Chapter 10 - The Daughter Nobody Knew About
The nurse's name was Clara.
She had worked at the facility for nineteen years.
She remembered Rachel's father.
She remembered the day he arrived.
She remembered the woman who visited him every year.
And she remembered the young girl who called him Dad.
Rachel couldn't understand.
"Who is she?"
Clara shook her head.
"I can't give you her name."
"Please."
"I'm sorry."
Rachel looked at Daniel.
He stepped forward.
"Was she Vanessa?"
Clara hesitated.
"No."
Rachel's heart raced.
"Then who?"
Clara looked toward the hallway.
"Your father asked me never to tell you."
"Why?"
"Because he believed someone was watching you."
Rachel whispered.
"Who?"
Clara gave her a small envelope.
"He left this for you."
Rachel opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A little girl.
About five years old.
Standing beside Rachel's father.
On the back was written:
For the daughter who was never told.
Rachel stared at the photograph.
She didn't recognize the child.
Daniel took a step closer.
Rachel whispered.
"Who is she?"
Daniel looked at the girl's face.
Then suddenly froze.
"I know her."
Rachel looked at him.
"How?"
Daniel's expression was troubled.
"She's in an old photograph at my mother's house."
Rachel's heart sank.
"That's impossible."
"She's standing beside my father."
Rachel looked at the photograph again.
The little girl had the same distinctive birthmark beneath her left eye as Vanessa.
Rachel's breath caught.
"Vanessa."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"She was the daughter nobody told you about."
Rachel shook her head.
"But she's not my sister."
"No."
Daniel's voice was quiet.
"She's your half-sister."
Rachel sat down.
Everything seemed to rearrange itself.
Vanessa wasn't Daniel's cousin.
She wasn't simply a family member.
She was connected to Rachel.
Through her father.
Through a secret that had survived decades.
Rachel looked at Ethan.
"Does Vanessa know?"
Ethan shook his head.
"I don't think she knows the whole story."
"What does she think?"
"She thinks your father abandoned her."
Rachel closed her eyes.
Suddenly Vanessa's anger made sense.
Her entitlement.
Her resentment.
Her obsession with the Mercer family.
But one question remained.
"Why did my father leave me?"
Daniel looked at the letter.
Rachel unfolded it.
The handwriting was unmistakably her father's.
My dearest Rach,
If you are reading this, then I failed to keep the past buried.
There are things I did to protect you that may look unforgivable.
I need you to understand one thing.
I never abandoned you.
I was trying to keep you alive.
Rachel's vision blurred.
She continued.
Your mother knew.
Patricia knew.
Daniel's father knew.
And Vanessa knew more than anyone.
But there is one person none of them knew about.
Rachel stopped reading.
Daniel leaned closer.
"What?"
Rachel looked at him.
The letter continued.
The person who betrayed me is the reason I disappeared.
And that person is closer to you than you think.
Rachel's hands began to shake.
Then the facility's fire alarm suddenly sounded.
Clara ran into the room.
"You have to leave."
Daniel stood.
"Why?"
Clara looked terrified.
"Someone just entered through the back door."
Rachel folded the letter.
A voice echoed from the hallway.
"Rachel."
May you like
She knew that voice.
Vanessa.
