Chapter 9 - THE CHILD CELESTE WAS FORCED TO SURRENDER.
Celeste collapsed into the library chair.
Before marrying Daniel, she gave birth to Lucy in secret.
Victoria discovered the pregnancy and threatened to destroy Thomas’s career unless Celeste surrendered the baby.
Thomas and his late wife raised Lucy as their own.
Celeste was told the child died shortly after birth.
Thomas later learned the truth and planned to reunite them once he had enough evidence to protect Lucy from the Ashfords.
Daniel stared at his wife.
“You had a daughter and never told me.”
Celeste’s voice turned raw.
“I was told she was dead. Your family turns living women and children into funerals whenever truth becomes inconvenient.”
Lucy stepped backward.
She loved Thomas as her father.
Blood did not erase seven years of bedtime stories, scraped knees, and school lunches.
Celeste did not demand the word “Mom.”
She only said, “I am sorry you were made into another secret.”
Victoria called the revelation irrelevant.
“Thomas raised her well enough. Why ruin the arrangement?”
Daniel turned on her.
“You stole her child and call that an arrangement?”
The judge released Thomas and froze Victoria’s authority.
The pension accounts were placed under independent control.
Then the court clerk opened Celeste’s original hospital file.
A second infant had been born that night.
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Lucy had a twin brother.
Victoria had personally signed his transfer.
