Chapter 4: Adrian’s Letter
“You are not opening that letter.””
Eleanor’s voice cracked across the room.
Marcus stopped at the door.
I slowly turned toward her.
“You don't get to decide that.””
“It belongs to the boy.””
“Then why are you afraid of it?””
“I’m not.””
Lily’s crayon stopped moving.
I lowered my voice.
“You're scaring her.””
Eleanor glanced toward Lily.
For the first time, something like shame passed across her face.
She sat down.
Marcus looked at me.
“The Oregon detectives can secure the letter, but opening it may require legal authorization unless the adoptive parents voluntarily consent.””
“How long?””
“They’ve already agreed.””
That surprised me.
“Why?””
“Because after hearing what happened, they believe the boy deserves the truth.””
The boy.
My nephew.
Adrian’s son.
A child I had once mourned as mine without ever seeing him.
“What’s his name?””
Marcus hesitated.
Then answered.
“Noah.””
Noah.
I repeated it silently.
Somewhere in Oregon, Noah was six years old.
My brother’s child.
My daughters’ cousin.
A boy whose entire life had begun with adults hiding him.
“Does he know he’s adopted?””
“Yes.””
“Does he know about Adrian?””
“No.””
I nodded slowly.
“Good.””
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“He shouldn’t find out from detectives.””
That realization hurt in a way I hadn't expected.
Children kept being forced to absorb the consequences of choices adults had made before they were old enough to speak.
I looked at Lily.
Still drawing.
Still pretending not to listen.
I walked over.
“What are you making?””
She pointed at the paper.
“This is Sophie.””
One stick girl.
“This is me.””
Another.
“And this?””
A third figure.
She shrugged.
“The brother.””
My throat tightened.
“You mean Noah?””
“Is that his name?””
“Yes.””
She wrote it carefully.
N-O-A-H.
Then she drew a roof over all three figures.
I had to look away.
Dana touched my shoulder.
“You’re doing fine.””
“No.””
I swallowed.
“I’m finding out one child was stolen from me and another was stolen from my brother.””
Dana didn't argue.
My phone vibrated.
My attorney, Rachel Monroe.
I answered.
“Tell me you found something.””
Rachel spoke quickly.
“I found Rebecca Hale.””
I froze.
“Where?””
“That’s complicated.””
“Is she alive?””
“Yes.””
Relief came first.
Then anger.
Then questions.
“Where is she?””
“About seventy miles from you.””
“What?””
“She’s been living under the name Rebecca Cross.””
Marcus stepped closer when he heard.
I put Rachel on speaker.
“How long?””
“Almost four years.””
“Why didn't anyone find her?””
“She legally changed her name after obtaining a protective order.””
“Against whom?””
Rachel paused.
“That’s the complicated part.””
“Rachel.””
“The protective order was against Jonathan Hale.””
Rebecca’s own father.
Marcus exchanged a look with Dana.
“When was it filed?””
“Five years ago.””
“What did she accuse him of?””
“Threats, surveillance, coercion.””
I stared at Eleanor.
“Anything involving Lily?””
“The public file is heavily redacted.””
“Can we contact Rebecca?””
“I already did.””
My heartbeat jumped.
“You spoke to her?””
“Briefly.””
“What did she say?””
“She started crying when I said your name.””
The room seemed to shrink.
“And?””
“She asked whether Lily was alive.””
I looked at the little girl.
Lily had heard.
Her eyes lifted from the drawing.
“Rebecca asked about me?””
I crouched beside her.
“Yes.””
“Does she miss me?””
I didn't know how to answer.
Rachel heard the question.
Her voice softened through the phone.
“She asked about Lily before she asked anything else.””
Lily absorbed that.
Then nodded.
“Okay.””
Just okay.
A six-year-old trying to make sense of a woman who had raised her for eleven months and then vanished from her life.
I stood.
“Will Rebecca meet me?””
Rachel hesitated.
“She said she’ll meet you.””
“When?””
“Tonight.””
Eleanor shot up again.
“No.””
Marcus turned.
“You need to stop doing that.””
“You cannot bring Rebecca here.””
“Why?””
“She’s unstable.””
Rachel’s voice came sharply through the speaker.
“Rebecca’s attorney provided years of medical records. There is no indication she is unstable.””
Eleanor looked trapped.
I stepped toward her.
“You've used that word before, haven't you?””
She stared at me.
“Unstable.””
I continued.
“You told people Caroline was unstable after delivery.””
“She was medicated.””
“You told people Rebecca was unstable.””
“She was frightened.””
“And what did you tell people about Lily?””
Eleanor said nothing.
I understood.
“Damaged.””
Her lips parted.
“That isn't fair.””
“No. None of this is fair.””
Marcus received another call.
He stepped into the corridor.
Rachel continued.
“There’s something else you need to know before meeting Rebecca.””
“What?””
“She says Adrian contacted her the night before he died.””
I closed my eyes.
Of course he did.
“What did he want?””
“He told her he had found the adoption.””
My eyes opened.
“He knew where Noah was?””
“Apparently.””
“Why didn't he tell me?””
“She says he intended to.””
“When?””
“After confirming who had arranged it.””
I stared at Eleanor.
“Did Adrian confront you?””
She looked down.
There.
That was an answer.
“You saw him.””
Eleanor whispered, “Yes.””
“When?””
“Two days before the accident.””
My blood turned cold.
“What did he say?””
“He accused me of destroying his life.””
“Did you deny it?””
“No.””
“What else?””
“He demanded Rebecca’s location.””
“Did you give it to him?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because Jonathan was still looking for her.””
Rachel interrupted.
“That part may be true.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Rebecca says her father spent years trying to force her into silence.””
“Why?””
“Because she knew the hospital records had been manipulated.””
Marcus returned.
His face was grim.
“Keep going.””
Rachel did.
“Rebecca claims Jonathan wasn't trying to protect Adrian.””
I glanced at Eleanor.
“Then who?””
“She doesn't know. But she believes someone paid him.””
Marcus stopped.
“Paid him to do what?””
“To ensure the three children could never be traced through the same medical file.””
My heart pounded.
“Who paid him?””
“That’s what Rebecca says Adrian had discovered.””
I felt suddenly dizzy.
“Is that in the letter?””
“She believes so.””
Marcus’s phone buzzed.
He looked down.
“Oregon just sent photographs of the envelope.””
He opened the image.
I moved beside him.
The envelope was yellowed.
My brother’s handwriting covered the front.
FOR NOAH.
Beneath it:
TO BE OPENED AT EIGHTEEN.
And below that:
IF I DIE BEFORE I CAN FIX THIS, FIND REBECCA BEFORE ELEANOR DOES.
There was something else in the lower corner.
Four letters.
V.M.F.
I recognized them immediately.
Vanessa Mercer Foundation.
My pulse stopped.
“What does Vanessa’s foundation have to do with this?””
Eleanor looked away.
Marcus noticed.
“You know.””
She said nothing.
“Eleanor.””
Still nothing.
I stepped closer.
“Was Vanessa involved?””
Eleanor whispered, “Not directly.””
“That means yes.””
“No.””
“Then explain.””
She looked at me.
“Vanessa’s father was funding Jonathan’s private research.””
“What research?””
“Experimental neonatal genetics.””
Marcus frowned.
“That sounds legitimate.””
“It was.””
“At the hospital?””
“Partly.””
My skin prickled.
“What does this have to do with our children?””
Eleanor pressed her lips together.
“You said the original report showed different fathers.””
“Yes.””
“Sophie and Lily are mine.””
“Yes.””
“Noah is Adrian’s.””
“Yes.””
“Then why would Mercer care?””
Eleanor’s eyes moved toward Lily.
My entire body stiffened.
“No.””
“Sylvester—”
“No. Don't look at her.””
“She needs to know eventually.””
“She is six.””
Eleanor’s eyes filled.
“There’s another page from the genetic report.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What page?””
“The one Jonathan removed before the archive was sealed.””
“What was on it?””
Eleanor didn't answer.
Marcus’s voice became harder.
“What was on it?””
She whispered, “Maternal comparison.””
I frowned.
“We already know Caroline is the twins’ mother.””
Eleanor looked at me.
“That’s what we believed.””
Every muscle in my body went rigid.
“Believed?””
She started crying.
I hated those tears.
They came six years too late.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying Jonathan tested all three babies.””
“Yes.””
“And one result didn't make sense.””
I stared at her.
“Which baby?””
Eleanor looked toward the drawing in Lily’s hands.
I stepped between them.
“Answer me.””
“Infant B.””
Lily.
My daughter.
“What didn't make sense?””
Eleanor covered her mouth.
Marcus spoke quietly.
“Sylvester.””
I barely heard him.
I was looking at the woman who had controlled every secret since the night my children were born.
“Say it.””
Eleanor lowered her hand.
“The paternal match said you were Lily’s father.””
“I know.””
“But the maternal test excluded Caroline.””
The room disappeared around me.
I heard Lily whisper my name.
“Daddy?””
That word pulled me back.
I turned.
She stood beside the table holding her drawing.
Three children beneath one roof.
I walked to her and knelt.
She touched my cheek.
“Are you still my dad?””
The question shattered something inside me.
I took both of her hands.
“Yes.””
No hesitation.
No test result could change the answer.
“Yes, Lily. I am.””
She leaned into me.
I held her tightly.
Over her shoulder, I looked at Eleanor.
“If Caroline wasn't her mother, who was?””
Eleanor shook her head.
“I never knew.””
“You expect me to believe that?””
“Jonathan refused to tell me.””
Marcus’s phone rang again.
This time he answered immediately.
He listened without speaking.
Then turned toward me.
“What?””
He ended the call.
“The Oregon detectives opened Adrian’s letter.””
I stood slowly, keeping Lily beside me.
Marcus looked shaken.
“What did Adrian write?””
“He said he discovered that Rebecca was not the only woman hidden inside the hospital that night.””
My stomach dropped.
“What woman?””
Marcus unlocked his phone.
“They’re sending the scanned pages now.””
The first page appeared.
Adrian’s handwriting.
Marcus handed me the phone.
I read.
Noah, if you ever receive this, I need you to understand that your mother loved you. What happened wasn't Rebecca’s choice.
Below that:
Jonathan was paid to alter the hospital records. I found the payment.
Then:
The money came through the Mercer Foundation.
I kept reading.
But Vanessa didn't authorize it.
My eyes moved faster.
Her father did.
Another line.
Because there was a fourth adult patient registered under a private code that night.
I stopped.
Marcus whispered, “Keep reading.””
I did.
She delivered a baby girl.
My arms went cold.
The baby’s father was Sylvester.
I couldn't breathe.
And beneath that sentence, Adrian had written the woman's name.
A name I had not heard in seven years.
A woman I had loved before Caroline.
A woman I had been told had died overseas months before the twins were born.
I stared at the words.
Then I looked at Lily.
Her eyes.
Her dark curls.
The small dimple beside her mouth.
Suddenly I knew exactly why those features had always felt familiar.
Because I had seen them on another face.
Long before Lily was born.
Marcus read the final line over my shoulder.
If Lily Kane is alive, her mother may be alive too.
And before anyone could speak, Rachel’s voice came through my phone.
“Sylvester, Rebecca just called me back.””
I grabbed it.
“What happened?””
Rachel took one breath.
“Rebecca says she knows where Lily’s mother is.””
I looked at Eleanor.
Her face had lost every trace of color.
Rachel continued.
“But she says we cannot go to the police station.””
“Why?””
“Because the woman has been hiding for six years.””
“From Jonathan?””
“No.””
May you like
Rachel’s next words turned the room ice cold.
“She’s been hiding from Vanessa Mercer’s father.””
