Chapter 6: The Name Hidden From Me
I stared at the name on Michael’s phone.
I couldn’t breathe.
The world seemed to stop moving.
Because the person listed in that message wasn’t just a relative.
It was someone connected to the biggest loss of my life.
Someone I had buried years ago.
“Daniel?””
Michael’s voice pulled me back.
I looked at him.
“Where did you get this?””
“It came through the placement inquiry system.””
“That name…”
I couldn’t finish.
Vanessa looked confused.
Then nervous.
“Who is it?””
I turned toward her.
And for the first time, she looked like she didn’t know.
That surprised me.
Because I thought she knew every secret.
“Why would this person contact you?”” I asked Michael.
He looked through the file.
“They claimed they had information regarding Nia’s situation.””
My heart raced.
“What kind of information?””
Michael hesitated.
“The message said, ‘Daniel Carter deserves to know what really happened before he loses his daughter too.’”
The room went silent.
Vanessa’s face changed.
“What does that mean?””
I ignored her.
“Who sent it?””
Michael looked at the screen.
“I’m not sure yet.””
Then he showed me the message history.
There was one attached file.
A photograph.
I opened it.
And my knees almost gave out.
It was an old picture.
One I had not seen in years.
A picture of Nia as a baby.
A picture of my first wife holding her.
My wife who was supposed to be gone.
My wife who died after a tragic accident.
But there was something strange.
The photo had been taken recently.
Not years ago.
Recently.
I looked closer.
In the background was a place I recognized.
A small coffee shop near downtown.
A place that still existed.
My voice barely came out.
“This was taken when?””
Michael checked the information.
“Two months ago.””
My heart pounded.
Two months ago.
Impossible.
Vanessa stepped closer.
“What are you looking at?””
I moved the phone away.
“Nothing.””
But I knew.
Something was wrong.
Something had been hidden from me.
And suddenly, Vanessa’s plan with Nia felt even darker.
Because maybe this wasn’t just about money.
Maybe there was something bigger.
Something connected to my past.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Did you know?””
Her eyebrows pulled together.
“Know what?””
“About this.””
She looked offended.
“No.””
I studied her face.
For once, I believed her.
And that scared me.
Because if Vanessa didn’t know…
Who was really behind this?
Michael cleared his throat.
“There’s something else.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“The request to remove Nia from your home was submitted shortly after the request from this person.””
I felt cold.
“So?””
Michael looked serious.
“So someone may have been trying to change Nia’s living situation before this person could reach you.””
The room became silent.
I looked at Vanessa.
Then at the stairs.
At my daughter.
Someone had been trying to take Nia away.
Not just emotionally.
Not just financially.
Physically.
From my life.
My phone buzzed.
A new message.
Unknown number.
My fingers shook as I opened it.
One sentence appeared.
“I know why Vanessa wants your daughter gone.””
Another message followed.
A photo.
I opened it.
And my heart stopped.
It was a picture of Vanessa.
Standing outside that same coffee shop.
Talking to someone.
Someone I recognized.
Someone who should never have been part of this story.
Under the photo was one final message.
“Ask your wife why she met Nia’s mother last month.””
I looked up slowly.
Vanessa was watching me.
She saw my face.
May you like
And this time…
She didn’t pretend not to know.
