Chapter 6: The Secret Hidden in Daniel's Birth Certificate
Rose took a step backward.
"Tell me it's fake.""
Daniel didn't move.
"Rose...""
"Tell me that's not your birth certificate.""
He slowly closed the door.
The click of the lock sounded impossibly loud.
Rose looked at him.
"Why does it say Grace Carter is your biological mother?""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"Because that's what the document says.""
"Don't play games with me.""
"I'm not.""
"Then explain!""
Daniel pulled out a chair.
"Please sit down.""
Rose remained standing.
"I've spent my entire life believing I had no family. Tonight, I found out my mother might be alive, that I have a sister named Lily, and now I'm looking at a document saying the man I've known for less than twelve hours is my brother.""
Daniel looked down.
"I didn't know until recently.""
"Recently?""
"Three months ago.""
Rose laughed without humor.
"And you didn't think to mention it?""
"I wasn't sure it was true.""
She pointed at the document.
"How did you get it?""
Daniel opened his laptop again.
"An anonymous package arrived at my office. It contained this birth certificate and a photograph of a woman holding a newborn.""
He opened the photograph.
Rose leaned forward.
It was Grace.
Younger, smiling, holding a baby wrapped in a pale yellow blanket.
Rose recognized the necklace around her mother's neck.
The same silver pendant she was wearing.
"That's her," Rose whispered.
Daniel nodded.
"I recognized her from the photograph you showed us tonight.""
Rose stared at him.
"Why didn't you say something when you saw my mother's picture?""
"I was trying to understand what I was looking at.""
"You're telling me you might be my brother, and you kept quiet?""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"I've spent thirty-two years believing I was the son of Evelyn and Arthur Whitmore.""
Rose froze.
"Wait.""
Daniel looked up.
"My birth certificate says Evelyn Whitmore. My school records say Evelyn Whitmore. Every family document says the same thing.""
"Then why would this document say Grace?""
"Because someone may have changed the original records.""
Rose stepped closer.
"Do you remember your childhood?""
"Of course.""
"Did Evelyn raise you?""
"Yes.""
"Then how could Grace be your mother?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Because my mother may have adopted me.""
The room fell silent.
Rose looked at him.
"Did Evelyn know?""
Daniel turned toward the closed door.
"I asked her three months ago. She told me she would explain when the time was right.""
"And you believed her?""
"I wanted to.""
Rose shook her head.
"Everyone in this family keeps waiting for the right time to tell the truth.""
She picked up the photograph.
"Where was the package sent from?""
"Boston.""
"Who sent it?""
"There's no return address.""
Rose studied the envelope on the desk.
A small symbol had been stamped into the corner.
Two interlocking circles.
The Whitmore family crest.
But beneath it were three handwritten letters.
G.C.
Grace Carter.
Rose felt her heart pound.
"She sent it.""
Daniel nodded.
"That's what I thought.""
"Then she knows where you are.""
"Possibly.""
Rose looked at the birth certificate again.
"What happened to Lily?""
Daniel went pale.
"I don't know.""
"Do you think Lily is me?""
He shook his head.
"The birth dates don't match.""
"Then who is she?""
Daniel looked toward the window.
"That's what I've been trying to find out.""
The following morning, Evelyn entered the suite carrying a leather folder.
She looked exhausted.
"Daniel, we need to talk.""
He closed the laptop.
"About the birth certificate?""
Evelyn stopped.
Rose stood.
"How long have you known?""
Evelyn placed the folder on the table.
"Since Daniel was a baby.""
Rose stared.
"Then it's true?""
Evelyn sat down.
"Yes.""
Daniel's voice was cold.
"You told me my biological mother died.""
"I was told that Grace had died.""
"But you raised me.""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Evelyn's eyes filled.
"Because I couldn't have children.""
Daniel stared at her.
She continued.
"Arthur told me Grace had given birth to a boy and that the baby had died shortly after birth. Months later, he brought you home. He said a family friend had arranged the adoption.""
Daniel looked at the floor.
"And you accepted that?""
"I was desperate to be a mother.""
Rose folded her arms.
"So you never questioned where he came from?""
"I did. But every time I asked, Arthur became furious.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Was he my father?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"No. Arthur wasn't your biological father.""
"Then who was?""
Evelyn looked at Rose.
"Michael Carter.""
Rose's eyes widened.
"The man you said was Arthur's secret son?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Michael and Grace were in love. Arthur hated their relationship because Michael was the son he had hidden from the world. He believed Grace was using Michael to get access to the family fortune.""
Daniel slowly sat down.
"So I'm Michael's son.""
"Yes.""
"And Grace's?""
"Yes.""
Rose looked at Evelyn.
"Then where does Lily fit into this?""
Evelyn opened the folder.
Inside was a hospital photograph of two newborn babies.
Two.
Not one.
Rose leaned closer.
"Those are twins?""
Evelyn nodded.
"Grace gave birth to twins.""
Rose felt her knees weaken.
"Twins?""
"One boy. One girl.""
Daniel stared at the picture.
"Which one is me?""
Evelyn pointed to the baby on the left.
"That was the boy.""
Rose looked at the second baby.
A tiny silver bracelet was visible around the girl's wrist.
On it was a single name.
LILY.
Rose swallowed.
"Where is she?""
Evelyn took a shaky breath.
"Arthur told me she died.""
Daniel looked at his mother.
"Did you believe him?""
Evelyn didn't answer.
Rose picked up the photograph.
"Why are there two babies if the documents say Daniel was adopted as a single child?""
Evelyn looked toward the door.
"Because Arthur didn't just hide one child.""
A knock interrupted them.
A security guard entered.
"Mrs. Whitmore, there's someone downstairs asking for you.""
"Who?""
The guard handed her a small envelope.
"She refused to give her name.""
Evelyn opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A young woman stood in front of a hospital entrance, holding a newborn baby.
The date printed in the corner was from twenty-six years earlier.
Evelyn's hands began shaking.
Rose took the photograph.
The young woman was Grace.
But she wasn't holding Daniel.
She was holding the baby girl.
On the back was a handwritten message.
You raised my son. Now tell him what happened to his sister.
Daniel stood.
"Who sent this?""
Evelyn stared at the photograph.
Then she whispered, "Michael.""
Rose looked at her.
"Michael is alive?""
Evelyn nodded slowly.
A second sheet of paper slipped from the envelope.
Daniel picked it up.
His face went white as he read the message.
"What's it say?"" Rose asked.
Daniel looked at her.
His voice broke.
"It says Michael has been watching us for years.""
He turned the paper around.
There was one final sentence.
And the woman you are calling your grandmother knows exactly where Lily is.
Rose's phone began ringing.
The caller ID displayed one name.
*MARGARET CARTER.*
This time, Rose answered immediately.
"Grandma, where is Lily?""
Margaret began sobbing.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"She's been living with you all along, Rose.""
