Chapter 7 - THE THREE CHILDREN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
Three babies.
Two girls.
One boy.
And a date that matched my birth year.
I stared at the photograph until the names blurred.
“Dominic, Isabella is thirty-two. She couldn't be one of these babies.”
He nodded slowly.
“I know.”
“Then what does this mean?”
He turned the photograph over.
On the back was another note.
Children of Adrian Vale.
My stomach tightened.
“My father had other children?”
“Possibly.”
I looked at the photograph again.
One baby had a small blue bracelet.
Another wore pink.
The third wore yellow.
The names beneath them were written in faded ink.
Rachel.
Elise.
Andrew.
I swallowed.
“Who are Elise and Andrew?”
Dominic didn't answer.
He was looking at the date.
Then he opened another page of Isabella's journal.
A list of adoption records appeared.
The entries were incomplete.
Several names had been crossed out.
But one detail stood out.
Two children had been transferred to private families shortly after birth.
One remained with Evelyn Bennett.
Me.
My hands began trembling.
“I have siblings?”
Dominic looked at me.
“It appears possible.”
I sat down.
All my life, I'd believed I was an only child.
Now I was discovering that my family might have been separated before I could remember them.
Marcus entered with another folder.
“Boss, we checked the adoption records.”
Dominic looked up.
“And?”
“There are sealed files associated with Hawthorne.”
My stomach tightened.
“Can we access them?”
“Only through proper legal channels.”
Dominic nodded.
“Then get the attorney working on it.”
I stared at the photograph.
The babies looked peaceful.
Innocent.
Unaware that adults had already begun deciding their futures.
Then my phone rang.
Another unknown number.
I answered.
A young woman's voice spoke.
“Rachel Bennett?”
“Yes?”
“My name is Elise Morgan.”
My heart stopped.
She continued.
“I think we may be related.”
I couldn't breathe.
“How did you get my number?”
“I found your name in a letter my adoptive mother left behind.”
I swallowed.
“What letter?”
Elise hesitated.
“She said I had a sister named Rachel.”
Tears filled my eyes.
I looked toward Dominic.
He understood immediately.
“Where are you?” I whispered.
“Boston.”
I closed my eyes.
“Are you safe?”
A pause.
Then Elise answered:
“I think so.”
Her voice trembled.
“But there's something you need to know.”
“What?”
“I've been searching for our brother too.”
My heart pounded.
“Andrew?”
“Yes.”
I gripped the phone.
“Did you find him?”
Elise began crying.
“Rachel…”
I held my breath.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“Andrew has been living inside Dominic Vale's mansion for the past six years.”
