Chapter 9 - the daughter Daniel never knew existed)
Her name was Sophie.
At least that was the name Mara used.
Rebecca explained that she first saw the child six months before Mara's death.
Mara brought Sophie to Jonathan's house late one evening.
The girl looked remarkably similar to Lila.
Not identical.
But close enough that strangers might assume they were sisters.
Mara said Sophie was in danger.
She never explained exactly why.
Jonathan arranged temporary documents.
Rebecca helped care for her occasionally.
"Was she mine?" Daniel asked.
Rebecca shook her head.
"I don't know."
"Mara never said?"
"She said, 'Daniel will understand when I can prove it.'"
"Prove what?"
"I don't know."
Daniel felt as though the floor beneath his life had disappeared.
"Where is Sophie?"
Rebecca began crying harder.
"She disappeared the same night Mara did."
Daniel's mind returned to Lila's memory.
You took the wrong girl.
Victor may have intended to take Sophie.
Instead he found Lila.
Why?
What made Sophie important?
Project Juniper provided the answer slowly.
DNA records had been manipulated.
Children were assigned incorrect biological parents.
Several wealthy families funded the clinic.
One of them was the Mercer family.
Not Daniel.
His father.
Robert Mercer had invested millions into Project Juniper.
Daniel's father died without ever mentioning it.
Why would an industrial businessman secretly fund fertility research?
Marcus discovered one reason inside his uncle's old files.
Robert Mercer had another child.
A daughter.
Born outside his marriage.
Her name was Evelyn Lane.
Daniel stared at Marcus.
"Evelyn and Mara were my father's daughters?"
Marcus nodded.
"Half sisters to you and Victor."
Daniel could barely process it.
Mara.
His wife.
No.
The ages made it impossible.
Robert's involvement came years after Mara and Evelyn were born.
Marcus corrected himself.
"Not biological daughter. Legal guardianship papers were being prepared. He planned to adopt Evelyn as an adult."
Daniel exhaled.
Still bizarre.
But not horrifying.
"Why?"
"Because she helped him expose Project Juniper."
Records suggested Evelyn discovered falsified medical files.
She contacted Robert.
Robert believed Victor had been using Hollow Creek Holdings to finance illegal medical data trades.
Victor discovered their investigation.
Robert died months later from a stroke.
Natural, according to records.
Evelyn continued investigating.
Then Mara became involved.
The twin sisters had apparently reunited secretly.
Mara never told Daniel because she did not know whether Victor was working alone.
She did not know whom inside the Mercer family she could trust.
Including Daniel.
That hurt.
But Daniel understood fear made people cautious.
Especially mothers.
A recovered email from Mara to Evelyn revealed Sophie.
Daniel read it alone.
Evelyn,
I have confirmed the child was moved after birth. Daniel was never told because the record was altered before we left the clinic. I cannot prove who ordered it yet.
Sophie is alive.
The resemblance is obvious.
I am almost certain she is Lila's twin.
Do not contact Victor.
Daniel stopped breathing.
Lila had a twin sister.
Taken from the clinic as an infant.
Mara discovered her years later.
And instead of telling Daniel immediately, she tried to gather evidence.
The email continued.
If Daniel learns before I have proof, he will go straight to Victor. He still believes his brother protects this family. That could get both girls killed.
Daniel lowered the page.
Mara had been right.
At that time, Daniel trusted Victor completely.
He would have called him.
He would have asked for help.
And perhaps Sophie would have died.
Alvarez entered.
"We found something else."
A surveillance photograph from six months earlier.
Sophie.
Older now.
Eight years old.
Walking into a private school in Montreal.
Alive.
Daniel stared at the picture until tears blurred it.
His daughter.
Possibly.
A child who had lived eight years without him.
"Where is she now?"
"The school says she left four months ago."
"With whom?"
"A woman claiming to be her mother."
Alvarez placed another photograph on the table.
Mara.
Daniel whispered her name.
Mara had Sophie.
His wife was alive.
His unknown daughter was alive.
And neither had come home.
Before Daniel could absorb it, his phone rang.
Victor.
Daniel answered instantly.
"Where are they?"
Victor laughed softly.
"Still assuming I'm the villain?"
"You ran from my wedding."
"Because someone told me you were about to learn the truth."
"Where is Mara?"
"I don't know."
"Sophie?"
Silence.
Daniel's voice hardened.
"If you touch either of them"
Victor interrupted.
"Daniel, I spent eleven months trying to keep those children alive."
Daniel stopped.
"What?"
"Ask yourself one question."
Victor's voice became serious.
May you like
"If I wanted Lila dead, why is she still alive?"
The line disconnected.
