Chapter 4: The Woman Who Wanted My Daughter
By eight the following morning, I was sitting in Rebecca's office.
Lily was at school.
I hadn't told her about the appointment.
She had enough to worry about.
Rebecca placed three documents on her desk.
“The first is the application Natasha submitted. The second is your alleged consent. The third is a statement from Patricia.””
I picked it up.
Patricia claimed that Lily had become increasingly aggressive and emotionally unstable.
She described an incident in which Lily supposedly threw a plate at Natasha.
I looked up.
“That's a lie.””
“Do you remember anything resembling this incident?””
“No.””
Rebecca turned her laptop toward me.
“Then let's compare the statement with the dates.””
She opened the security footage.
The date on Patricia's statement was September 14.
We watched the kitchen recording.
Lily was standing beside the counter, holding a glass of orange juice.
Her elbow accidentally knocked a spoon onto the floor.
Natasha turned around.
Even without audio, her reaction was obvious.
She pointed toward the floor.
Lily bent down and picked up the spoon.
Then Natasha grabbed the glass from her hand and placed it in the sink.
There was no thrown plate.
No aggression.
No incident.
Just a child making a small mistake.
Rebecca leaned back.
“This footage may be useful. Keep the original files and let the relevant professionals assess them.””
I nodded.
“What about the appointment?””
“We'll contact the office, explain that you dispute the documents, and ask for the proper procedure. You should attend if advised. Don't prevent Lily from speaking freely, and don't coach her.””
I looked at the statement again.
Patricia had signed it.
Walter had signed another.
Both claimed to have witnessed Lily's supposed behavior.
I felt anger rising.
“They sat at my table. They watched her eat half a sandwich outside. And now they're calling her dangerous?””
Rebecca's voice remained calm.
“They're making allegations. Our job is to establish the facts.””
At that moment, my phone rang.
Natasha.
I answered.
“What do you want?””
Her voice was cold.
“I heard you're trying to sabotage the assessment.””
“I'm disputing a false application.””
“Don't pretend you care about what is best for Lily.””
“Where is Claire's jewelry box?””
She laughed.
“You're still obsessing over that dead woman's belongings?””
My jaw tightened.
“Answer the question.””
“I threw it away.””
“Why?””
“Because this house needed to move forward.””
I looked at Rebecca.
She gestured for me to keep the conversation factual.
“Natasha, did you submit a consent form with my signature?””
“I submitted paperwork you agreed to.””
“I never agreed to send Lily away.””
“You signed it.””
“I didn't sign that document.””
“Then prove it.””
She ended the call.
I stared at my phone.
Rebecca made a note.
“Don't call her back.””
I nodded.
But the worst part of the day hadn't arrived yet.
At 3:30 p.m., the school called.
Lily had been collected by someone claiming to be her authorized guardian.
I stood so quickly my chair fell backward.
“Who collected her?””
The receptionist sounded nervous.
“Mrs. Natasha. She said there was a family emergency.””
I grabbed my keys.
“Where is my daughter?””
“She said she was taking Lily to her grandmother's house.””
I felt my blood run cold.
“Did Lily want to go?””
There was a pause.
“She looked upset.””
I ended the call.
Rebecca immediately contacted the appropriate authorities while I drove toward Patricia's address.
I called Natasha repeatedly.
No answer.
I called Patricia.
She picked up on the fourth attempt.
“Hello?””
“Where is Lily?””
Patricia sighed.
“She's safe.””
“Put her on the phone.””
“She's upset, Marcus. Perhaps you should stop making this situation worse.””
“Put my daughter on the phone.””
“She needs stability. You work too much.””
I gripped the steering wheel.
“Patricia, I'm asking you one last time.””
She hung up.
When I reached the house, Walter opened the door.
He looked annoyed.
“What's all this?””
“Where's Lily?””
“She's upstairs.””
I pushed past him.
He stepped in front of me.
“Don't barge into my home.””
I stopped.
“Then tell me why my daughter was taken from school without my permission.””
Walter adjusted his sweater.
“Natasha is her stepmother. She has every right to care for her.””
“Not to secretly collect her and refuse to tell me where she is.””
Patricia appeared in the hallway.
“Marcus, you're frightening everyone.””
I looked past her.
“Lily!””
A small voice answered from upstairs.
“Daddy!””
I started toward the staircase.
Patricia tried to block me.
“Don't upset her.””
I moved around her.
Lily came running down the stairs.
Her backpack was still on.
Her eyes were red.
“Daddy!””
I dropped to my knees.
She threw her arms around my neck.
“Are you taking me home?””
I held her tightly.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
Natasha appeared behind her.
“You're making a terrible mistake.””
I stood with Lily beside me.
“Why did you take her?””
Natasha folded her arms.
“She wanted to see her grandparents.””
Lily shook her head.
“No, I didn't.””
Natasha's face hardened.
“Lily, don't start.””
I turned toward my daughter.
“It's okay. You can tell the truth.””
Lily looked at Patricia.
Then at Natasha.
“She told the school you were sick, Daddy.””
I felt my stomach twist.
“What?””
“She said you were in the hospital and couldn't come get me.””
I looked at Natasha.
She didn't deny it.
Instead, she stepped forward.
“Marcus, you need to stop letting Lily control you.””
I took out my phone.
“I'm documenting this conversation.””
Natasha's eyes narrowed.
“You wouldn't dare.””
“Watch me.””
Patricia grabbed Lily's backpack.
“She's staying here.””
Lily immediately clutched my hand.
“No!””
I gently took the backpack.
“She's coming with me.””
Walter moved toward the doorway.
“You'll destroy this family.””
I looked him directly in the eyes.
“You already helped do that.””
We left.
In the car, Lily sat quietly in the passenger seat.
I had arranged for a trusted family friend to accompany us, so I could focus on driving.
After several minutes, she spoke.
“Daddy?””
“I'm here.””
“Natasha said something when she picked me up.””
“What?””
“She said Grandma was going to help her make me a new family.””
I looked at her.
“What does that mean?””
Lily reached into her backpack.
She pulled out a folded piece of paper.
It was a printed photograph of a little girl.
Beside the photograph was a handwritten note.
This is your new sister. You'll meet her soon.
I stared at it.
“Where did you get this?””
“Natasha gave it to me.””
I turned the paper over.
There was a name written on the back.
*Emily.*
May you like
And underneath it, a date.
A date that was only three weeks away.
