Chapter 4 - Claire’s Daughter Is in the Ballroom
Daniel thought Vanessa meant Lily.
She did not.
Across the ballroom stood eighteen-year-old Sophie Bennett, the daughter
of one of Vanessa’s longtime household employees.
Sophie had grown up around the Whitmore family.
Daniel had known her since she was a toddler.
Vanessa said Sophie was Claire’s biological daughter.
Daniel refused to accept the claim without evidence.
Good.
Too many lives had already been shaped by unverified stories.
Sophie’s legal mother, Margaret Bennett, was brought into a private room
with counsel and police present.
Margaret cried before Daniel finished asking.
She had adopted Sophie privately after Claire gave birth under the name
Emily Carter.
The adoption itself had later been formalized legally, but the early
paperwork contained irregularities.
Claire wanted anonymity.
Why?
Margaret looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa answered.
“Because Claire believed someone in your family was trying to control
the baby.”
Daniel stared.
“Who?”
“Your father.”
Charles Whitmore.
Daniel recoiled.
Vanessa explained that Charles discovered Claire’s pregnancy and
demanded to know the father’s identity.
Claire refused.
Charles threatened to cut her off and seek control of the child through
family resources.
Claire planned to leave.
Vanessa helped.
Daniel looked at the sapphire ring.
“So she ran away?”
Vanessa’s face tightened.
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
“The night she disappeared, she came back.”
“Why?”
“To get something from your father’s safe.”
“What?”
May you like
Vanessa looked at the archive shelves.
“A DNA report.”
