Chapter 7: The Twin They Stole From Me
Daniel read the message again.
His fingers trembled so badly that he nearly dropped his phone.
Dad stepped closer.
"Who sent that?""
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
"Daniel, I'm asking you a question.""
He finally looked up.
"Someone who knows where my son is.""
I stared at him.
"Your son?""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Emily, the baby Vanessa mentioned was your twin brother.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"How could Mom give birth to two babies and only bring one home?""
Daniel looked at me with unbearable sadness.
"She didn't know.""
"What?""
"Your mother was told that the second baby had died shortly after birth.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible.""
"I wish it were.""
Dad pulled out a chair.
"Start from the beginning.""
Daniel sat down.
"Claire went into labor early. The delivery was difficult, and she lost a lot of blood. Your grandfather had arranged for a private doctor to handle the delivery because he didn't want Daniel's name appearing in any hospital records.""
He paused.
"Your mother gave birth to a girl and a boy. But while she was unconscious, someone removed the boy from the hospital.""
I felt sick.
"Who?""
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
She stared at her hands.
Dad's voice turned dangerous.
"Vanessa.""
She shook her head.
"I wasn't there.""
Daniel pulled another photograph from his folder.
It showed a hospital hallway.
A woman in a nurse's uniform stood beside a man holding a newborn baby.
I recognized the woman immediately.
Vanessa.
She looked younger, but there was no mistaking her face.
I took the photograph.
"That's you.""
Vanessa began crying.
"I was twenty-four.""
"You're holding a baby.""
"I was told he needed special care.""
"Where did you take him?""
She looked at Daniel.
He leaned forward.
"Tell her.""
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"Arthur arranged for the boy to be placed with another family.""
"What family?""
"I don't know.""
Daniel slammed his hand against the table.
"You're lying!""
"I'm not!""
"You signed the transfer!""
"I was following orders!""
I stared at her.
"You took my brother away from my mother?""
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I could barely breathe.
She had stolen money from me. She had forged documents. She had helped conceal the truth about my mother's death.
But this was something else.
She had taken a newborn baby from his mother.
And she had watched that mother spend the rest of her life believing her son was dead.
"Did Mom ever find out?"" I whispered.
Daniel nodded slowly.
"She discovered the truth when you were three.""
"Then why didn't she tell me?""
"She tried. But Arthur threatened to have you taken away from her.""
Dad looked horrified.
"Why would he do that?""
"Because the boy was living with someone connected to the company. Arthur wanted to control both children's inheritance. He believed separating you would prevent either of you from joining forces against him.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Where is my brother now?""
Daniel's phone buzzed again.
He looked at the screen.
Then he turned it toward me.
A photograph appeared.
A young man stood outside a brick building, wearing a dark jacket. He had short brown hair and a faint scar near his chin.
He looked almost exactly like me.
Except he was a man.
My hands began shaking.
"Who is that?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Your brother.""
"What's his name?""
"Lucas.""
I stared at the photograph.
"How old is he?""
"Twenty-five.""
The same age as me.
The same birthday.
The same face.
I felt tears filling my eyes.
"Does he know about me?""
Daniel nodded.
"He's known for several years.""
"Then why hasn't he contacted me?""
Daniel looked away.
"Because he believes you were the reason he was taken from his mother.""
My heart broke.
"What?""
"Arthur told him that Claire abandoned him voluntarily. He was raised believing his biological mother had chosen to keep only you.""
I shook my head.
"That's not true.""
"I know.""
"Then why would he believe it?""
"Because he grew up with a family who repeated that story every day.""
Dad stood.
"Who raised him?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then he answered.
"Richard Hale.""
I looked at the phone.
The lawyer.
The same man who had been helping us uncover the inheritance fraud.
"Richard raised my brother?""
"Not alone. He arranged the adoption through a family friend. Lucas grew up believing Richard was his guardian.""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Why would a lawyer do that?""
Daniel's voice became bitter.
"Because Arthur paid him.""
Suddenly, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I stared at it.
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"Don't answer.""
But I did.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Emily?""
I froze.
"Who is this?""
"My name is Lucas.""
I couldn't speak.
He continued.
"I've been trying to reach you.""
I glanced at Daniel.
"How did you get my number?""
"Richard gave it to me.""
My throat tightened.
"Are you really my brother?""
There was a long pause.
Then he said:
"That's what everyone keeps telling me.""
I heard a car door slam in the background.
"Where are you?""
"Outside your father's house.""
I turned toward the glass entrance.
A dark sedan had pulled into the driveway.
A man stepped out.
The photograph on my phone suddenly seemed to come alive.
He looked up.
Our eyes met through the glass.
Lucas lifted his phone.
Then he said something that shattered me.
"Before you believe anything Daniel tells you, ask him why he let Mom die.""
The call ended.
I slowly lowered my phone.
Dad looked at Daniel.
"What did he mean?""
Daniel's face had gone gray.
May you like
Lucas walked toward the front door.
And for the first time since discovering the truth, I realized that the man who had claimed to be my biological father might be hiding something even worse.
