Chapter 8: The Woman Who Sold Her Daughter
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Vanessa stood in front of me, trembling.
My mother had moved toward the living room to keep the girls occupied. But I could hear Lily asking whether Ella was coming home.
The sound made everything worse.
"You sent your mother?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Yes.""
"To take our daughter?""
"No. To help us.""
I stared at her.
"You just told me she was at the facility with a court order.""
"I know.""
"Then explain.""
Vanessa took a breath.
"My mother has been pretending to work with your father for years. She was the one who arranged the original transfer, but she also kept copies of everything.""
I looked at her.
"Why would she do that?""
"Because she knew what he was doing was wrong.""
"Then why didn't she stop him?""
Vanessa looked down.
"Because she was afraid of losing me.""
I laughed.
"Your entire family seems to have a problem with telling the truth.""
She didn't defend herself.
Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small memory card.
"She gave me this three days ago.""
I stared at it.
"What's on it?""
"Everything.""
"Everything?""
"The names of the children. The payments. The hospital records. The people who helped your father.""
I took it.
"Why didn't you give this to the police?""
"Because my mother told me she needed one more thing.""
"What?""
"Her original medical file.""
I frowned.
"What does that have to do with anything?""
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"She wasn't just helping your father. He was blackmailing her.""
I looked toward the hallway.
"With what?""
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she said:
"With my birth certificate.""
I stared at her.
"Your birth certificate?""
She nodded.
"Ryan, I wasn't born Vanessa Bennett.""
The room seemed to grow colder.
"What are you saying?""
She sat down.
"My mother told me I was adopted when I was little. She said my biological parents had died.""
I waited.
"Your father found out the truth when we started dating.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What truth?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Your father is my biological father.""
For a moment, I thought I had misheard her.
Then the meaning struck.
I stepped backward.
"No.""
She nodded, crying.
"He discovered it through the genetic records. He had a relationship with my mother before he married your mother. He never acknowledged me.""
I stared at her.
My wife.
The mother of my children.
My father's daughter.
The woman I had married was my half-sister.
I couldn't breathe.
"Did you know when we got married?""
"No.""
"When did you find out?""
"Three months after Lily was born.""
I gripped the kitchen counter.
"Three months?""
She nodded.
"Your father showed me the records. He told me our marriage had to continue because he needed the family to remain together.""
I looked at her in disbelief.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he threatened to destroy both our lives.""
I shook my head.
"You're telling me my father arranged my marriage to his own daughter?""
Vanessa covered her face.
"Yes.""
The room went silent.
I could hear the refrigerator humming.
A car passing outside.
Lily laughing at something Emily had said.
Ordinary sounds.
A completely ordinary house.
And yet nothing about my life was real anymore.
I backed away from Vanessa.
"Don't touch me.""
She lowered her hands.
"Ryan—"
"Don't.""
I walked toward the front door.
My mother followed.
"Where are you going?""
"To get Ella.""
"And Vanessa?""
I looked back.
"She can explain herself to the police.""
Vanessa didn't follow.
She just stood in the kitchen, crying.
The facility was surrounded by police vehicles when we arrived.
Dr. Bennett stood near the entrance.
Her cardigan was torn, and there was a bruise on her forehead.
"Where's Ella?""
"Inside.""
"And Vanessa's mother?""
"Taken into custody.""
I looked around.
"Did she get the child?""
"No.""
I exhaled.
Dr. Bennett lowered her voice.
"She wasn't alone.""
I looked at her.
"Who was with her?""
"Your father.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Where is he?""
"Inside.""
We hurried down the corridor.
At the end of it stood a police officer.
He was speaking to an older woman with silver hair.
Vanessa's mother.
She looked directly at me.
"Ryan.""
I stopped.
"Where is my daughter?""
She shook her head.
"Your daughter is safe.""
"Which one?""
She looked confused.
Then I stepped closer.
"Where is Ella?""
The woman closed her eyes.
"She's with Dr. Bennett.""
"Why did you try to take her?""
"Because your father was going to move all three girls tonight.""
My blood ran cold.
"All three?""
She nodded.
"Lily. Emily. Ella.""
I stared at her.
"Where?""
"An old property outside the city.""
"Why?""
She looked toward the police officer.
"Because your father knows the files have been found.""
I looked at the officer.
"Where is he?""
The officer pointed toward a consultation room.
I opened the door.
My father was sitting at a table.
His hands were cuffed.
He looked up.
"Ryan.""
I walked toward him.
"You arranged my marriage.""
He didn't deny it.
"You took my daughter.""
"I protected her.""
"You hid children in walls.""
"I preserved my family.""
I leaned over the table.
"You're sick.""
He smiled faintly.
"You're emotional. That has always been your weakness.""
I wanted to hit him.
I wanted to make him feel even a fraction of what he had done to us.
Instead, I placed the memory card on the table.
His smile disappeared.
"Where did you get that?""
"Your granddaughter.""
He looked at me sharply.
"Which one?""
I stared at him.
"All of them.""
For the first time, he looked afraid.
The police officer entered.
"Mr. Morgan, we need to discuss these records.""
My father looked at him.
"Those documents are confidential.""
"They include evidence of child abduction, forged medical records, and unlawful confinement.""
My father laughed.
"You have no idea what you're dealing with.""
The officer remained calm.
"Then perhaps you should explain it.""
My father leaned back.
"Very well.""
He looked directly at me.
"The children were never the objective.""
I frowned.
"What?""
He smiled again.
"They were evidence.""
I stared.
"Evidence of what?""
He leaned forward.
"Your mother knows.""
I turned toward the doorway.
My mother stood there.
She was pale.
My father continued.
"Ask her why every child in those files carries the same birthmark.""
I looked at my mother.
She couldn't meet my eyes.
"Mom?""
She shook her head.
"Not here.""
My father laughed.
"She knows the truth. She has known since before you were born.""
I stepped toward my mother.
"What truth?""
She finally looked up.
Then she whispered:
"Ryan, the birthmark isn't inherited from your father's family.""
I stared at her.
"Then where does it come from?""
She swallowed.
"From me.""
An hour later, Dr. Bennett brought Ella into the consultation room.
She was holding her rabbit.
When she saw me, she ran forward.
"Daddy!""
I caught her.
My father watched us silently.
Then he looked at the three children in the photographs spread across the table.
For once, he had nothing to say.
I kissed Ella's forehead.
"We're going home.""
She looked at the police officer.
"Is Grandpa coming?""
I held her closer.
"No, sweetheart.""
She nodded.
Then she whispered:
"Good. He said he was going to take us to the place where the bad children sleep.""
My blood ran cold.
"What place?""
Ella pointed toward the window.
"Grandma knows.""
I turned.
My mother was already crying.
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And I realized that the secret behind the birthmarks was bigger than my father's obsession.
Much bigger.
