Chapter 3 - The Daughter Nobody Knew ExistedThe room became completely silent.
“What do you mean, taken?” I asked.
Brandon looked at me.
“Daphne told me the baby died.”
Daphne shook her head.
“I never said that.”
“You said the adoption agency handled everything.”
“I thought they did.”
Brandon laughed bitterly.
“You knew exactly what happened.”
Wyatt stared at his wife.
“Where is the child?”
Daphne couldn't speak.
I turned toward Brandon.
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I finally found the person who helped Daphne.”
My stomach tightened.
“Who?”
Brandon pointed toward my mother.
Everyone turned.
My mother went pale.
“No.”
Daphne looked at her.
“Mom…”
I couldn't breathe.
“Mom?”
My mother began crying.
“Charlotte, please.”
“What did you do?”
She shook her head.
“I was protecting Daphne.”
I stared at her.
“From what?”
“She was nineteen.”
“So?”
“She was terrified.”
My voice rose.
“You helped her give away her baby?”
“I helped her survive.”
Brandon stepped forward.
“You didn't help her.”
He looked at my mother.
“You sold that child.”
The room exploded.
My father shouted:
“Watch your mouth!”
Brandon pulled out a bank statement.
“Here is the payment.”
My mother covered her face.
I took the document.
A transfer.
$75,000.
Four years ago.
Recipient:
A private adoption consultant.
My stomach turned.
“Where did this money come from?”
My mother whispered:
“Daphne's inheritance.”
I looked at my sister.
“You paid someone to take your own daughter?”
Daphne cried.
“I didn't know what else to do.”
“You could have told us.”
“You don't understand.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“I don't.”
Then a voice came from behind us.
“I do.”
Everyone turned.
An older woman stood near the reception entrance.
She was holding a young girl's hand.
The girl looked about four years old.
Dark curly hair.
Hazel eyes.
A tiny white dress.
The woman looked directly at Daphne.
“Her name is Lily.”
Daphne stopped breathing.
Brandon whispered:
“That's her.”
I looked at the little girl.
Then at Daphne.
Daphne's face collapsed.
“Lily…”
The child looked at her.
“Mommy?”
The word shattered the room.
Daphne covered her mouth.
Wyatt stared at the little girl.
“What?”
The older woman stepped forward.
“My name is Evelyn Harper.”
She looked at me.
“I was the attorney who handled the original adoption.”
My father demanded:
“Why are you here?”
“Because the adoption was never finalized.”
Everyone froze.
“What?”
Evelyn looked at Daphne.
“She was placed temporarily.”
Daphne shook her head.
“I signed papers.”
“You signed temporary guardianship documents.”
“You told me it was adoption.”
“I told you what your mother instructed me to tell you.”
My mother began crying.
I felt sick.
Four years of lies.
Four years of believing the child was gone.
And now she was standing in front of us.
Alive.
Healthy.
And calling Daphne Mommy.
I looked at Lucas.
He gently squeezed my hand.
The wedding had disappeared.
But somehow, for the first time that night, I wasn't angry about it.
Because this wasn't about stealing my wedding anymore.
May you like
A little girl had been stolen from her mother.
And we were finally going to find out why.
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