Chapter 7: The Woman Who Came For My Baby
I didn’t sleep that night.
Not even for a minute.
After Michael’s warning, every sound in the house felt different.
The floor creaking.
The wind against the windows.
The refrigerator turning on.
Everything sounded like someone was inside.
Daniel stayed downstairs.
I locked the bedroom door.
Not because I thought he would hurt me.
But because I no longer knew what he was capable of allowing.
At six in the morning, there was a knock.
I froze.
Another knock came.
“Emily?””
It was Daniel.
“I made coffee.””
I almost laughed.
Coffee.
After everything.
That was what he thought I needed.
“I don’t want anything from you.””
A pause.
Then his voice softened.
“I know.””
I sat on the edge of the bed.
The baby moved.
I placed my hand over my stomach.
“I need answers.””
“I’ll give them.””
I opened the door but didn’t let him inside.
“Start with the truth.””
He nodded.
“My mother knew about your grandmother’s documents before we met.””
My stomach tightened.
“How?””
“She had been searching through old company records.””
“And then she found me.””
“Yes.””
I looked away.
“Was the entire relationship planned?””
Daniel’s face changed.
“No.””
The answer was immediate.
“I swear, Emily. The first time I met you, I didn’t know who you were.””
I studied his expression.
For once, he sounded honest.
“When did you find out?””
“After we dated for six months.””
“And you stayed.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“Because by then, I loved you.””
I wanted to believe him.
That was the worst part.
A small piece of my heart still remembered the man who held my hand during doctor appointments.
The man who cried when we heard our baby’s heartbeat.
But another part remembered the chair.
The dinner table.
The words:
Perhaps now you’ll learn how to behave in this family.
“I need proof,” I said.
Daniel nodded.
“I understand.””
My phone rang again.
Michael.
I answered immediately.
“Emily, are you safe?””
“Yes.””
“Good. Listen carefully. We discovered something about the break-in.””
“What?””
“The person who entered the storage unit wasn’t looking for all the documents.””
My eyebrows pulled together.
“What were they looking for?””
“One specific file.””
“What file?””
Michael paused.
“The file about your mother’s death.””
The room went cold.
“What?””
Daniel looked at me.
Michael continued.
“Your grandmother suspected your mother’s accident wasn’t an accident.””
I covered my mouth.
My mother died in a car crash.
That was the story I had been told my entire life.
“She suspected someone caused it?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Daniel.
He looked terrified.
“Emily,” Michael said, “there is something else you need to know.””
“What?””
“The person who requested access to the storage unit used Daniel Carter’s name.””
I turned slowly toward my husband.
Daniel shook his head immediately.
“No.””
My voice was barely a whisper.
“You used your name?””
“I didn’t.””
Michael continued.
“Emily, I need you to be careful. We don’t know if Daniel is involved or if someone used his identity.””
I ended the call.
The silence afterward was unbearable.
Daniel looked at me.
“You think I did it?””
I didn’t answer.
That hurt him.
I could see it.
But trust wasn’t something he could demand anymore.
Later that afternoon, I went to the hospital for my pregnancy checkup.
I needed somewhere safe.
Somewhere normal.
But when I walked into the waiting room, I saw her.
Victoria.
Sitting in the corner.
Waiting.
My heart dropped.
“What are you doing here?””
She stood slowly.
Her expression was no longer angry.
It was cold.
“I came to talk.””
“I don’t want to talk.””
“You will.””
I stepped back.
A nurse looked over.
Victoria lowered her voice.
“You think Robert saved you?””
I stared.
“He didn’t.””
“What are you talking about?””
She smiled.
A smile that made my stomach turn.
“Your father-in-law has been lying to you too.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
She stepped closer.
“Ask him why your grandmother trusted him.””
I said nothing.
Victoria leaned in.
“And ask him what really happened the night your mother died.””
My breath caught.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“Because Robert Carter was the last person to see your mother alive.””
