Chapter 2: The Man She Called Daddy
For several seconds, I couldn't breathe.
“Daddy…”
Sophie was still looking at the screen.
Her little finger remained pointed at Dr. Michael Reed's face.
“That’s Mommy’s doct…”
She swallowed hard.
Then she whispered again.
“Doctor Reed is Daddy.””
The words seemed to hang in the room.
Vanessa stared at her.
Then at me.
Then back at Sophie.
“No.””
Her voice was barely audible.
I looked at my daughter.
“What did you say, sweetheart?””
Sophie pulled her face into my chest.
I could feel her trembling.
“Say it again,” I whispered.
Vanessa moved toward us.
“Daniel, she's confused.””
I turned sharply.
“Don't.””
“She doesn't understand what she's saying.””
“You just told her not to lie.””
Vanessa stopped.
I stared at her.
“And now you're calling her confused?””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
I looked down at Sophie.
“Who is Dr. Reed?””
She squeezed her eyes shut.
“Mommy talks to him.””
“When?””
“When Daddy goes away.””
Something twisted inside my stomach.
“When else?””
“Night-night.””
“Where?””
She pointed toward the television.
“The dining room.””
I slowly stood.
The security footage was still paused.
Dr. Reed's face stared back at me from the screen.
I had seen him once before.
Months ago.
At a charity dinner, when Vanessa had introduced me to a man from a private medical network.
She had called him a family friend.
I'd barely remembered him.
Until now.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Why did Sophie say he's Daddy?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“She didn't mean it like that.””
“What does it mean?””
“She doesn't know the difference.””
“She knows exactly who I am.””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“Children make things up.””
I felt something cold settle over me.
“You're lying.””
Her face hardened.
“You don't get to accuse me of lying.””
“I just caught you abusing my daughter.””
“I disciplined her.””
“You lied about the cameras.””
“I didn't know they were recording.””
“You told me they hadn't worked for months.””
She looked away.
I stepped closer.
“And now my daughter says a man named Michael Reed is her daddy.””
“She's two.””
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it's true!””
“Then why does a two-year-old know his name?””
Silence.
The clock on the wall ticked.
One.
Two.
Three.
Sophie suddenly whispered against my shoulder.
“Mommy says don't tell.””
My jaw tightened.
“Don't tell what?””
Sophie shook her head.
“Sweetheart.””
She wouldn't look up.
“It's okay.””
“Daddy gets mad.””
I nearly winced.
“No, baby.””
She looked at me.
“I won't get mad at you.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“That is exactly what people say right before they take a child away from their mother.””
I turned.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
“Is that what this is?””
“What?””
“You're preparing her.””
Vanessa's expression flickered.
“Preparing her for what?””
“For me disappearing.””
She didn't answer.
I felt my pulse beating in my neck.
I had spent the last two years believing I was building a family.
I had proposed to Vanessa because Sophie needed stability.
Because after losing her mother at birth, my daughter deserved someone gentle.
Someone who would love her.
I had mistaken a carefully performed smile for kindness.
And now I was wondering how long the performance had lasted.
I walked to the kitchen counter and set Sophie down.
She immediately reached for me.
“Daddy.””
“I’m right here.””
I held her hand.
Then I turned to Vanessa.
“Where is the folder?””
Her eyes moved toward the dining room.
“I don't know.””
“You were sitting at the table.””
“There was no folder.””
I stared at her.
“The camera caught it.””
“Then he must have taken it.””
“When?””
“I don't know.””
“Last night?””
“Yes.””
“So you met him last night.””
“I never said that.””
“You just did.””
She went silent.
I picked up my phone.
“I need to see the rest.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“No.””
I looked at her.
“No?””
“You've seen enough.””
“That's my house.””
“You're frightening Sophie.””
“You've been frightening her every day.””
She flinched.
For the first time, I saw tears in her eyes.
But they didn't move me.
Not anymore.
“You don't understand,” she said.
“Then explain it.””
“I was trying to help.””
“By hitting a two-year-old?””
“I lost control.””
“You locked her in a laundry room.””
“I was overwhelmed.””
“You told her not to tell me.””
She covered her face with both hands.
“Daniel…”
I waited.
After a few seconds, she lowered them.
“I never wanted things to go this far.””
“What things?””
She looked at Sophie.
Then at me.
“You were never supposed to come home today.””
A chill went through me.
“Why?””
She shook her head.
“I can't.””
“You can.””
“No.””
“Vanessa.””
“I said no.””
I pulled my phone from my pocket.
“Then I'll call the police.””
Her face went white.
“Wait.””
I stopped.
She swallowed.
“Please don't.””
“Why?””
“I don't want Sophie taken from me.””
I looked at my daughter.
“She needs to be taken away from you.””
“I love her.””
“People who love children don't make them afraid of their own home.””
Vanessa looked down.
Then she whispered.
“I know.””
The admission was so quiet I almost missed it.
“What?””
“I know what I did was wrong.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Then tell me everything.””
She shook her head.
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because he will hurt me.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Who?””
She wouldn't answer.
“Dr. Reed?””
Her silence was enough.
I felt my heart slam against my ribs.
“Who is Michael Reed?””
“He's not who you think.””
“Then who is he?””
Vanessa looked at the hallway.
At the closed door.
Then back at me.
“He knew your first wife.””
The room seemed to shift beneath my feet.
“My first wife?””
She nodded.
“You don't know anything about him.””
“What does he have to do with her?””
“I told you, I can't.””
“You can.””
“No.””
“Vanessa.””
She whispered the words so softly I almost didn't understand them.
“Your wife didn't die the way you were told.””
I froze.
Every muscle in my body locked.
“What did you say?””
Vanessa stepped backward.
“I shouldn't have said that.””
I stared at her.
“What do you mean she didn't die the way I was told?””
She shook her head.
“Forget I said it.””
“You don't get to do that.””
“Daniel—”
“Tell me what you meant.””
Sophie tugged at my shirt.
“Daddy.””
I looked down.
She was staring toward the hallway.
Her eyes were wide.
“What's wrong?””
She pointed.
“Man.””
I turned.
Nothing.
Only the dark hallway leading to the bedrooms.
“Who?””
She whispered.
“Man.””
Vanessa's face changed.
“Did you see someone?””
Sophie nodded.
“Where?””
She pointed toward the upstairs staircase.
My instincts took over.
I picked her up.
“Stay here.””
I grabbed the heavy fireplace poker from the stand beside the mantel.
Vanessa stared at me.
“What are you doing?””
“Checking the house.””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because he isn't here.””
I stopped.
“You seem very sure.””
Vanessa looked terrified.
Then my phone buzzed.
I looked down.
Unknown number.
A text.
*You shouldn't have opened the archive.*
I stared at it.
Another message arrived.
*Take Sophie and leave the house.*
Then a third.
*Don't trust Vanessa.*
My blood ran cold.
I looked up at my wife.
She was watching my face.
“What is it?””
I didn't answer.
I turned the phone toward her.
She read the messages.
Her lips parted.
“No…”
“Who sent this?””
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie.””
“I swear I don't.””
Another message appeared.
*Ask Vanessa what happened at St. Mercy Hospital on April 17.*
My eyes stayed on the screen.
April 17.
I remembered that date.
It was two years ago.
Three days before Sophie was born.
The day Vanessa had told me my first wife died.
I looked at her.
“What's at St. Mercy?””
She looked like she'd been slapped.
“Daniel…”
“What happened there?””
“I can't tell you.””
“You will.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You said my wife didn't die the way I was told.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
“From the truth.””
“The truth about what?””
She wiped her face.
“About Sophie.””
My stomach dropped.
“What about her?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I can't.””
“You keep saying that.””
“Because you don't understand what you're dealing with.””
“Then help me understand.””
She looked at Sophie.
Then she whispered:
“She isn't just your daughter.””
I stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“When your first wife died…”
She stopped.
I waited.
“She left something behind.””
“What?””
“A secret.””
I felt my anger rising.
“Stop talking in riddles.””
“I didn't know how to tell you.””
“Tell me now.””
“She was pregnant.””
“I know.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“No.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“She was pregnant before you ever knew.””
My mind went blank.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“I know.””
“She was pregnant with Sophie.””
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.””
“I was there.””
“You were there when Sophie was born.””
“I was her father.””
Vanessa didn't answer.
I looked at her.
“Say it.””
She whispered:
“We don't know.””
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
“What?””
“Your wife was already pregnant when you married her.””
“That was my child.””
“We don't know that.””
“I was her husband.””
“That isn't proof.””
I took a step back.
Every memory from two years earlier came rushing at me.
The hospital corridor.
The terrible fluorescent lights.
The doctor telling me there had been complications.
My wife's hand slipping from mine.
The first time I held Sophie.
The tiny cry.
The nurse asking if I wanted to name her.
I had believed that moment belonged only to us.
My daughter.
My family.
My wife.
Now Vanessa was telling me that none of it was certain.
I looked at Sophie.
She was watching me with enormous frightened eyes.
I crouched beside her.
“Come here.””
She wrapped her arms around my neck.
I closed my eyes.
She smelled like baby shampoo.
Like home.
“Daddy,” she whispered.
I squeezed her.
“No matter what anybody says, I'm your dad.””
Vanessa turned away.
I looked up.
“Why did you say Doctor Reed is Daddy?””
Sophie answered before Vanessa could.
“Mommy said.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Why would she say that?””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
“She didn't mean…”
“Then what did she mean?””
“She was telling her something.””
“What?””
“She was telling her about her father.””
I felt sick.
“Reed is her father?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
The silence told me enough.
I stood slowly.
“How long have you known?””
“A few months.””
My face went numb.
“A few months?””
She nodded.
“How?””
“He contacted me.””
“Why?””
“He said he wanted to see Sophie.””
“And you agreed?””
“I had to.””
“No, you didn't.””
“He showed me proof.””
“What proof?””
“Documents.””
“From where?””
“The hospital.””
I felt my heart pound.
“What kind of documents?””
She shook her head.
“I can't.””
I grabbed my phone.
“Then we'll get them ourselves.””
I opened my contacts and called the hospital.
Vanessa lunged toward me.
“Daniel, don't!””
I stepped away.
“Why?””
“Because they know.””
“Who?””
“The people involved.””
“People involved in what?””
She didn't answer.
The phone began ringing.
One ring.
Two.
Three.
Then someone picked up.
“St. Mercy Hospital records department.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“I need to access a birth record from April 17, two years ago. The child was Sophie Bennett.””
There was a pause.
“Sir, are you the parent?””
“Yes.””
“Can you provide identification?””
“I can.””
Another pause.
“I'm sorry. That record has been sealed.””
I stared at Vanessa.
“Sealed by whom?””
“I'm unable to disclose that information.””
“I am her father.””
“I'm sorry, sir.””
I lowered the phone.
Vanessa looked at me.
“You see?””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I see exactly what you're doing.””
She stared.
“You want me to believe this is impossible.””
“It is impossible.””
“No.””
I pulled up the hospital's patient portal.
My fingers moved quickly.
There had been an old email from the hospital.
I had ignored it because I thought it was related to billing.
I searched.
April.
Birth.
Paternity.
My eyes stopped.
There was a message I'd never opened.
*Patient Record Update — Action Required.*
I tapped it.
The portal asked for a verification code.
I entered my information.
Then the screen loaded.
The record appeared.
My daughter's name.
*Sophie Elizabeth Bennett.*
Date of birth.
April 20.
Mother.
My wife's name.
Father.
I stared.
There was no name.
Instead, one line appeared.
*Paternity status: Pending determination.*
My vision blurred.
I read it again.
And again.
Pending.
My phone slipped slightly in my hand.
“That's impossible.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I told you.””
“No.””
I scrolled farther.
Then I saw the final update.
*Paternity testing requested by Michael Reed.*
The date was six weeks after Sophie's birth.
I looked at Vanessa.
“You knew.””
She nodded.
“How long?””
“Almost two years.””
The room went silent.
“You knew for almost two years that someone else might be her biological father.””
“I was scared.””
“And you married me anyway.””
“I loved you.””
“You lied to me.””
“I thought it would disappear.””
“Nothing disappears.””
She started crying harder.
“I thought if I gave Sophie a family, everything would be okay.””
I looked at her.
“You weren't giving her a family.””
Her tears stopped.
“You were hiding something.””
She looked down.
“What?””
I stepped closer.
“You knew Reed was her biological father.””
“No.””
“You just said—”
“I knew he believed it.””
I froze.
“What?””
Vanessa wiped her face.
“I never knew whether he was actually her father.””
“Then why would Sophie call him Daddy?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
“Why would he request a paternity test?””
She remained silent.
“Why would he meet you in secret?””
Nothing.
I lowered my voice.
“And why did that stranger tell you that once I signed papers, Sophie wouldn't be a problem anymore?””
Vanessa looked at me.
Her expression was pure fear.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Because the papers weren't about custody.””
“What were they about?””
“They were about you.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“He doesn't want Sophie.””
“Then what does he want?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“He wants everything you have.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
She whispered:
“Your company.””
I almost laughed.
“This is about money?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
She looked toward the dining room.
“To get your company, he needs your shares.””
“So?””
“You can't transfer them if you're mentally competent.””
I stopped.
“What?””
Vanessa's eyes filled again.
“The papers say you're unstable.””
My stomach turned.
“He wants to declare me unfit?””
She nodded.
“He has medical records.””
“What medical records?””
“Records saying you have severe anxiety. Mood instability. Impulse control issues.””
I stared at her.
“I don't have those conditions.””
“I know.””
“Then where did they come from?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I signed them.””
“You what?””
“I signed the documents.””
“Why?””
“Because I was told you'd be ruined if I didn't.””
“Who told you?””
She looked toward my phone.
The unknown number was still on the screen.
Then she whispered:
“Dr. Reed.””
Before I could respond, the front door handle moved.
Once.
Then twice.
Someone was trying to unlock the door from outside.
Sophie buried her face against my chest.
Vanessa froze.
I raised my finger to my lips.
The lock clicked.
The door opened.
A man stepped into the house.
Tall.
Dark coat.
Silver at his temples.
I recognized him instantly.
Dr. Michael Reed.
His eyes went straight to Sophie.
Then to me.
And instead of looking surprised, he smiled.
“Daniel,” he said calmly.
“You came home earlier than expected.””
He closed the door behind him.
Then he looked at my daughter.
“Hello, Sophie.””
Sophie screamed.
May you like
“Daddy, don't let him take me!””
And Reed's smile disappeared.
