Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew Everything
I read Rachel's message three times.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
She was staring at the phone as though it were a loaded weapon.
“Why is Rachel contacting me now?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“She shouldn't have that number.””
I turned.
“What number?””
“The old phone.””
I held it up.
“You recognize this?””
She said nothing.
I opened the message again.
Another message appeared.
I'm outside. Please answer.
I walked toward the front door.
Vanessa rushed after me.
“Vincent, don't open it!””
I stopped.
“Why?””
“She wants money.””
I stared at her.
“You haven't spoken to Rachel in six years. How do you know what she wants?””
“Because I know her.””
I opened the front door.
A black sedan stood in the driveway.
Rainwater ran down its windows.
The driver's door opened.
A woman stepped out, holding a large umbrella.
Rachel.
She looked older than I remembered. Her dark hair was shorter, and her face was thinner. But I recognized the way she walked.
She had always carried herself like someone who refused to ask permission.
When she reached the porch, her eyes went straight to Elena.
She stopped.
“Oh, my God.””
Elena stepped forward.
“Rachel.””
Rachel dropped her umbrella.
For several seconds, they simply stared at each other.
Then Rachel crossed the porch and embraced her.
“You're alive.””
Elena began sobbing.
Rachel held her tightly.
“I knew it. I knew she was lying.””
I looked between them.
“What do you mean?””
Rachel pulled away.
She picked up her umbrella and entered the mansion.
Then she looked at me.
“Vanessa told me Elena died. But I never believed her.””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Rachel, this is not the time.””
Rachel laughed bitterly.
“You always decide when it's time, don't you?””
She looked at Marcus.
“Hello, sweetheart.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Do I know you?””
Rachel's expression softened.
“You knew me when you were very little.””
Vanessa stepped between them.
“Stay away from my son.””
Rachel's eyes hardened.
“Your son?””
She pointed toward the photograph.
“That's Daniel's son.””
Marcus looked confused.
I moved closer.
“Rachel, we need answers.””
She nodded.
“You deserve them.””
We gathered around the dining table.
Nobody touched the food Vanessa had prepared earlier.
Rachel placed a thick brown folder on the table.
“I've spent six years collecting documents,” she said.
“I didn't know where Elena was, but I knew something had happened.””
Vanessa scoffed.
“You've always been dramatic.””
Rachel opened the folder.
Inside were bank statements, hospital forms, photographs, and copies of legal documents.
She slid one paper toward me.
“Look at the date.””
I picked it up.
It was a hospital birth certificate.
Marcus's name was written at the top.
Below it was the name of his mother.
Vanessa Whitmore.
The father's name was blank.
“Why is Daniel's name missing?”” I asked.
Rachel leaned forward.
“Because Vanessa refused to put it there.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Daniel didn't want his name on the certificate.””
Rachel looked at her.
“Daniel didn't even know you were pregnant until after the baby was born.””
Vanessa's expression changed.
Rachel continued.
“I found out about the affair three months after Daniel died.””
I frowned.
“How?””
She pulled out another photograph.
It showed Daniel standing outside a restaurant with Vanessa.
They were holding hands.
The date was printed at the bottom.
Two weeks before his accident.
Rachel's voice trembled.
“He told me he was going to end the marriage. He said he had made a terrible mistake and wanted to fix things.””
Vanessa laughed.
“He told you whatever you wanted to hear.””
Rachel didn't react.
“He also told me he was afraid.””
“Of what?”” I asked.
Rachel looked toward Vanessa.
“Of her.””
The room fell silent.
Vanessa slammed her palm against the table.
“That's enough!””
Rachel opened another document.
“This is a letter Daniel wrote before he died.””
I took it.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
My brother had always written his capital letters in a strange way, with long strokes.
I read the first paragraph.
Vincent, if anything happens to me, look after Rachel. I have made mistakes, but I am trying to make things right.
I continued.
There is a child coming into this world. I don't know how to explain everything, but I know the child deserves a better life than the one we have created.
My chest tightened.
Then I reached the final paragraph.
Vanessa has become unpredictable. She says she knows things about Elena that could destroy our family. I don't believe everything she tells me.
I looked up.
“Why didn't you show me this before?””
Rachel's eyes filled.
“Because I found it after Daniel's funeral. By then, Vanessa had already convinced me that she was going to raise Marcus peacefully. She told me if I tried to expose the affair, she would make sure nobody believed me.””
“Why didn't you go to the police?””
“I did.””
Vanessa laughed.
“And they did nothing.””
Rachel nodded.
“Because you had already destroyed the evidence.””
I looked at the documents.
“What evidence?””
Rachel pointed to a hospital transfer form.
“Two babies were born that night. But only one was registered under the correct mother.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Explain.””
Rachel took a breath.
“Vanessa gave birth to Marcus at St. Mary's. Elena gave birth to Amara at a private clinic after she was transferred.””
I looked at Elena.
She nodded.
Rachel continued.
“Vanessa arranged for the babies' medical records to be mixed up. She wanted everyone to believe that Amara was her daughter and that Marcus belonged to Elena.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“Because I wanted to give my son a future!””
Rachel looked at her.
“You wanted to erase Daniel's affair.””
Vanessa's voice rose.
“I wanted to protect my child from being called illegitimate!””
“And what about Amara?””
Vanessa said nothing.
Rachel leaned forward.
“Where did you send her?””
Vanessa looked toward the staircase.
I followed her gaze.
Marcus was standing at the entrance to the dining room.
He had heard everything.
“Mom?””
Vanessa's expression softened immediately.
“Sweetheart, go upstairs.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Is my sister alive?””
Vanessa walked toward him.
“Please don't listen to these people.””
“Is she?””
Vanessa stopped.
Marcus's voice trembled.
“Did you give her away?””
Vanessa looked at him.
For the first time, I saw something resembling genuine shame on her face.
“I did what I had to do.””
Marcus backed away.
“You told me I was an only child.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From having a sister?””
Vanessa reached for him.
He pulled away.
“Don't touch me.””
Those three words seemed to hurt her more than anything else.
Rachel closed the folder.
“There's something else Vincent needs to know.””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
She took out a small photograph.
It showed a young woman standing outside a school building.
She had dark curls and a familiar smile.
The resemblance to Elena was unmistakable.
On the back was a handwritten name.
*AMARA DANIELS.*
I looked at Elena.
She nodded slowly.
“That's my baby.””
I held the photograph.
“How old is she now?””
“Seven,” Elena whispered.
“Where is she?””
Rachel took out another sheet.
It was a school registration document.
“She's living in a town about forty minutes from here.””
I stared at the address.
Then I noticed the emergency contact listed beneath the child's name.
My heart began racing.
It wasn't Vanessa.
It wasn't Elena.
It wasn't Rachel.
The emergency contact was listed as:
*VINCENT WHITMORE.*
I looked up.
“Why am I listed as her emergency contact?””
Rachel shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Vanessa suddenly sat down.
Her face had gone completely white.
Elena looked at the document.
Then she whispered:
“Because I arranged it.””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
She wiped her cheeks.
“I couldn't reach you. But I knew you would never stop looking for us if you knew where to start.””
Rachel frowned.
“Elena, what are you saying?””
Elena took my hand.
“I didn't put your name there seven years ago.””
I stared at her.
“Then who did?””
She looked toward Vanessa.
Vanessa lowered her head.
And then Elena said the words that made my blood run cold.
“Someone has been preparing Amara to come home to you.””
Before I could ask another question, the front doorbell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then the door opened.
A young woman entered carrying a small backpack.
She looked at me.
Then at Elena.
And finally at Vanessa.
Her voice was quiet.
“I'm looking for my mother.””
Elena stopped breathing.
May you like
The girl looked directly at her.
“Are you Elena Morgan?””
Related Stories
