[CHAPTER 6]
The file contained more than Sophie's name.
It contained photographs.
School records.
Copies of medical forms.
My work schedule.
Daniel's travel schedule.
Even printouts of messages I'd sent Margaret.
The police wouldn't let me see everything immediately.
Detective Grant described enough.
Margaret had been documenting our lives for almost a year.
“What was she planning?” Rachel asked.
I had no answer.
Daniel did.
“Custody.”
He stood on Rachel's front porch because I still wouldn't let him inside.
The word hung between us.
“Why would she want custody of Sophie if she's spent months claiming Sophie isn't yours?”
Daniel looked sick.
“To control the trust.”
I folded my arms.
“Explain.”
“If she couldn't block Sophie as a beneficiary, she could try to control the beneficiary.”
My stomach turned.
“You mean become her guardian.”
“Yes.”
“And manage money supposedly on Sophie's behalf.”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“So yesterday wasn't some sudden act of cruelty.”
“No.”
“It was part of a plan.”
Daniel looked down.
“I think so.”
I wanted to scream at him.
You helped her.
You listened.
You doubted me.
But his face already said he knew.
Instead, I asked, “What did police find in the safe?”
“Thomas hasn't told you?”
“No.”
Daniel swallowed.
“Account ledgers.”
“How bad?”
“At least eight hundred thousand dollars is unaccounted for.”
I felt dizzy.
“Eight hundred thousand?”
“That is what they've identified so far.”
“Where did it go?”
“We don't know.”
“Margaret knows.”
“Yes.”
I looked past him toward the street.
“How does Victor fit into this?”
Daniel's expression changed.
“He called me.”
I looked back.
“What?”
“I found his number.”
“And you called him?”
“I left a message.”
“He called back this morning.”
“What did he say?”
Daniel was silent.
“Daniel.”
“He asked whether Margaret was alive.”
“That was his first question?”
“Yes.”
“Then?”
“I asked him if he was my father.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“He didn't answer for almost a minute.”
“And then?”
“He said he wanted to tell me in person.”
My chest tightened.
“That's an answer.”
“I know.”
“Are you going?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Where?”
“Phoenix.”
I stared at him.
He looked exhausted.
“Claire, I know this isn't your problem.”
“It became my problem when Margaret wrapped a chain around our child.”
“Our child.”
His voice cracked on the words.
For the first time, I heard what the DNA result meant to him beyond proving me innocent.
Sophie really was his.
And he had failed her.
Daniel rubbed his hands together.
“I don't know how to fix what I did.”
“You don't.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
“You don't get to fix it with words.”
“I understand.”
“You don't get to say you're sorry and come home.”
“I understand.”
“You hit me.”
His eyes closed.
“I know.”
“You chose Margaret while Sophie begged you.”
His breathing changed.
“I know.”
I stepped closer.
“If you want any relationship with Sophie after this, you need help.”
His eyes opened.
“What kind?”
“Professional help.”
“Therapy?”
“Yes.”
“Anything.”
“Don't say anything.”
I shook my head.
“Do it.”
“I will.”
“And no unsupervised time with Sophie until she feels safe.”
Daniel flinched.
But he nodded.
“Okay.”
“No arguing?”
“No.”
“No accusing me of turning her against you?”
“No.”
“If Sophie says she doesn't want to see you, you respect it.”
Daniel looked as if the words physically hurt.
“Yes.”
That mattered.
Not enough.
But it mattered.
The next afternoon, Margaret was arrested.
Child endangerment.
Unlawful restraint.
Evidence tampering related to the disabled porch camera.
Financial charges were still under investigation.
Rachel and I watched the news report silently.
Margaret wore sunglasses while officers escorted her into a car.
She didn't look defeated.
She looked furious.
Her attorney gave a statement.
Mrs. Bennett categorically denies intentionally harming her granddaughter and looks forward to correcting the misleading narrative being spread by certain family members.
“Certain family members,” Rachel repeated.
“She means me.”
“Obviously.”
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
“Hello?”
A man's voice answered.
“Is this Claire Bennett?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Victor Hale.”
I froze.
Rachel noticed immediately.
“Victor?”
“Yes.”
“I apologize for calling you without warning.”
“How did you get my number?”
“Daniel gave it to me.”
I stood and walked into the hallway.
“What do you want?”
“To tell you something Daniel doesn't know yet.”
My pulse increased.
“He's flying to see you.”
“I know.”
“Then tell him.”
“I will.”
Victor exhaled.
“But you need to know first because it concerns your daughter.”
My hand tightened around the phone.
“What about Sophie?”
“Richard Bennett knew Daniel was my biological son.”
I leaned against the wall.
“How?”
“Because Margaret told him.”
“When?”
“Before Daniel was born.”
I closed my eyes.
“So Richard raised Daniel knowing?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Victor's voice became quiet.
“Because Richard loved him before he ever held him.”
I swallowed.
“Then why did Margaret hide it?”
“Because Richard gave her a choice.”
“What choice?”
“Leave him and come with me.”
I waited.
“She refused.”
“Why?”
Victor laughed sadly.
“Money. Reputation. The Bennett name. Maybe fear. I stopped pretending I understood Margaret decades ago.”
I thought about the trust.
“Did Richard know about the affair permanently?”
“Yes.”
“Did he hate Daniel?”
“No.”
Victor answered immediately.
“Never.”
My eyes burned.
“Daniel thinks he might have.”
“He's wrong.”
“Can you prove that?”
Victor went silent.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Richard wrote Daniel a letter.”
I straightened.
“What letter?”
“One he gave to me.”
“Why would he give it to you?”
“Because he didn't trust Margaret to deliver it.”
My heart pounded.
“Do you still have it?”
“Yes.”
“Then why hasn't Daniel seen it?”
Victor's voice broke.
“Because Richard asked me to give it to Daniel when Margaret finally told him the truth.”
“And she never did.”
“No.”
“Richard died six years ago.”
“I know.”
Anger rose in me.
“You waited six years?”
“I made a promise.”
“You protected the wrong person.”
“I know.”
Those words again.
Everyone knew after the damage was done.
Victor continued.
“There's something else.”
I closed my eyes.
“Of course there is.”
“Richard's letter mentions the trust.”
My eyes opened.
“What about it?”
“He was afraid Margaret would steal from Daniel.”
I stopped breathing.
May you like
Victor's next sentence turned everything darker.
“He was also afraid that if she ever felt cornered, she would use Daniel's children to protect herself.”
