Chapter 9 - THE DAUGHTER HE TRIED TO ERASE"Would you have loved me if my skin looked like Gold's?"
Diamond asked the question without raising her voice.
She stood inside Lawrence Whitmore's luxurious private office, surrounded by polished furniture and expensive paintings.
Abigail stood beside her.
Lawrence remained behind his desk.
He had agreed to the meeting only after Abigail threatened to contact the authorities immediately.
But the moment Diamond entered, he realized how badly he had underestimated her.
She was not a frightened child.
She was a young woman who had spent seventeen years learning how to survive without him.
"Diamond," Lawrence began, "there are things you don't understand."
She shook her head.
"Then explain them."
Abigail watched silently.
Lawrence adjusted his cuff links.
"When you were born, the circumstances were complicated."
"My skin was different."
He hesitated.
"Yes."
"So you gave me away."
"I believed you would have a better life elsewhere."
Diamond looked around the office.
Through the enormous windows, she could see the city skyline.
Somewhere in that city, Miriam was finishing another long shift caring for elderly patients so they could pay their bills.
Diamond remembered nights when their refrigerator held little more than rice and vegetables.
She remembered Miriam working through a fever because missing a shift meant missing rent.
She looked back at Lawrence.
"You thought I'd have a better life?"
"Yes."
"With a woman who had to work two jobs while you lived here?"
Lawrence's jaw tightened.
"Miriam was a capable caregiver."
Diamond gave a small, disbelieving laugh.
"She was more than capable. She was loving. She was patient. She was the person who stayed."
Lawrence looked away.
Diamond stepped closer.
"But don't pretend you chose poverty for me because it was better than being loved by my own family."
Abigail wiped her eyes.
Lawrence's expression hardened.
"You have no idea what kind of pressure I was under."
Diamond stared at him.
"Pressure?"
"My business was growing. My investors had expectations. Your mother had nearly died. I had to think about the future."
Diamond nodded slowly.
"I understand."
For a moment, Lawrence looked relieved.
Then Diamond continued.
"You were afraid people would judge you for having a daughter who looked different."
He remained silent.
"And instead of being brave enough to stand beside me, you made sure I disappeared."
"That's an unfair interpretation."
Diamond's eyes filled.
"Was I sick?"
"No."
"Was I dangerous?"
"Of course not."
"Was there something wrong with my mind?"
"No."
She took another step forward.
"Then tell me what was so terrible about me that you couldn't let the world know I was yours."
Lawrence opened his mouth.
No words came.
Diamond nodded.
"That's what I thought."
Abigail stepped between them.
"Lawrence, I need the names of everyone involved."
He looked at her.
"Abby—"
"Don't call me that."
His expression changed.
She continued.
"I want the hospital records. The adoption documents. Every letter, payment, and signature."
Lawrence sighed.
"You don't understand how damaging that could be."
Abigail stared at him.
"To whom?"
He said nothing.
"To you?"
"To the family."
Abigail shook her head.
"You keep calling this family protection."
She looked toward Diamond.
"But protecting a family means protecting its children."
Lawrence's expression darkened.
"Be careful, Abigail."
She straightened.
"Is that a threat?"
"It's advice."
Abigail reached for Diamond's hand.
Diamond hesitated, then allowed her to hold it.
It was the first time she had willingly accepted physical comfort from her biological mother.
Lawrence noticed.
For the first time, his wife and the daughter he had rejected stood together against him.
And he understood that he was losing control.
Outside the building, Diamond stopped beside Abigail's car.
The afternoon traffic moved steadily along the street.
Abigail looked at her.
"Are you okay?"
Diamond considered the question.
"No."
Abigail nodded.
"Neither am I."
For a moment, they stood in silence.
Then Diamond whispered:
"I kept thinking he'd have a reason."
Abigail's eyes filled.
"I know."
"Something I could understand."
"He should never have done this."
Diamond looked toward the office tower.
"Do you think he ever regretted it?"
Abigail took a long breath.
"I don't know."
Diamond nodded.
"Maybe that's the worst part."
Abigail turned.
"What is?"
"Knowing he had seventeen years to change his mind."
The words stayed with Abigail long after they drove away.
That evening, Abigail met with Nadia Reyes, a family-law attorney recommended by a former colleague.
Nadia was a sharp, composed woman in her early forties who had handled complicated adoption and custody disputes.
She listened without interrupting as Abigail explained the situation.
Then she examined the copies of the adoption documents.
"These are serious allegations."
Abigail nodded.
"What can we do?"
"First, we preserve the evidence. Second, we request the original hospital and court records. Third, we determine whether the consent was forged and who participated."
"Can Lawrence stop us?"
"He can attempt to delay us. But he cannot make a lawful investigation disappear simply because he's wealthy."
Abigail looked toward Diamond, who sat quietly at the end of the table.
"What about my daughter?"
Nadia softened.
"Diamond is seventeen. Her wishes matter enormously. Any legal steps should protect her stability, not turn her into a prize adults fight over."
Diamond looked up.
"I don't want to be taken away from Miriam."
Nadia nodded.
"Then we'll make that clear."
Diamond exhaled.
For the first time since learning the truth, she felt someone was listening to what she wanted.
Not deciding for her.
Not speaking over her.
Listening.
At 9:42 that night, Lawrence received a call from Victor Hale.
"I understand Abigail has hired an attorney."
Lawrence stared at the city lights outside his study.
"Yes."
"Then we're in trouble."
"Not yet."
"Lawrence, there's a falsified death record and a questionable adoption. If anyone investigates the original paperwork—"
"Stop panicking."
Victor breathed heavily.
"What are you planning?"
Lawrence opened a folder.
Inside were copies of Miriam's old employment records.
A dismissal notice.
An unsigned hospital incident report.
And several pages Victor had recently prepared.
Lawrence stared at the documents.
"If the authorities believe Miriam removed the baby without authorization, the attention shifts away from us."
Victor went silent.
"You're going to accuse her of kidnapping?"
Lawrence answered coldly.
"She took the child home."
"Because we arranged it!"
"Then perhaps she should have asked more questions."
Victor lowered his voice.
"This is dangerous."
Lawrence closed the folder.
"Send the affidavit."
The following morning, Diamond and Miriam were eating breakfast when someone knocked on their door.
Miriam opened it.
Two police officers stood outside.
"Mrs. Miriam Brooks?"
"Yes?"
One officer showed his identification.
"We need to speak with you regarding an investigation into the unlawful removal of an infant from St. Catherine's Medical Center seventeen years ago."
Miriam's face turned pale.
Diamond appeared behind her.
"What's going on?"
The officer looked toward Miriam.
"Ma'am, we have a warrant for your arrest."
Diamond stepped forward.
"No!"
The officer continued carefully.
"Miriam Brooks, you're under arrest in connection with allegations of child abduction and falsified adoption documents."
Diamond grabbed her mother's hand.
"She's not a kidnapper!"
Miriam began crying.
"Diamond, sweetheart—"
But Diamond held on.
May you like
And as the officers prepared to take Miriam away, Diamond realized her father had found a new way to punish the daughter he had once abandoned.
He was trying to take away the only mother she had ever known.
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