Chapter 13 - THE SECRET BABY
Daniel found Claire’s second recording hidden inside the silver music box she had given him when he proposed.
Her voice trembled through the speakers.
“Daniel, if anything happens to me, find the original hospital records. Someone changed the documents after Emma was born.”
Detective Harris soon discovered a hospital bracelet bearing a different name.
Lily Hale.
Daniel refused to believe it.
“Emma is my daughter!”
“We don’t know what the altered records mean yet,” Harris warned.
Then Victor called.
“Your daughter inherited more than money, Daniel. She inherited a secret powerful people would kill to control.”
“Bring her home!”
“Come alone. Bring the original recording.”
The call ended.
Daniel rushed to the address Victor sent him. Inside a deserted house, he found Emma sitting beside a window, clutching her stuffed rabbit.
“Daddy!”
He ran toward her, but two men grabbed him.
Victor emerged from the hallway.
“First, the recording.”
Daniel refused.
A man punched him in the stomach. Another struck his face, sending him crashing into a table.
Emma screamed.
“STOP HURTING MY DADDY!”
Victor watched without emotion.
“Sign away your claim to the trust, Daniel. Then you can take her home.”
Daniel spat blood onto the floor.
“You’ll never own my daughter.”
Victor raised his hand, and his men dragged Emma upstairs.
Then a familiar voice came from behind them.
“Enough.”
Robert Reed stepped into the room.
Daniel stared at his father.
“Why are you here?”
Robert looked at Emma, then lowered his eyes.
“Because it’s time you learned what really happened the night Claire died.”
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But before he could explain, Victor smiled.
“Tell him, Robert. Tell him about the other baby.”
