Chapter 6: The Daughter Who Never Existed
Vanessa stood frozen with the phone pressed against her ear.
The call had lasted less than twenty seconds.
It had changed everything.
Marcus reached for the phone.
Vanessa pulled it away.
“You knew.””
“I suspected.””
“You knew she was alive.””
“I suspected.””
“You saw her six months ago.””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me.””
Marcus's eyes filled.
“She begged me not to.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“Why would she trust you?””
“Because she thought I was her father.””
The answer stunned Vanessa.
“But you told her you weren't.””
“I didn't know the truth then.””
Claire stepped forward.
“We need to leave.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because whoever has been sending those messages knows we're here.””
Marcus nodded.
“He knows everything.””
“Who?””
“My father.””
Vanessa's face tightened.
“Your father is dead.””
Marcus looked at her.
“That's what everyone believes.””
Silence.
Claire reached into her coat and pulled out an old photograph.
She placed it on the counter.
It showed an older man standing beside a black SUV.
Marcus's father.
Vanessa recognized him immediately.
But the photograph had been taken recently.
The date stamp in the corner read *September 2026*.
Vanessa stared.
“That can't be.””
Claire whispered, “It was taken three weeks ago.””
Marcus picked up the photograph.
His hands trembled.
“Where?””
“Outside a private clinic in Chicago.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I wasn't sure.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Now you believe me?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
*Ask Marcus about the clinic.*
Another message followed.
*Ask him what happened to the second embryo.*
Vanessa slowly looked up.
“Clinic.””
Marcus went pale.
“Don't.””
“That's exactly what I'm going to ask.””
“I need to explain first.””
“Then explain.””
Marcus took a long breath.
“Before Emily was born, your pregnancy was complicated.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I remember.””
“The doctors thought you were carrying one baby.””
“I remember that too.””
“But my father had access to your medical records.””
Vanessa's stomach turned.
“What did he do?””
“He arranged additional testing.””
“Without my permission?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“To determine whether the embryo implanted naturally.””
Vanessa stared.
“I don't understand.””
Marcus looked at Claire.
Claire spoke softly.
“Your father-in-law believed Daniel's death was going to destroy the family business. He needed control of everything.””
“What does that have to do with my pregnancy?””
“Daniel had left behind frozen genetic material.””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“His sperm?””
Claire nodded.
“And Marcus's father had access to it.””
Marcus said, “He used it to create another embryo.””
Vanessa stared.
“Why?””
“To produce an heir.””
She laughed once, disbelieving.
“This is insane.””
“I know.””
“No. You don't get to say that. You lived through it.””
Marcus looked away.
“My father wanted Daniel's child because Daniel had ownership rights in several companies.””
Vanessa slowly understood.
“He wanted a biological heir.””
“Yes.””
“And he used me.””
“Yes.””
Vanessa's voice dropped.
“Did I give birth to that child?””
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.””
She closed her eyes.
“Which baby was mine?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Vanessa opened her eyes.
“Which one?””
Claire whispered, “That's the question.””
Marcus's phone vibrated.
A new photograph appeared.
It showed two newborn babies in hospital bassinets.
One bracelet read *Baby Girl Johnson*.
The other read *Baby Girl Reed*.
Vanessa stared at them.
“That's Emily.””
Marcus nodded.
“And the other?””
“I don't know.””
The sender had added a message:
*One of these girls was given to you. The other was given to someone else.*
Vanessa's hands shook.
Then another message arrived.
*But neither girl is who you think she is.*
Claire gasped.
Marcus stepped backward.
“No.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“What does that mean?””
He shook his head.
“No, no…”
“What does it mean, Marcus?””
He stared at the photograph.
“My father switched the babies.””
Vanessa felt cold spread through her chest.
“What?””
“He didn't just take one child.””
Marcus's voice broke.
“He switched them.””
Claire covered her mouth.
Vanessa looked toward the stairs.
“Then Emily…”
“She may not be the child you gave birth to.””
The words shattered her.
Before Vanessa could respond, footsteps sounded upstairs.
Slow.
Careful.
Coming from Emily's bedroom.
Marcus looked up.
“Emily?””
No answer.
Vanessa ran toward the stairs.
“Emily!””
She reached the hallway.
Her daughter's bedroom door was open.
The bed was empty.
The window stood wide open.
On Emily's pillow lay a folded piece of paper.
Vanessa picked it up.
May you like
There were only six words:
*She knows who her mother is.*
