Maya read the hospital record again.
The father's name was blank.
That alone meant nothing.
But Ella's expression made it feel like everything.
“My daughter has a father.”
“Yes.”
“You're saying the trust records identify him?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
Ella looked toward Maya's father.
“He should.”
Maya turned.
“Dad?”
Her father lowered his head.
“I don't know what they wrote.”
“Then what are you hiding?”
“Nothing.”
Ella stepped closer.
“You promised you wouldn't lie to her.”
“I didn't.”
“You already did.”
Maya's voice broke.
“Enough.”
The corridor seemed suddenly too small for all of them.
“My daughter is missing.”
She held up the hospital paper.
“If there's something about Lily's father that could help bring her home, I need to know now.”
Her father looked at her.
“Lily's father is not part of the trust.”
“Then why was she added?”
“Because your grandfather believed her father might become a target.”
Maya frowned.
“Why?”
“Because he had access to the records.”
“Who?”
Her father hesitated.
“Daniel.”
Maya's stomach dropped.
She had heard the name before.
Her former husband.
Lily's father.
They had divorced when Lily was two.
Daniel had moved to another state after a long dispute over custody.
Maya hadn't spoken to him in months.
“You're telling me Daniel knew about the trust?”
Her father nodded.
“How?”
“Your grandfather told him.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel was an accountant.”
Maya stared.
That part was true.
Daniel had worked in financial compliance before their marriage.
He had helped Maya's grandfather organize old property records.
But Maya had never known about the trust.
“Why didn't Daniel tell me?”
“He was warned not to.”
“By whom?”
“Your grandfather.”
Maya shook her head.
“This is ridiculous.”
Ella stepped forward.
“Your grandfather believed Daniel was honest.”
“Was he?”
“Yes.”
“Then why is he gone?”
Ella's expression changed.
“He isn't.”
Maya's phone slipped from her hand.
“What?”
“He contacted me two months ago.”
Maya stared.
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“You said he contacted you.”
“He used an encrypted number.”
“Why?”
“He said someone was following him.”
Maya crouched and picked up her phone.
Her hands were shaking.
“Could he have taken Lily?”
Ella shook her head.
“No.”
“Could he have arranged this?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he warned me that someone would try to use Lily.”
Maya's heart pounded.
“Use her for what?”
Ella looked at the ledger.
“For access.”
“To the trust?”
“To the original records.”
Maya understood.
“If Lily is a beneficiary, then someone could use her identity.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Ella said, “Robert.”
Maya looked at her.
“You said Robert didn't take her.”
“He didn't.”
“Then who did?”
Ella hesitated.
“I think Denise knows.”
Maya turned.
Her father had gone pale.
“What?”
“I saw your mother yesterday.”
“Where?”
“At the old property.”
“Why?”
“She was looking for something.”
“The ledger.”
“Yes.”
Maya's mind raced.
“If Mom had the original ledger, why would she need another copy?”
“Because she couldn't find the final page.”
“What was on it?”
Ella looked at Maya.
“The fourth beneficiary.”
Maya's pulse accelerated.
“And the name?”
“I don't know.”
“You do.”
Ella shook her head.
“I've never seen the page.”
“Then how do you know it exists?”
“Because your grandfather told me.”
“When?”
“Before he died.”
Maya stared.
“You spoke to Grandpa?”
Ella nodded.
“He knew where I was.”
“But Dad said—”
“He lied.”
Her father looked ashamed.
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
Ella turned toward him.
“You kept everyone ignorant.”
A noise came from above.
All four looked up.
Footsteps.
Someone was walking across the floor above the workshop.
Maya whispered, “Who?”
Ella gestured for silence.
The footsteps stopped.
Then a man's voice echoed through the hatch.
“Maya.”
Her heart froze.
Daniel.
“Daniel?”
Ella looked startled.
“Don't answer.”
But Maya was already moving.
She climbed the stairs.
Her father grabbed her shoulder.
“Wait.”
She pulled free.
She opened the hatch.
Daniel stood above them.
His clothes were wet.
His face looked exhausted.
Maya stared at him.
“Where is Lily?”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know.”
Maya almost slapped him.
“You don't know?”
“I've been looking for her.”
“How did you know she was missing?”
“I was called.”
“By whom?”
“Robert.”
Maya stopped.
Daniel continued.
“He told me Lily had been taken.”
“Why would Robert call you?”
“Because he wanted me to bring something.”
“The ledger.”
Daniel nodded.
“Did you bring it?”
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
Daniel looked at Ella.
“You found her.”
Maya frowned.
“You knew about Ella?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“Before we separated.”
Maya remembered.
Daniel had once tried to tell her that her family had lied about the trust.
She had thought he was angry about the divorce.
Maybe she had been wrong.
Daniel reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a flash drive.
“I copied the original records.”
Maya stared.
“From where?”
“Your grandfather's account.”
“Why?”
“Because Robert has been using the trust.”
“To steal money?”
“To erase people.”
Maya didn't understand.
Daniel held up the drive.
“The beneficiaries weren't just financial.”
“What does that mean?”
“They were witnesses.”
Silence.
“Witnesses to what?”
Daniel looked at her.
“The fire.”
Maya felt cold.
“The four children weren't protected because of money.”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because each child was connected to someone who could prove what happened.”
Maya thought of Ella.
Clara's son.
Herself.
Lily.
“Who is Lily connected to?”
Daniel looked away.
“I don't know.”
Maya grabbed his sleeve.
“Tell me.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't know whether it's safe to say her father's name.”
“You're her father.”
Daniel looked at her.
“No.”
Maya went still.
“What?”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“I am Lily's legal father.”
He paused.
“But I'm not her biological father.”
The world seemed to narrow to a single point.
Maya stepped backward.
“Who is?”
Daniel opened his mouth.
A gunshot sounded outside.
Everyone froze.
Then another.
Ella grabbed Maya.
“Down!”
They dropped behind the concrete wall.
Her father pulled Rachel toward the passage.
Daniel crouched beside Maya.
“Someone found us.”
Maya whispered, “Who?”
Daniel looked toward the entrance.
“Robert.”
Ella shook her head.
“No.”
She listened.
The footsteps outside were too light.
Then a woman's voice called from the darkness.
“Maya.”
Maya recognized it immediately.
Her mother.
Click here to continue reading: PART 16: Denise Arrived at the Workshop With the Truth About Lily’s Birth, and Maya Finally Understood Why Everyone Had Been Afraid
The Dinner Was Supposed to Mend Our Family Until My Daughter’s Cry Changed Everything
Part 15 of 20
