Chapter 6: The Daughter My Mother Buried
Eleanor Reed didn't cry when the police put handcuffs around her wrists.
She didn't struggle.
She didn't even look embarrassed.
She simply stared at her eldest son as if he were the one who had betrayed the family.
Marcus stood beside the police vehicle, holding Ava against his chest.
His daughter was shaking.
“Mommy said Grandma was nice,” Ava whispered.
Marcus kissed her forehead.
“Sometimes people aren't who we think they are, sweetheart.””
Eleanor heard him.
“Marcus, don't speak about me like that in front of the child.””
He turned.
“You lost the right to tell me how to speak in front of my daughter.””
Her jaw tightened.
“I'm your mother.””
“And Claire is Ava's mother. You tried to destroy her.””
Eleanor looked toward the lake house.
“Claire was always trouble.””
Marcus almost laughed.
“Trouble? She was tied to a metal weight and thrown into a swimming pool.””
Eleanor's expression didn't change.
“Vanessa handled that situation badly.””
The words struck him harder than a confession.
“You knew?””
“I knew Claire was becoming dangerous.””
“You knew someone was going to kill her?””
Eleanor finally raised her voice.
“Your father built that family from nothing! I spent eleven years watching you waste everything he left behind!””
Marcus stared at her.
“What does my father's estate have to do with Claire?””
Eleanor glanced at Detective Brooks.
“I want a lawyer.””
“You'll get one,” the detective replied.
“But first, I want to know who Emily Reed is.””
For the first time, Eleanor looked frightened.
Only for a second.
Then she looked at Marcus.
“You should have left that little girl alone.””
Marcus tightened his arms around Ava.
“She's my daughter.””
Eleanor's lips trembled.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
“I was protecting her.””
“From whom?””
“From you.””
Marcus stared at his mother.
Behind them, officers escorted Vanessa out of the lake house.
Her black coat was torn.
Her hair was disheveled.
But she was still smiling.
When she passed Marcus, she leaned toward him.
“You think you've won?””
He didn't answer.
She continued in a whisper.
“You haven't even met your other daughter.””
Then she looked at Ava.
“Tell your daddy what your grandmother said about the hospital.””
Ava buried her face in Marcus's shoulder.
“Don't talk to her,” he said.
Vanessa laughed.
“Ask Eleanor why she paid someone to make sure Emily disappeared.””
Detective Brooks immediately stepped between them.
“That's enough.””
Vanessa was placed inside the police vehicle.
But Marcus couldn't stop thinking about her words.
Make sure Emily disappeared.
At 2:15 a.m., Marcus sat inside a small interview room at the sheriff's office.
Ava was asleep in a nearby family room with a female officer watching over her.
The photograph of Emily lay on the table.
So did the birth certificate.
Detective Brooks entered carrying a folder.
“We've made some preliminary inquiries.””
Marcus looked up.
“And?””
“The birth certificate appears authentic. Emily was born at Charleston Memorial six years ago.””
“Who raised her?””
“We're checking that.””
“Where is she now?””
“We don't know yet.””
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Detective, my mother apparently had another child and kept her hidden from me. I need more than that.””
Brooks sat opposite him.
“Your mother has requested an attorney. Vanessa has also requested legal representation.””
“What about Daniel?””
“We're looking for him.””
Marcus's phone vibrated.
An email notification appeared.
The sender was an unfamiliar address.
The subject line read:
*EMILY — WHAT YOUR FATHER NEVER TOLD YOU.*
Marcus opened it.
There was one photograph attached.
A newborn baby wrapped in a hospital blanket.
On the blanket was a small bracelet.
The name was visible.
Emily Reed.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
Your mother didn't give birth to Emily. Claire did.
Marcus stopped breathing.
He read it again.
Then he turned the phone toward Detective Brooks.
She studied the screen.
“Who sent this?””
“I don't know.””
“Don't reply yet.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Claire gave birth to another child?””
“That's what the message claims.””
“Why would she hide that from me?””
The detective didn't answer.
Marcus stood.
“I need to speak to her.””
Claire was awake when Marcus returned to the hospital.
Her color had improved, although she still looked exhausted.
When he entered, she immediately noticed the photograph in his hand.
“What happened?””
Marcus placed it on the bedside table.
“Who is Emily?””
Claire closed her eyes.
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the steady rhythm of the heart monitor.
Then she whispered:
“My daughter.””
Marcus sat down.
“Your daughter?””
“Our daughter.””
He stared at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Claire began crying.
“I tried.””
“When?””
“After Ava was born.””
Marcus remembered those months.
Their marriage had been falling apart.
He had been working constantly, trying to save his father's company after a major financial setback.
He remembered Claire saying she wanted to discuss something important.
He remembered telling her he couldn't deal with another argument.
But he didn't remember a second pregnancy.
“Claire, what happened?””
She looked at him.
“Emily was born four months before Ava.””
Marcus went completely still.
“That's impossible.””
“I know how it sounds.””
“Were you pregnant with twins?””
“No.””
“Then explain it.””
Claire took a shaky breath.
“Before Ava was conceived, I became pregnant with Emily. We weren't doing well, and I was afraid to tell you because you were under so much pressure.””
Marcus looked down.
“Claire…”
“I gave birth prematurely. Emily was healthy, but she needed specialized care. Eleanor offered to help.””
“My mother?””
Claire nodded.
“She said she knew a private medical foundation that could provide everything Emily needed. She told me the paperwork was temporary.””
“What paperwork?””
“A guardianship arrangement.””
Marcus stared at her.
“You signed away our daughter?””
Claire's eyes filled.
“I thought I was giving her temporary care. Eleanor promised she would bring Emily home after the medical arrangements were completed.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because your mother told me you knew.””
Marcus shook his head.
“She told me nothing.””
Claire reached for his hand.
“By the time I understood what she'd done, Eleanor had disappeared with Emily.””
Marcus felt sick.
“What did she say?””
“That Emily had been placed with a family who could care for her. That I had no legal right to interfere.””
“That's kidnapping.””
“I know.””
“Why didn't you go to the police?””
“I did.””
Claire's voice broke.
“But Eleanor had documents. She claimed I had voluntarily surrendered my parental rights. And Vanessa was already involved.””
Marcus frowned.
“Vanessa?””
Claire nodded.
“She was working with Eleanor even then.””
Marcus looked at the birth certificate again.
“Why would Vanessa want Emily?””
Claire turned toward him.
“Because Emily was the key to your father's inheritance.””
He leaned forward.
“What inheritance?””
Claire swallowed.
“Your father created a family trust before he died. It was supposed to protect his grandchildren.””
Marcus remembered the missing account.
The trust.
The documents that had never been located.
Claire continued.
“Your father knew Eleanor had been spending money without his permission. He changed the trust so that his grandchildren would inherit equal shares.””
Marcus stared.
“And Emily?””
“Emily was the first grandchild.””
He looked at the birth certificate.
“Which means…”
“She was entitled to a share of the trust.””
“How much?””
Claire whispered:
“Nearly twelve million dollars.””
Marcus sat back.
The room seemed to shrink around him.
His mother had hidden a child.
His former wife had been forced into silence.
And his fiancée had nearly killed someone to protect a secret worth millions.
But Claire wasn't finished.
“Marcus, there's something else.””
“What?””
“Emily wasn't raised by a stranger.””
She looked directly into his eyes.
“She's been living with Eleanor all these years.””
Marcus stood so quickly that his chair fell backward.
“What?””
May you like
Claire nodded.
“And Vanessa has been pretending to be her mother.””
