Chapter 6: The Child My Family Tried to Erase
For a moment, I couldn't understand the words.
My brother had a daughter.
A little girl.
Someone who had existed while I was busy raising Lily, grieving Emily, and trying to rebuild my life.
Someone whose existence my family had apparently kept secret.
I looked at Vanessa.
“What's her name?””
She didn't answer.
“Vanessa. What's her name?””
“Chloe.””
I repeated it quietly.
“Chloe Brooks?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She's seven.””
Seven.
Only one year younger than Lily.
I stepped backward and sat on the edge of the sewing table.
“Where is she?””
Vanessa looked toward the window.
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
“She lives with her mother.””
“Who is her mother?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Me.””
The room became completely silent.
Marcus, who had been standing near the doorway, stared at her.
“What?””
Vanessa turned.
“Marcus, go downstairs.””
“No.””
“Please.””
“You have a daughter?””
She pressed her lips together.
Marcus looked at me.
“Dad, is she serious?””
I couldn't speak.
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“Chloe was born before I met Daniel. David was her father.””
I stared at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because David was dead.””
“That doesn't answer the question.””
She looked at me.
“Because I knew you would never marry me if you knew.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You think?””
“Daniel, I was trying to give my children a stable home.””
“You already had three sons. You had a daughter with my brother. And you married me without telling me?””
“I didn't know how to explain it.””
“You had six years!””
Her voice rose.
“Because every time I tried to build something with you, Emily was still there! Your brother was still there! Your mother was still there!””
I stared at her.
Then I said something that made her stop.
“You didn't marry me to build a family. You married me because you thought you could collect what my family had left behind.””
She looked down.
And for the first time, she didn't deny it.
Richard returned to the room.
He had heard enough from the hallway to understand that something significant had happened.
“Daniel,” he said quietly, “we need to be careful about what we conclude. There are several legal and family matters here that need independent verification.””
I nodded.
“Vanessa says she has a daughter with David.””
Richard looked at her.
“Is that true?””
She nodded.
“Do you have documentation?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
Vanessa looked toward the cabinet.
“In the blue folder.””
Richard retrieved it.
Inside were several medical records, a birth certificate, and a paternity acknowledgment signed by David Brooks.
The birth certificate listed Vanessa Carter as the mother.
The father's name was blank.
But the paternity acknowledgment was signed and notarized.
David had recognized Chloe as his daughter.
The date was six months before his death.
I looked at the document.
“Why was her name never included in the estate records?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Because David didn't want his family to know.””
“Why?””
“He was afraid your mother would take the child away.””
I frowned.
“That's ridiculous.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You don't know what happened between them.””
“Then tell me.””
She sat down.
“Your mother believed David was being manipulated by me. She thought I was only interested in the property.””
“Were you?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
I looked at the paternity document again.
“Did David know about the trust?””
“Yes.””
“Did he believe Chloe was entitled to something?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He believed the property should be divided between his daughter and Lily.””
Richard looked up.
“That is not what the original trust provides.””
Vanessa turned toward him.
“That's what David believed.””
“Belief doesn't alter the legal document.””
She ignored him.
“David thought it was unfair that Lily would inherit everything.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“Lily wasn't inheriting everything. She had a protected interest because her mother funded part of the purchase.””
“And Chloe was his daughter!””
“She could have been protected through a separate arrangement. Nobody was stopping him from making provisions for her.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Your mother refused.””
I shook my head.
“Then why didn't David take her to court?””
“He didn't want a fight.””
“Then why did he sign a document transferring the property?””
Vanessa looked away.
That was when I noticed something.
The paternity acknowledgment had been signed in blue ink.
The property transfer document had been signed in black.
But both documents had the same witness.
Andrew Carter.
I placed them side by side.
“Why was your brother involved in both?””
Vanessa looked at the papers.
Her expression changed.
Richard noticed too.
“Mrs. Brooks, did Andrew arrange the paternity acknowledgment?””
“No.””
“Did he witness it?””
She nodded.
“Why?””
“He was helping David.””
“Helping him do what?””
Vanessa stared at the table.
“Get the property transferred before your mother could change the trust.””
Richard leaned forward.
“Your mother couldn't simply remove a beneficiary without following the trust provisions.””
“I know that now.””
“Did you know it then?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
I looked at her.
“Then what happened the night David died?””
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
“He called me. He said Andrew had lied to him.””
“About what?””
“About the transfer.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“Explain.””
Vanessa took a breath.
“Andrew told David that if he signed the paperwork, Chloe would receive half the property. He said the money would be divided fairly.””
“Was that true?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because Andrew had arranged the documents so the property would transfer into a company he controlled.””
Richard looked at the paperwork.
“Who was listed as the company's director?””
Vanessa whispered:
“Andrew.””
The pieces began falling into place.
My brother had been persuaded to sign away property he didn't own.
My mother had discovered it.
Emily had protected Lily.
And Vanessa had somehow become part of the scheme.
But I still didn't understand one thing.
“Why did David die?””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“I don't know.””
“Were you with him that night?””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
She looked at me.
“David wanted to leave. He said he was going to tell you everything the next morning.””
“And?””
“Andrew called him.””
She hesitated.
“He told David to meet him.””
“Where?””
“Near the old highway entrance.””
I stared.
“That was where the accident happened.””
She nodded.
“David left. I went home.””
“Did you see Andrew?””
“No.””
“Did you tell the police about the call?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Why not?””
“Because Andrew told me David had been drinking. He said nobody would believe me.””
Richard stood.
“Did you give a statement?””
“No.””
“Did you tell investigators you were with David?””
“No.””
I stared at her.
“You let them believe he was alone.””
She started crying.
“I was scared.””
I looked at her for a long time.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
“Did you know Andrew was planning to use the property to get money?””
She nodded.
“Did you help him?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Downstairs, Lily was sitting at the dining table with a bowl of cereal.
She had changed into a pink sweater and leggings.
When she saw me, she smiled.
“Dad!””
I forced myself to smile back.
“Hey, sweetheart.””
She held up a drawing.
It showed three people standing beneath a big yellow sun.
Me.
Lily.
And Emily.
She had drawn Emily with long dark hair and a white dress.
“It's our family,” she said.
I looked at the picture.
Then I looked at my daughter.
I knelt beside her.
“It's beautiful.””
“Can we put it in the living room?””
“Yes.””
She tilted her head.
“Is Mrs. Vanessa still mad?””
I brushed a crumb from her sleeve.
“I don't know, baby.””
“Is she going away?””
I took a breath.
“Some things are changing.””
She looked at the drawing.
“Will Marcus and his brothers still visit?””
I glanced toward the staircase.
Marcus had followed us down.
He was standing quietly behind her.
He smiled when she looked at him.
“I'd like that,” he said.
Lily brightened.
“Really?””
“Yeah.””
He sat beside her.
“Can I see the drawing?””
She handed it over.
He studied it.
“That's pretty good.””
“Thank you.””
He looked at me.
“Dad, can we talk?””
I nodded.
We stepped into the hallway.
Marcus spoke quietly.
“I knew Mom was hiding something. I didn't know about Chloe.””
“Neither did I.””
He looked toward the dining room.
“Is she really my sister?””
“Yes.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“Then why did Mom never tell us?””
“I don't know.””
He swallowed.
“Dad, I think Mom was talking to Andrew last night.””
My attention sharpened.
“What did you hear?””
“She was in the garage. I went down to get my charger. I heard her say something about the original deed and a girl.””
“Chloe?””
“I think so.””
“What else?””
Marcus hesitated.
“She said, ‘If Daniel finds out where the girl is, the whole arrangement falls apart.’”
I felt a chill.
“Where Chloe is?””
He nodded.
“That's what I heard.””
I looked toward the dining room.
Lily was showing Caleb the drawing now.
The boys were treating her gently.
For the first time in months, she looked comfortable around them.
I didn't want to destroy that moment.
But I needed answers.
“Marcus, did you hear anything else?””
He lowered his voice.
“Mom said Andrew had already moved the original deed.””
My stomach tightened.
“Where?””
Marcus shook his head.
“I don't know. But she said it was somewhere nobody would think to look.””
Richard and I returned upstairs.
Vanessa was still in the blue room.
She was sitting on the floor beside the open cabinet.
I held up the paternity document.
“Where is Chloe?””
She looked up.
“I told you. With her mother.””
“You are her mother.””
She wiped her face.
“She lives with someone else.””
I stared.
“Who?””
“My aunt.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked away.
“Because Andrew thought it was safer.””
Richard's expression hardened.
“Safer from whom?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“Where is my niece?””
She looked at me.
“Daniel, please. You don't understand what you're getting involved in.””
“She's seven years old. If she is my brother's daughter, she's family.””
Vanessa's voice cracked.
“You think you can just bring her here?””
“I think she deserves to know who she is.””
“She doesn't know about you.””
“Then we'll tell her carefully.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You can't.””
“Why?””
She stared at me.
Then she whispered:
“Because Andrew has already told her that you're the reason her father died.””
I went completely still.
Richard stepped forward.
“That's an extremely serious allegation.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Andrew told Chloe that David had gone to meet you the night he died. He said you argued about the house. He said you refused to help him.””
I shook my head.
“I never saw David that night.””
“I know.””
“Then why would Andrew tell her that?””
Vanessa lowered her head.
“Because he needed someone else to blame.””
The room seemed to spin.
My brother's daughter had grown up believing I was responsible for her father's death.
And somebody had deliberately taught her that story.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Where is she?””
She didn't respond.
“Tell me where Chloe is.””
Finally, she gave me an address.
An apartment in Marietta.
I wrote it down.
Richard took the paper.
“We'll verify it before making contact.””
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“Don't go there.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because Chloe isn't the only person living at that address.””
“Who else?””
Vanessa's voice dropped.
“Andrew.””
Richard immediately reached for his phone.
I stared at the woman I had married.
“You knew he was living with your daughter?””
“He visits.””
“How often?””
She didn't answer.
I felt something inside me harden.
“Richard, call the appropriate authorities and arrange for the child's welfare to be checked. We are not going there alone.””
He nodded.
Vanessa began shaking her head.
“Daniel, please. Don't involve the police.””
“Why not?””
“Because Andrew will know I told you.””
I looked at her.
“Then perhaps you should have thought about that before helping him.””
She grabbed my arm.
“Listen to me. There's something else you need to know.””
I pulled away.
“What?””
She looked toward the staircase.
Then she whispered:
“David didn't die because of the property.””
I frowned.
“What are you saying?””
She swallowed.
“Andrew didn't arrange that meeting to discuss the deed.””
“Then why?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Because David had discovered that Chloe wasn't the only child whose identity Andrew had been hiding.””
I stared at her.
“What other child?””
She looked directly at me.
“Daniel, Andrew has been using your family for years.””
She took a shaky breath.
“And there's a very good chance that the person who helped him hide everything is still living in this house.””
Before I could respond, my phone vibrated.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph.
The image showed a little girl standing in front of a school.
Beside her was a man in a dark jacket.
I recognized the girl from the photograph in the blue folder.
Chloe.
But it was the handwritten message underneath that made my blood run cold.
*STOP LOOKING FOR MY DAUGHTER. ASK YOUR WIFE WHAT SHE DID TO YOUR BROTHER THE NIGHT HE DIED.*
I looked at Vanessa.
She read the message over my shoulder.
Then she whispered:
“Andrew knows you've found the letters.””
My phone vibrated again.
Another message.
May you like
This time, there were only eight words.
*And he knows where Lily goes to school.*
