Chapter 5: The Secret Daniel Never Knew
"Arthur, read the rest.""
My voice trembled.
Arthur glanced at Eleanor before unfolding the letter completely.
Richard immediately stepped forward.
"That letter is stolen property.""
Eleanor didn't flinch.
"Robert gave it to me.""
"He had no right.""
"He was my friend.""
Richard laughed bitterly.
"Robert was nobody's friend. He was a man who liked controlling everyone around him.""
Arthur raised his voice.
"Richard, if you interrupt again, this meeting will end with the police being called.""
Richard stepped back.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Please. I need to understand what happened.""
She nodded slowly.
"Robert contacted me about six months before he died. He told me he had discovered something about your son's birth records.""
My fingers went numb.
Daniel looked at her.
"My birth records?""
Eleanor glanced at Richard.
"Your father believed someone had altered a document connected to your inheritance.""
Daniel frowned.
"What document?""
Arthur placed the letter on the table.
"Your father discovered that a second copy of your birth certificate had been requested shortly after his death.""
I stared at him.
"Who requested it?""
"An attorney working for a company associated with Richard.""
Daniel looked confused.
"Why would anyone need another copy of my birth certificate?""
Eleanor answered quietly.
"Because your father had reason to believe the original records contained information that could affect your legal status as a beneficiary.""
Daniel shook his head.
"This makes no sense. Robert was my father.""
"I know," I whispered.
But Eleanor's expression told me she wasn't finished.
She pulled a chair toward herself.
"Margaret, do you remember the summer Daniel was born?""
I nodded.
"Of course.""
"Do you remember the hospital?""
"St. Mary's in Charleston.""
Eleanor looked at Arthur.
He nodded.
She took a deep breath.
"Twenty-nine years ago, I was working as an administrator at a private medical records company. We handled archived documents for several hospitals.""
I stared at her.
"What does that have to do with Daniel?""
"Richard was already involved in property transactions with Robert. He had access to financial records, personal correspondence, and several private business contacts.""
Richard interrupted.
"This is absurd.""
Eleanor continued.
"During that period, Richard discovered that Robert was planning to establish a trust for his future children. He wanted to know whether there would be any way to influence the distribution.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Why would you care?""
"Because your father was investing money into businesses that I was involved with," Richard replied.
"That's all.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"No. You wanted access to his assets.""
She turned toward me.
"Robert told me that he had received an anonymous letter questioning Daniel's parentage. He was devastated.""
My heart began pounding.
"What?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Mom?""
I couldn't speak.
Eleanor quickly added, "Robert didn't believe the accusation. But he wanted to be certain before making decisions that could affect his son.""
I felt my eyes burning.
"Did he test Daniel?""
Arthur nodded.
"He did.""
Daniel stared.
"What?""
"Your father arranged a confidential paternity test when you were an infant," Arthur explained.
"The result confirmed that Robert was your biological father.""
I pressed a hand against my chest.
"Then why was this kept secret?""
Arthur looked at me.
"Because Robert suspected the original medical records had been accessed by someone outside the family.""
Daniel's voice cracked.
"Who?""
Eleanor looked at Richard.
"Your future father-in-law.""
Vanessa began shaking her head.
"No. No, Dad wouldn't do that.""
Richard pointed at Eleanor.
"She has hated me for twenty years. She'll say anything.""
Eleanor opened her handbag again.
She removed a folded letter and handed it to Arthur.
"This is a copy of the request Richard's attorney sent to our records department.""
Arthur examined it.
"May I?""
She nodded.
He read the document silently.
Then he turned toward Richard.
"This request was submitted under false pretenses.""
Richard said nothing.
Arthur continued.
"It requested the original maternity records for Margaret Whitmore and her newborn child.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Mom, why would he need your maternity records?""
I felt a memory rise from somewhere deep inside me.
A hospital room.
White curtains.
The smell of disinfectant.
Robert holding my hand.
And a nurse telling us there had been a temporary paperwork mix-up after the birth.
I had forgotten about it.
Or perhaps I had simply chosen not to remember.
"There was a mix-up," I whispered.
Daniel frowned.
"What?""
"When you were born, another baby was brought into the room before you. The nurse apologized. She said the hospital had accidentally switched two identification bracelets.""
The reception hall seemed to disappear.
Daniel stared at me.
"You're saying I was switched at birth?""
"I don't know.""
Eleanor looked at Arthur.
"That's why Robert ordered the test.""
Richard suddenly laughed.
"An absurd story. The test already confirmed Robert was the father.""
Arthur nodded.
"Yes. Which means the accusation was false.""
Eleanor's expression remained serious.
"But there was another child.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"What child?""
Eleanor looked directly at me.
"The baby whose bracelet was temporarily placed on Daniel.""
I covered my mouth.
"Did something happen to that child?""
She lowered her eyes.
"I don't know. The hospital records were sealed after an internal review.""
Daniel sat down heavily.
"This is insane.""
Arthur removed another document.
"Your father discovered that the hospital had transferred certain records to a private archive. He instructed me to obtain them after his death.""
Richard moved toward the table.
"Give me that.""
Arthur stepped away.
"No.""
"Those records are confidential!""
"Which is why they have been secured by the attorney authorized to handle the estate.""
Vanessa looked at her father.
"Why did you lie about my mother?""
Richard's expression hardened.
"Not now.""
"Why did you tell me she was dead?""
"Because she was a danger to this family.""
Eleanor stood.
"I was a danger to your lies.""
Vanessa began sobbing.
Daniel turned toward me.
"Mom, did Dad ever tell you about this?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
He looked devastated.
"How could he keep something like that from us?""
I touched his cheek.
"Your father loved you. Whatever he knew, he was trying to protect you.""
Daniel stepped away.
"Then why didn't he trust me enough to tell me?""
I had no answer.
Arthur gathered the documents.
"The important issue now is the trust. Robert included a provision requiring an independent investigation if anyone challenged Daniel's biological or legal status.""
Daniel looked up.
"Am I still the beneficiary?""
Arthur nodded.
"Yes. The test confirmed your father's paternity. Your legal status has never been in question.""
Richard let out a breath.
But Arthur wasn't finished.
"However, the investigation uncovered a separate issue.""
He removed a final document.
"Someone filed a claim against the Whitmore estate, alleging that Daniel was not entitled to inherit certain assets.""
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
"Was that you?""
She shook her head.
"I swear I didn't know about this.""
Arthur turned the document toward us.
The claimant's name was printed in bold letters.
*Eleanor Hayes.*
I looked up.
"You're claiming my son's inheritance?""
Eleanor shook her head.
"No. I never filed this.""
Arthur examined the signature.
"Then someone has used your identity.""
Daniel stared at the paper.
"Who?""
Arthur slowly turned it over.
There was a handwritten instruction on the back.
It contained a bank account number and a company name.
Reed Event Holdings.
The same company Vanessa had opened.
She looked at the paper and covered her mouth.
Richard grabbed his jacket.
But before he could move, Arthur spoke.
"Richard, you may want to hear the next part.""
He tapped the final paragraph.
"The claimant alleges that Eleanor Hayes is Daniel's biological mother.""
Nobody moved.
I looked at Daniel.
He looked at me.
May you like
And Eleanor whispered the words that shattered the room.
"That's impossible. I never gave birth to Daniel.""
