your sister has given that child a good life.””
Brittany shook her head.
“She's not my sister's child.””
Patricia sighed.
“She became Caroline's daughter through a legal adoption.””
Brittany looked at the screen.
“You promised you wouldn't tell anyone.””
Patricia's eyes filled.
“I promised because I wanted to protect you. But I won't let you destroy another child's life.””
Darius leaned toward the computer.
“Mrs. Collins, where is Caroline now?””
Patricia hesitated.
“She's still in Oregon.””
“And the little girl?””
Patricia looked at Brittany.
Then she answered.
“Her name is Sophie.””
Darius sat back.
Sophie.
The name sounded unfamiliar.
Yet the thought of another little girl caught between these adults made his stomach turn.
“Does Sophie know who her biological mother is?”” he asked.
Patricia shook her head.
“Not everything. Caroline planned to explain when she was older.””
Brittany laughed bitterly.
“She'll never tell her.””
Patricia looked at her daughter.
“Caroline wanted you to be part of Sophie's life. You refused.””
Brittany's expression tightened.
“I didn't refuse.””
“You stopped answering her calls.””
“I was busy.””
“You sent the letters back unopened.””
Brittany looked down.
Patricia continued.
“Then Renee became ill. Caroline contacted her because she was worried about what would happen to Kayla if something happened to Renee.””
Darius leaned forward.
“What did Renee tell her?””
“She told Caroline to keep Sophie away from the conflict. She didn't want Brittany confusing the two children.””
Darius stared at the table.
Everything was beginning to connect.
Brittany had lost custody of her biological daughter.
Renee had helped arrange a safe home.
But instead of accepting the decision, Brittany had become obsessed with Kayla.
A little girl who wasn't hers.
A little girl whose mother had protected Brittany's child.
And now, after all these years, Brittany had taken her anger out on Kayla.
“Why did you come into my life?”” Darius asked.
Brittany looked at him.
“I loved you.””
He shook his head.
“Did you?””
“Yes.””
“Or did you see me as another way into Renee's family?””
Brittany's eyes filled.
“I didn't plan any of this.””
“Then explain how you knew so much about me before we met.””
Brittany hesitated.
Darius continued.
“You knew where I worked. You knew I had a daughter. You knew Renee had died.
You knew the wedding anniversary. You knew everything.””
Brittany swallowed.
“Renee's family talked about you.””
“Who?””
“Caroline.””
Darius stared.
“You met Caroline?””
Brittany nodded.
“Once. At a charity event.””
“When?””
“About a year after Renee died.””
Darius felt his stomach tighten.
“What did she tell you?””
Brittany looked toward Patricia on the screen.
Patricia lowered her eyes.
“She told me you were alone. She told me Kayla was having a difficult time. And she told me that you needed someone.””
Darius went cold.
“Caroline introduced us?””
Brittany nodded.
The realization hit him.
Their relationship hadn't begun by chance.
Someone had arranged their meeting.
Someone had believed Brittany might become part of their family again.
But Caroline had apparently never understood how dangerous that decision could become.
Darius walked toward the desk.
“Marcus, I want Caroline contacted.””
Marcus nodded.
“I'll arrange it.””
Brittany immediately objected.
“Leave her alone.””
Darius turned.
“You don't get to decide that anymore.””
“She has a family.””
“So does Kayla.””
Brittany looked at him.
Then she said something that made everyone stop.
“Caroline knows what happened to the original adoption documents.””
Marcus looked up.
“What original documents?””
Brittany pressed her lips together.
Patricia closed her eyes.
“Brittany…”
Darius stepped closer.
“What documents?””
Brittany looked toward the screen.
Then she whispered:
“The adoption was supposed to remain confidential. But Renee kept copies.””
Linda frowned.
“Renee kept copies of everything.””
Brittany shook her head.
“No. Not everything.””
She looked at Darius.
“She kept one document that could have changed the entire arrangement.””
“What document?””
Brittany hesitated.
Then she said:
“The letter from the biological father.””
Silence.
Darius stared.
“Who was the biological father?””
Brittany looked down.
“I don't know.””
Patricia suddenly began crying.
“Brittany, you do know.””
Brittany snapped.
“Mom, stop!””
Darius turned toward the screen.
“Mrs. Collins?””
Patricia wiped her eyes.
“Brittany knows exactly who Sophie's father is.””
Darius looked back at Brittany.
“Who?””
Brittany didn't answer.
Patricia finally spoke.
“His name is Michael.””
Darius frowned.
“Michael who?””
Patricia looked directly at him.
“Michael Reed.””
Marcus went completely still.
Darius noticed.
“What?””
Marcus slowly closed the file in front of him.
“Darius…”
“What is it?””
Marcus looked at the screen.
“Michael Reed was Renee's cousin.””
Darius stared.
“Her cousin?””
Marcus nodded.
“He passed away several years ago.””
Brittany sank into a chair.
Patricia continued.
“Michael was involved with Brittany before she became pregnant. He wanted to raise the baby, but Brittany refused.””
Darius looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because she was angry with him. She believed he had abandoned her.””
Brittany's eyes filled.
“He didn't want me.””
Patricia shook her head.
“He wanted the baby.””
Brittany looked away.
“He chose Renee's family over me.””
Darius felt a terrible sadness for the little girl at the center of the story.
“So Sophie is connected to Renee's family through both sides?””
Patricia nodded.
“That's why Caroline agreed to raise her.””
Darius slowly sat down.
For years, he had believed Brittany was simply jealous of his late wife.
But the truth was more complicated.
She had once been part of a family that had tried to help her.
She had rejected that help.
Then she had returned, hoping to reclaim a place she believed she deserved.
And when she couldn't have it, she had hurt the one child who reminded her of everything she had lost.
An hour later, Marcus received a call from Caroline.
He placed it on speaker.
A woman's voice filled the study.
“Darius?””
He leaned forward.
“Caroline.””
There was a long pause.
“I'm sorry.””
Darius closed his eyes.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I thought Brittany had changed.””
“You introduced us.””
“I know.””
“You knew about Renee's warnings.””
Caroline began crying.
“I did.””
Darius felt his anger rising again.
“Then why would you bring her into my home?””
“Because she told me she wanted to make things right. She said she regretted what happened with Sophie. She said she wanted to become part of the family without causing problems.””
Darius shook his head.
“And you believed her?””
“I wanted to.””
He looked toward Brittany.
She was staring at the floor.
Caroline continued.
“Renee made me promise something before she died.””
Darius listened.
“She told me that if Brittany ever returned, I should make sure Kayla was protected. But she also said I shouldn't punish Brittany for what happened years ago.””
Darius frowned.
“What did she mean?””
“Renee believed Brittany could still change. She thought that if Brittany accepted her past, she might finally stop hurting herself and everyone around her.””
Darius looked at the notebook.
That sounded like Renee.
Always trying to see the good in people.
Even when they had given her every reason not to.
Caroline continued.
“But I made a mistake. I introduced you because I thought a stable relationship might help Brittany move forward.””
Darius let out a bitter breath.
“You used my family as an opportunity to fix hers.””
Caroline went silent.
Then she whispered:
“Yes.””
Darius stared at the floor.
“Where is Sophie now?””
“She lives with me. She's happy. She's nine years old.””
“Does she know about Brittany?””
“She knows she was adopted. She doesn't know everything.””
Brittany suddenly stood.
“I want to see her.””
Everyone turned.
Caroline heard her.
“Brittany?””
Brittany moved closer to the phone.
“Please. I want to see my daughter.””
Caroline was silent.
Then she answered carefully.
“Are you ready to respect her boundaries?””
Brittany nodded.
“Yes.””
“Are you ready to accept that I'm her mother?””
Brittany looked away.
“I don't know.””
“Then you're not ready.””
Brittany's face crumpled.
“Caroline, please!””
“You need help, Brittany. You need to understand that loving a child doesn't mean owning her.””
Darius looked toward the staircase.
He thought of Kayla's frightened eyes.
He thought of her asking whether he would cut Brittany's hair.
And he realized that Brittany had never learned the difference between love and possession.
The conversation ended.
Brittany remained seated.
For the first time, she looked completely defeated.
Darius stood.
“I'm going upstairs.””
She looked up.
“Darius…”
He stopped.
“I want to apologize to Kayla.””
“You can write an apology.””
“I want to tell her myself.””
“You've already done enough.””
“I didn't mean—”
He turned.
“Meaning well doesn't erase what you did.””
Brittany lowered her head.
Then she asked quietly:
“Will you ever forgive me?””
Darius looked at her for a long moment.
“I don't know.””
He walked toward the stairs.
But before he reached the first step, Marcus called him back.
“Darius, there's one more thing.””
Darius turned.
Marcus was holding the hospital photograph again.
He had noticed a detail that nobody else had seen.
A small handwritten number appeared on the corner.
A medical record reference.
Marcus compared it with the adoption document.
Then he looked at Darius.
“This isn't just a photograph.””
“What do you mean?””
“The reference number matches a file that was never included in the original hospital records.””
Darius frowned.
“Can you access it?””
“Possibly. But there's something unusual about the date.””
“What?””
Marcus turned the photograph around.
The date printed on it was six years old.
But the handwriting on the back was recent.
It had been added only three months earlier.
Darius stared.
Three months.
The exact period when he and Brittany had become engaged.
Someone had reopened the old file.
Someone had been investigating the children's history.
And someone had wanted the photograph to reach him.
His phone vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
You have heard what Brittany did to Kayla. But you still don't know what she planned to do next.
Darius's eyes narrowed.
A second message arrived.
Check the engagement agreement she asked you to sign.
He slowly looked toward the study desk.
There, beneath a stack of wedding documents, lay the agreement Brittany had insisted they complete before the ceremony.
He had barely glanced at it.
She had told him it was a standard financial arrangement.
Marcus picked it up.
“Darius?””
Darius looked at him.
“Read it.””
Marcus opened the document.
His eyes moved down the first page.
Then the second.
He stopped.
“What?””
Marcus looked up.
“This isn't just a financial agreement.””
Darius felt his stomach tighten.
“What is it?””
Marcus turned to the final page.
There was a clause concerning guardianship and financial authority over Kayla in the event of Darius's death or incapacity.
And beside the clause was a proposed designation.
*Brittany Collins — Primary Temporary Guardian.*
Darius stared at the page.
Then he looked toward the staircase.
Brittany had not simply wanted to become his wife.
She had wanted legal authority over his daughter.
And she had been preparing for it long before the wedding.
“Marcus,” Darius whispered.
“Can she legally do this?””
Marcus shook his head.
“Not simply because you marry her. But if you signed this without understanding its implications, we need to review every provision immediately.””
Darius looked at the signature line.
His signature was already there.
He remembered signing it three weeks earlier.
He had trusted Brittany.
He had signed where she pointed.
And now he understood why she had been so determined to marry him.
The woman who had shaved his daughter's beautiful curls had been planning something much bigger.
Darius picked up his phone.
“Call the police.””
Marcus nodded.
But before he could make the call, Evelyn appeared in the doorway.
She was holding Kayla's favorite stuffed rabbit.
Her face was white.
“Mr. Mitchell?””
Darius turned.
“What happened?””
Evelyn swallowed.
“Kayla is awake.””
“Is she all right?””
“She was looking for you.””
Darius moved toward the door.
Then Evelyn added something that stopped him cold.
“She also said Brittany came into her bedroom last night while everyone was downstairs.””
Darius froze.
“What?””
Evelyn nodded.
“She said Brittany whispered something to her before leaving.””
Darius's voice dropped.
“What did she say?””
Evelyn looked toward the staircase.
Then she answered:
“She told Kayla that if she didn't start calling her Mommy, Daddy might have to send her away.””
Darius felt his blood turn to ice.
He looked at Brittany.
She had gone completely silent.
May you like
And upstairs, his six-year-old daughter was waiting for him.
*This time, Darius wasn't going to let anyone convince him that what happened to Kayla was just a misunderstanding.*
