CEO BROUGHT HIS SICK MOM TO WORK — THE SECRETARY’S ACTION LEFT HIM SPEECHLESS!
Chapter 2
Daniel closed the office door.
“What truth?”
Margaret wiped her eyes.
“Sit down.”
Daniel didn’t move.
“Mom, what is this?”
Margaret looked at the photograph.
“It was taken thirty-seven years ago.”
“Who is she?”
Margaret looked toward Emily.
Then back at Daniel.
“Your sister.”
Daniel froze.
“My what?”
Emily lowered her eyes.
Margaret took a breath.
“You had a sister.”
Daniel laughed once.
It wasn’t amusement.
It was disbelief.
“No.”
“She was born before you.”
“My parents only had me.”
Margaret’s eyes filled with tears.
“That is what your father wanted everyone to believe.”
Daniel felt the room tilt.
His father had died ten years earlier.
For most of Daniel’s life, he had believed his parents had simply struggled financially before his company made them comfortable.
He had never heard about another child.
“Where is she?”
Margaret didn’t answer.
“Mom.”
“She disappeared.”
Daniel stared.
“When?”
“When she was four.”
“How?”
Margaret looked down.
“Your father gave her away.”
Daniel stepped backward.
“What?”
Emily remained silent.
Margaret continued.
“Your father had debts. Serious debts. He believed raising two children would make everything harder.”
Daniel’s voice cracked.
“You’re telling me Dad gave away my sister?”
“He told me she would be safer with another family.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
Margaret shook her head.
“He arranged everything.”
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
The little girl had dark hair.
A tiny scar above her eyebrow.
She was smiling.
“What was her name?”
Margaret whispered:
“Anna.”
Daniel sat down.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Emily asked:
“Why did you keep the photograph?”
Margaret looked at her.
“Because I never stopped searching.”
Daniel turned toward his mother.
“You never told me.”
“I tried.”
“When?”
“When you were twelve.”
Daniel remembered.
His father had screamed at Margaret for mentioning something Daniel didn’t understand.
He had assumed they were arguing about money.
Now he realized it had been about Anna.
Daniel covered his face.
“Why now?”
Margaret looked at Emily.
“Because I found her.”
Daniel looked up.
“What?”
Margaret nodded.
“Three weeks ago.”
The room went silent.
“Where?”
“I don’t know exactly.”
“Then how?”
“She contacted me.”
Daniel stood.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
Margaret hesitated.
“That your father wasn’t the only person who wanted her gone.”
Daniel stared.
“What does that mean?”
Margaret reached for another envelope.
Inside was a letter.
Daniel read it.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
Mrs. Whitmore,
I believe I am your daughter.
I have spent years trying to understand why I was abandoned.
I don’t want money.
I don’t want your company.
I only want to know why.
Daniel’s hands shook.
There was no signature.
Only a phone number.
He immediately called it.
The number was disconnected.
Daniel looked at Emily.
“Find her.”
Emily nodded.
“I already started.”
Daniel looked surprised.
“You did?”
“I knew this was important.”
“How?”
Emily hesitated.
“Because I know what it’s like to search for family.”
Daniel stared at her.
“What do you mean?”
Emily didn’t answer.
Margaret suddenly began coughing.
Hard.
Daniel rushed toward her.
Emily immediately brought water and medication.
Within moments, Margaret’s breathing stabilized.
Daniel knelt beside her.
“Mom?”
“I’ll be okay.”
Emily looked at him.
“She needs a doctor.”
Daniel nodded.
“I’ll take her.”
“No.”
Emily’s voice was firm.
“Don’t move her yet.”
“Why?”
“Because her condition is worse than she told you.”
Margaret looked away.
Daniel became angry.
“You knew?”
Margaret whispered:
“I didn’t want to interfere with your meeting.”
Daniel stared at her.
His entire life had revolved around building an empire.
Yet his mother had been sitting in his office, sick, afraid, and hiding the truth about a daughter who had vanished decades ago.
He had been worried about a merger.
She had been worried about family.
Daniel’s phone rang.
His chief financial officer.
“The board needs you.”
Daniel looked at the phone.
Then at his mother.
He declined the call.
Emily smiled faintly.
“Good.”
Daniel looked at her.
“What?”
“For once, you made the right choice.”
Then her phone vibrated.
She checked the message.
Her face changed.
Daniel noticed.
“What?”
Emily slowly looked up.
“They found Anna.”
Daniel stood.
“Where?”
Emily swallowed.
“She works in this building.”
