Chapter 5: The Envelope My Daughter Kept Hidden
Sophia hurried toward her backpack.
“Baby, wait,” I said gently.
“Don't rush.””
She knelt beside the bed and opened the front pocket.
Her small fingers searched beneath a pencil case and a folded drawing.
Then she pulled out a yellow envelope.
It was worn along the edges.
A faded red ribbon was tied around it.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
Emily.
My knees nearly buckled.
“Where did you get this?””
Sophia looked at me.
“Mommy gave it to me before she died.””
I stared at her.
“You remember that?””
She shook her head.
“Not really. I was little. But Patricia showed me a video.””
I frowned.
“What video?””
Sophia looked down.
“It's on her tablet. She said Mommy left something for me, but I wasn't allowed to open it until I was older.””
Patricia stepped forward.
“Daniel, give me that envelope.””
I turned.
“No.””
“It's not what you think.””
“You've said that several times today. I'm beginning to think everything is exactly what it looks like.””
Patricia's eyes filled with tears.
“I'm trying to protect this family.””
I laughed bitterly.
“From what? The truth?””
She reached toward Sophia.
“Sweetheart, give it to me.””
Sophia immediately stepped behind my leg.
“Don't touch her,” I warned.
Patricia stopped.
Marcus moved closer to the doorway.
“Daniel, we should get the police involved.””
Patricia spun toward him.
“You stay out of this!””
Marcus raised his hands.
“I've stayed out of it for six years. That's the problem.””
I untied the red ribbon.
Inside the envelope were three things.
A folded letter.
A small USB drive.
And a hospital wristband.
The wristband was pink.
It had a date printed on it.
The day Sophia was born.
I unfolded the letter.
My hands were shaking.
My darling Sophia,
If you're old enough to read this, then something has happened that I prayed would never happen.
I want you to know that you were never unwanted. You were the greatest gift of my life.
Your father loves you. Never let anyone convince you otherwise.
There are people around us who smile when they are lying. I have learned that the hard way.
If you ever feel unsafe, find your father. Give him this envelope.
And Daniel, if you are reading this, please don't trust the story you were told about the night I died.
I stopped.
The room became silent.
I read the last sentence again.
Then I looked at Marcus.
“What story?””
He didn't answer.
I turned to Patricia.
“Tell me.””
She wiped her eyes.
“Emily was unstable after Sophia was born.””
I stared at her.
“Don't.””
“She had been having problems. She was paranoid. She thought people were following her.””
“That's not what I asked.””
Patricia took a breath.
“She drove off during an argument.””
I looked down at the letter.
“An argument with whom?””
Patricia said nothing.
Marcus spoke.
“Andrew.””
I closed my eyes.
My brother's name seemed to echo through the room.
I remembered the funeral.
Andrew had held my shoulders while I cried.
He had told me Emily's death was tragic, but I needed to be strong for Sophia.
He had offered to handle the insurance paperwork.
He had even introduced me to the attorney who managed the estate.
I had trusted him.
I had trusted everyone.
“What's on the USB drive?”” I asked.
Patricia stepped toward me.
“Nothing important.””
I turned sharply.
“How do you know what's on it?””
Her mouth opened.
No answer came.
Marcus reached for his phone.
“I know someone who can recover the files.””
“Do it.””
Patricia shook her head.
“No. Absolutely not.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because you don't understand what you're getting into.””
I took a step closer.
“Then explain it.””
She stared at me for several seconds.
Then her expression changed.
The tears disappeared.
Her voice became cold.
“Fine. You want the truth? Emily was going to destroy everything.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What did she know?””
“She knew about the money.””
“What money?””
“The company. The accounts. The transfers.””
I stared at her.
“So you were stealing from me?””
Patricia laughed without humor.
“Stealing? You think marriage works like a bank statement? You were gone constantly.
I kept this household running. I took care of your daughter.””
I looked toward Sophia.
“You made her wash clothes by hand.””
“She needed discipline!””
“She was eight!””
Patricia raised her voice.
“And I was the only adult here!””
The room went silent.
I stared at her.
“You just admitted you were responsible for her.””
Patricia realized what she'd said.
Her jaw tightened.
Then she looked at Sophia.
“Do you know what your mother did?””
I stepped forward.
“Don't.””
But Patricia continued.
“She was planning to take you away from Daniel.””
Sophia shook her head.
“No.””
“Yes, she was.””
“No!”” Sophia cried.
“Mommy loved Daddy!””
Patricia pointed at her.
“Your mother was going to leave this family.””
I grabbed Patricia's wrist before she could point at Sophia again.
“Enough.””
She pulled away.
“You can't keep pretending Emily was innocent.””
I looked at her.
“Then prove it.””
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she turned toward the hallway.
“Andrew will explain everything.””
I frowned.
“Andrew?””
She picked up her handbag.
“He's coming here.””
My blood ran cold.
“When?””
“Tonight.””
I looked at Marcus.
He shook his head.
“Daniel, don't let him come inside.””
I turned toward Patricia.
“You invited my brother?””
She lifted her chin.
“He has a right to be here.””
“He hasn't lived here in years.””
“He's family.””
I almost laughed.
“Apparently, that's the only qualification anyone needs in this house.””
Patricia walked toward the bedroom door.
I blocked her.
“Where are you going?””
“To get my things.””
“No.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“You can't stop me.””
“Not until we know what happened to Emily.””
She stared at me.
Then she leaned close.
“You really want to know?””
I didn't move.
She whispered:
“Your daughter isn't the only person Emily left something to.””
I looked at the envelope.
“What else?””
Patricia smiled faintly.
“Ask your brother why Emily's life insurance policy was paid into an account that didn't belong to you.””
I turned toward Marcus.
He looked stunned.
“That's impossible.””
Patricia walked past me.
“Is it?””
She descended the stairs.
A moment later, the front door slammed.
I stood motionless.
Sophia came closer and slipped her hand into mine.
“Daddy?””
I looked down.
“Yes, baby?””
“Is Mommy in trouble?””
My throat tightened.
“No, sweetheart.””
“Then why does Patricia keep saying bad things about her?””
I knelt.
“Because sometimes people say things to hide what they've done.””
Sophia looked at the envelope.
“Can I tell you something else?””
“Anything.””
She took a breath.
“Patricia made me watch the video last month.””
“What video?””
“The one where Mommy talks to me.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Where is it?””
Sophia pointed toward the tablet.
“It's in Patricia's hidden folder.””
I picked up the device.
It was locked.
“Do you know the password?””
Sophia nodded.
“It's my birthday.””
I entered the numbers.
The tablet unlocked.
There were several folders.
One was named PRIVATE.
Inside it were photographs, scanned documents, and video files.
I tapped the first video.
Emily appeared on the screen.
She looked tired.
Her hair was tied back, and she was sitting in what appeared to be a hospital waiting room.
But she was alive.
She was looking directly into the camera.
“Daniel, if you're watching this, then I wasn't able to tell you the truth myself.””
I stopped breathing.
Emily continued.
“I need you to understand something. The accident wasn't an accident.””
My hands began shaking.
Then she looked down, as if someone had entered the room.
Her eyes widened.
She whispered:
“Andrew knows what happened. And Patricia…”
The video suddenly froze.
A black screen appeared.
Then a message flashed across the tablet.
*FILE DELETED.*
I stared at it.
“No.””
Marcus grabbed the tablet.
“Don't touch anything. Let me check the recovery files.””
He worked quickly.
Then his face changed.
“Daniel…”
“What?””
He turned the screen toward me.
There was another video.
A longer one.
But the thumbnail showed something I couldn't understand.
Emily was standing beside a hospital bed.
And lying in that bed was a little girl wearing the same pink wristband Sophia had been holding.
I looked at my daughter.
Then at the screen.
The date was six years ago.
Three days before Emily's supposed accident.
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And beneath the thumbnail was a filename:
*THE NIGHT THEY SWITCHED THE BABIES.*
