Chapter 6: The Secret Behind My Daughter's Birth
For several seconds, I couldn't understand what Linda had just told me.
Jonathan Reed was Sarah's biological father.
The man who had been sleeping with my wife.
The man who had helped her frame me.
The man who had been planning to take everything I owned.
He was also the man whose name appeared on Sarah's birth certificate.
I looked at Linda.
"You're telling me Sarah has been involved with her own father?""
Linda shook her head violently.
"No. Michael, listen to me. Jonathan isn't the man who raised her.
He left before she was born. Sarah didn't know who he was until recently.""
Daniel placed the birth certificate on the table.
"Let's slow down. How did Sarah discover his identity?""
Linda wiped her cheeks.
"About two years ago, Sarah started researching her biological father. She had always believed her father was my first husband, Robert. But Robert adopted her when she was three. He died when Sarah was seventeen.""
I remembered Sarah mentioning Robert.
She had told me he was a good man.
"He raised her," I said.
Linda nodded.
"He did. He loved her like his own daughter. But after he died, I never told Sarah the truth. I thought it was better that way.""
"Why?""
"Because Jonathan abandoned me when I was pregnant. He knew I was carrying his child. He disappeared.
He didn't send money. He didn't call. He didn't even ask whether she was born.""
Daniel folded his arms.
"And when did he return?""
"Two years ago.""
I leaned forward.
"How?""
Linda opened her handbag and removed another photograph.
It showed Sarah standing beside Jonathan outside an expensive restaurant.
They weren't touching.
They were simply looking at each other.
On the back was a handwritten date.
Two years earlier.
"He contacted her through a DNA website," Linda explained.
"He said he had been searching for her.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Did she know who he was?""
"Eventually.""
"And you knew?""
Linda nodded.
I stood.
"Then why did you let him near my family?""
"I didn't know he was planning any of this!""
"He's been visiting my house!""
"I thought he was trying to reconnect with Sarah!""
My voice rose.
"And you thought that was normal? A stranger walking into my home, meeting my daughter, taking money from our accounts?""
Linda lowered her head.
Daniel stepped between us.
"Michael. We need facts, not another argument.""
I took a breath.
"Fine. Tell me about Emily.""
Linda looked up.
Her eyes were red.
"Jonathan became obsessed with her.""
"Obsessed how?""
"He started asking Sarah questions about her. Her school. Her medical records.
Her birth. Everything.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why?""
"I don't know.""
"Linda.""
She hesitated.
Then she reached into the envelope and produced another document.
It was a photocopy of a DNA testing application.
The names were partly obscured.
But one name was clear.
Emily Carter.
I stared at it.
"What is this?""
Linda whispered, "Jonathan wanted a DNA test.""
"With Emily?""
She nodded.
"When Sarah refused, he became angry. He told her that the child was more important than the money.""
Daniel took the document.
"Was this test ever completed?""
"I don't know.""
I looked at the application again.
There was a handwritten note at the bottom.
*Relationship verification — urgent.*
My hands went cold.
"Why would he need to verify his relationship to my daughter?""
Linda didn't answer.
Daniel picked up his phone.
"I'm contacting the authorities. We need to locate Emily immediately.""
I turned toward him.
"Can we request an emergency welfare check?""
"Yes.""
He made the call.
While he spoke, I kept staring at the document.
Emily was my daughter.
I had been there when she took her first breath.
I had held her against my chest while Sarah slept after delivery.
I remembered the tiny hospital bracelet around her wrist.
I remembered whispering that I would spend my entire life protecting her.
And now someone was using her as part of a plan I couldn't even understand.
Daniel ended the call.
"The authorities are looking into her location.""
"How long?""
"I don't know.""
"She could be anywhere.""
"I understand.""
I turned toward Linda.
"Where does Jonathan live?""
She gave us an address in a wealthy neighborhood outside Columbus.
Daniel wrote it down.
Then Linda suddenly spoke again.
"There's something I haven't told you.""
I looked at her.
"What now?""
She closed her eyes.
"Jonathan didn't just return to find Sarah.""
"What does that mean?""
"He contacted me first.""
The room became silent.
"When?""
"Almost three years ago.""
"Before he contacted Sarah?""
She nodded.
"What did he want?""
Linda's fingers trembled.
"He wanted to know whether I had ever told anyone about the child I lost.""
I frowned.
"What child?""
Linda looked at me.
"Before Sarah was born, I had twins.""
I stared at her.
"Twins?""
She nodded.
"One survived. One didn't.""
I waited.
"Jonathan told me he believed the second child might have survived. He said there had been a mistake at the hospital.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Did you believe him?""
"No. I thought he was trying to frighten me.""
"Was there another birth certificate?""
Linda shook her head.
"Not that I knew of.""
I looked at the DNA application.
A terrible thought entered my mind.
"Emily?""
Linda covered her mouth.
"I don't know.""
My chair scraped backward.
"Are you saying Emily might be Jonathan's child?""
"No! I don't know what I'm saying!""
Daniel raised his voice.
"Nobody is going to speculate about a child's parentage without verified evidence.""
He gathered the documents.
"We need the original records.""
Linda nodded.
"I know where they are.""
"Where?""
"At the hospital where Sarah was born. There was a private medical file. Jonathan once told me he had obtained a copy.""
I stared at her.
"Why would he have Sarah's medical records?""
Linda looked down.
"Because he paid someone to find them.""
Daniel stood.
"Then that's where we start.""
Before we could leave, my phone—temporarily returned to me for the meeting—vibrated.
An unknown number.
I opened the message.
There was no greeting.
Just a photograph.
Emily was standing in front of a large window.
Behind her was a garden.
She wore a pink sweater.
Her face was turned toward the camera.
Below the photograph were eight words.
*Come alone if you want your daughter back.*
A second message appeared.
*Ask Sarah what happened at the hospital.*
I showed Daniel.
His expression hardened.
"Do not respond.""
But another message arrived.
This one contained a location.
A private property outside the city.
Then a final sentence.
*You have until midnight, Michael.*
I looked at Daniel.
"That's where she is.""
He shook his head.
"It could be a trap.""
"I don't care.""
"Michael, listen to me. We have evidence of a possible abduction or unlawful concealment. The police need to handle this.""
I looked at Emily's photograph.
My little girl was holding a stuffed rabbit.
The same rabbit I had bought her when she was two.
I remembered the night she refused to sleep without it.
I remembered promising her that no matter what happened, Daddy would always find her.
"Daniel," I said quietly.
"Yes?""
"I've spent six months watching strangers decide whether I'm a good father.""
I looked at him.
"I'm not letting another minute pass while my daughter waits for me.""
And then Linda said something that made us both turn.
"Michael, that address isn't Jonathan's house.""
"Whose is it?""
May you like
Linda's voice trembled.
"It's the old property where Sarah was born.""
