Chapter 7: My Brother Had Been Raising My Other Daughter
“Which one, Daniel?””
Andrew's question kept echoing in my head long after the call ended.
I stood beside the living-room window, staring at the black car across the street.
My brother was still there.
He wasn't hiding.
He wasn't running.
He was watching our house as though he owned it.
Behind me, Sophia held my jacket with both hands.
“Daddy, is Uncle Andrew angry?””
I turned away from the window.
“No, sweetheart.””
“Then why did he look at me like that?””
I crouched beside her.
“Listen to me. You're staying with Marcus and Miss Helen. I'm going to make a few calls.””
Sophia shook her head.
“I don't want you to leave.””
“I won't leave you alone. I promise.””
Marcus approached.
“Daniel, we need to contact the police before Andrew makes another move.””
I nodded.
“Call them. Tell them we have evidence of financial fraud, forged documents, and a possible child abduction.””
Helen looked frightened.
“There's something you should know about Andrew.””
I turned.
“What?””
“When Emily came back to the hospital, she wasn't alone. She brought a photograph of a little girl.””
“Lily?””
Helen nodded.
“She said the child was living with a woman named Rebecca.””
I frowned.
“Rebecca who?””
Helen shook her head.
“She never told me the surname. But she said Rebecca was raising Lily as her own.””
My mind raced.
I knew hundreds of people through business, but only a handful of women named Rebecca were connected to Andrew.
Then one name surfaced.
Rebecca Lawson.
Andrew's former girlfriend.
They had been together before he moved away. I'd met her several times at family gatherings.
She had disappeared from our social circle around the same time Patricia entered my life.
“Marcus,” I said, “do you remember Rebecca Lawson?””
He nodded slowly.
“Andrew's old girlfriend?””
“Yes.””
Marcus looked at Helen.
“Could that be the woman?””
Helen's expression changed.
“I remember Emily mentioning the surname Lawson.””
My knees nearly gave way.
“Where does Rebecca live?””
Marcus took out his phone.
“I'll find out.””
A loud knock interrupted us.
Three sharp knocks.
Then another.
I looked through the security camera.
Andrew was standing at the front door.
He had crossed the street.
I stepped toward the entrance.
Marcus grabbed my shoulder.
“Don't open it.””
“It's my brother.””
“That's exactly why you shouldn't.””
Andrew knocked again.
“Daniel! I know you're in there.””
I pressed the intercom.
“What do you want?””
“To talk.””
“Then talk.””
He looked directly into the camera.
“Not through a machine.””
I watched his expression.
He looked older than I remembered. His hair was neatly combed, and his expensive gray coat was buttoned perfectly.
He looked like a respectable businessman.
A man nobody would suspect of anything.
“Tell me where Lily is,” I said.
Andrew sighed.
“She's safe.””
“Where?””
“That's not something you need to know.””
I almost laughed.
“She is my daughter.””
Andrew's expression hardened.
“Biologically, perhaps.””
I felt my blood boil.
“What does that mean?””
He leaned toward the camera.
“It means you need to understand that six years ago, things were complicated. Emily was unstable. Patricia was trying to help. I was trying to protect everyone.””
“By taking my child?””
Andrew shook his head.
“You don't understand what happened.””
“Then explain it.””
He glanced toward the street.
“Not here.””
I looked at Marcus.
He was already recording the conversation.
I pressed the intercom again.
“Andrew, did you know Emily was going to die?””
Andrew's face changed.
For a moment, his confidence disappeared.
Then he stepped back.
“Be careful, Daniel.””
He turned and walked toward his car.
Before getting inside, he looked up at the camera one last time.
“Ask Patricia why she married you.””
Then he drove away.
I stood motionless.
Marcus lowered his phone.
“That was a threat.””
“It was also an admission.””
Helen approached the window.
“Daniel, please. We need to find Rebecca.””
Marcus returned to his laptop.
Twenty minutes later, he had an address.
Rebecca Lawson lived in a quiet residential neighborhood about forty minutes away.
I looked at the address.
Then at Sophia.
“I'm going to find your sister.””
Sophia's eyes filled with tears.
“Can I come?””
I hesitated.
Marcus spoke gently.
“Maybe Sophia should stay somewhere safe.””
I nodded.
“She's coming with me to a secure location first. Then I'll go.””
We contacted the police and arranged for Sophia to stay with a family friend while officers accompanied us.
Before leaving, Sophia hugged me tightly.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“If Lily is my sister, will she like me?””
I smiled sadly.
“She'll be lucky to have you.””
Sophia looked down.
“I can share my toys.””
I kissed her forehead.
“I think she'll like that.””
Forty minutes later, I stood outside a modest white house with a small garden.
A child's bicycle rested beside the front steps.
There were pink flowers near the mailbox.
I rang the doorbell.
A woman opened the door.
Rebecca Lawson.
She looked at me and immediately stepped backward.
“Daniel?””
“Hello, Rebecca.””
She glanced over my shoulder.
“Why are you here?””
I held up the photograph of the two newborn babies.
“I'm looking for Lily.””
Rebecca's face lost all color.
She gripped the doorframe.
“Who told you?””
“Emily.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, God.””
I stepped closer.
“Is she here?””
Rebecca looked toward the hallway.
Then she whispered:
“Please don't do this.””
“Do what?””
“Destroy her life.””
I stared at her.
“She's my daughter.””
Rebecca began crying.
“I know.””
The words hit me harder than I expected.
I looked past her.
A little girl appeared at the end of the hallway.
She was wearing a yellow dress and holding a stuffed rabbit.
She had dark curly hair.
And the same small dimple on her left cheek that Sophia had.
My breath caught.
Rebecca turned around.
“Lily, sweetheart, go back to your room.””
The little girl didn't move.
She looked at me.
“Are you Mommy's friend?””
I couldn't speak.
Rebecca wiped her face.
“Lily, this is Daniel.””
The little girl tilted her head.
“Daniel who?””
I swallowed.
“Daniel Carter.””
She looked confused.
Then she asked:
“Are you the man in the pictures?””
My heart stopped.
“What pictures?””
Rebecca closed her eyes.
“The pictures Andrew gave her.””
I looked at her.
“Andrew has been here?””
Rebecca nodded.
“He visits every month.””
“Why?””
She began crying harder.
“Because he told me that if I ever contacted you, he would make sure I lost Lily.””
I stared at the little girl.
She was still holding her rabbit.
Then she said something that made my chest ache.
“Are you my real daddy?””
I knelt.
“Yes, sweetheart.””
She looked at Rebecca.
Then back at me.
“Does that mean I have a sister?””
I nodded.
“Her name is Sophia.””
Lily smiled faintly.
“Is she nice?””
I laughed through my tears.
“She is the kindest little girl I've ever known.””
Lily looked down at her rabbit.
Then she walked closer.
“Can I meet her?””
Before I could answer, Rebecca suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Daniel, you need to leave.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
She looked toward the window.
A car had stopped outside.
A black SUV.
The passenger door opened.
Patricia stepped out.
Rebecca began shaking.
“She's here.””
I turned toward the driveway.
Patricia walked toward the front door carrying a folder.
She looked straight at me.
Then she smiled.
“Daniel. I was hoping we'd have this conversation privately.””
I stood between her and Lily.
“What are you doing here?””
Patricia raised the folder.
“I'm here to take my daughter home.””
I stared at her.
“Which daughter?””
She looked past me toward Lily.
Then she answered with chilling confidence.
May you like
“Both.””
And behind her, I saw Andrew getting out of the driver's seat.
