Chapter 10 - Hannah's Mother
The possibility was impossible.
Daniel repeated that sentence several times.
Hannah’s parents were dead before Daniel met her.
That was what she believed.
She had grown up in foster care from age seven.
Her records listed her mother as Hannah Monroe Senior, deceased.
Her father unknown.
Daniel had never questioned it.
Why would he?
Rebecca opened archived records on her laptop.
“Hannah’s full legal name before marriage?”
“Hannah Evelyn Monroe.”
Rebecca’s hands stopped.
“Date of birth?”
“October 12, 1979.”
Rebecca looked up.
Nobody spoke.
Lily sank into a chair.
“My mom was Grandpa’s niece?”
“Possibly,” Rebecca said carefully.
Daniel walked toward the window.
His mind tried to reorganize twenty years of memories.
Thomas had adored Hannah.
From the first dinner.
Daniel had always assumed it was because she was kind.
Maybe Thomas had recognized something.
A name.
A face.
A date.
“Did Dad know?” Daniel asked.
Rebecca shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Margaret, who had remained silent for nearly twenty minutes, laughed softly.
Everyone turned.
Daniel stared.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
Margaret looked toward Lily.
“I think Thomas was more foolish than I realized.”
Daniel crossed the room.
“You knew.”
Margaret said nothing.
“You knew Hannah could be Evelyn’s daughter.”
“I suspected.”
“When?”
Margaret smiled bitterly.
“The first time you brought her home.”
Daniel felt something inside him break.
“You knew for twenty years?”
“She looked like Evelyn.”
“You knew my wife might be Dad’s niece?”
“Thomas never confirmed it.”
“Did you tell him?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Margaret’s answer came instantly.
“Because if she was Evelyn’s daughter, Thomas would have given her half the estate.”
Lily stood.
“So you hid my mother from him?”
Margaret looked at her.
“Hannah had a good life.”
“She grew up in foster care!”
“That was not my responsibility.”
Daniel slammed his palm against the desk.
Lily jumped.
He had never struck furniture in anger before.
Margaret flinched.
“You knew she had family.”
“I knew she might.”
“And you said nothing.”
Margaret’s composure finally cracked.
“What was I supposed to do? Hand everything your father built to some girl who appeared from nowhere?”
“My wife.”
“She wasn’t your wife then.”
“She became my wife.”
“That made it worse.”
Daniel stared.
Margaret realized again she had said too much.
Rebecca stepped forward.
“Worse?”
Margaret looked away.
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“What did you do?”
Nothing.
“Mother.”
Margaret stood.
“I’m tired.”
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“You cannot imprison me.”
Rebecca calmly said, “You are free to leave.”
Daniel looked at her.
Rebecca continued.
“But if you do, I will contact law enforcement immediately regarding forged financial authorizations.”
Margaret’s eyes widened.
“You wouldn’t.”
“I already drafted the complaint.”
Margaret sat again.
Daniel looked at Rebecca.
“What do we need to prove whether Hannah was Evelyn’s daughter?”
“DNA.”
“Hannah is dead.”
“Thomas’s biological material may exist in medical archives.”
Lily whispered, “Or me.”
Rebecca nodded.
“Yes.”
Margaret suddenly said, “No.”
Everyone turned.
Her reaction was too strong.
Daniel stared.
“Why not?”
Margaret’s hands trembled.
“Because this has gone far enough.”
Daniel understood something.
“You’re not afraid the DNA won’t match.”
May you like
Margaret’s face drained.
“You’re afraid it will.”
