A Mother’s Confession

Chapter 13

Daniel stood motionless, staring at his phone.

His mother knew.

After everything he had uncovered, the possibility that she had been involved in the events that separated him from Maya felt almost impossible to accept.

He looked across the room at Maya.

“Adrian says my mother knows about the hospital.”

Maya’s eyes widened.

“Then we need to speak to her.”

Daniel nodded, but his expression remained troubled.

“I don’t know if she’ll tell us the truth.”

“Then we ask her together.”

For a moment, neither spoke.

Six years of pain had taught them not to trust easily. But they were no longer willing to let other people decide what happened to their lives.

The following morning, Daniel arrived at his mother’s house with Maya.

Evelyn Bennett was sitting in the garden, reading a magazine. When she noticed them approaching, she smiled.

“Daniel. Maya. What a pleasant surprise.”

Daniel didn’t return the smile.

“Mother, we need to talk.”

Evelyn lowered her magazine.

“Is something wrong?”

“Do you remember visiting a hospital with Grandfather six years ago?”

Her expression changed almost immediately.

“What makes you ask that?”

Daniel placed the photograph on the table.

Evelyn stared at it.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then she slowly closed the magazine.

“I wondered when this day would come.”

Maya stepped forward.

“What happened at that hospital?”

Evelyn looked at her.

“Your mother was admitted there.”

Maya felt her breath catch.

“My mother?”

“Yes.”

“Why was nobody willing to tell me?”

Evelyn looked away.

“Because your father begged us to keep everything quiet.”

Maya shook her head.

“My father is dead. My uncle refuses to explain anything. And now you’re telling me everyone knew something about my mother?”

Daniel pulled out a chair.

“Mother, please. We need the truth.”

Evelyn took a deep breath.

“Your mother had a serious medical condition. During that period, she discovered something about the Bennett family. Something she believed could destroy both families.”

“What did she discover?” Maya asked.

Evelyn’s lips trembled.

“She discovered that your uncle and my husband had been secretly involved in a business arrangement. Money was being transferred, and certain documents were being hidden.”

Daniel frowned.

“What does that have to do with Maya’s father accepting money from Victoria?”

“Everything,” Evelyn replied.

Maya felt as though the ground beneath her was shifting.

“What happened to my mother?”

Evelyn hesitated.

“She wanted to expose the arrangement. But before she could, her condition became worse. She was admitted to the hospital, and your father asked us to help him.”

“Help him with what?”

“With protecting you.”

Maya’s eyes filled with tears.

“Protecting me from what?”

Evelyn reached for her hand.

“Your mother believed someone was using your relationship with Daniel to gain access to the Bennett family. She was afraid that if you married Daniel, you would become involved in something dangerous.”

Maya pulled her hand away.

“That doesn’t make sense. I loved Daniel. I wasn’t interested in his family’s money.”

“I know,” Evelyn whispered.

Daniel stood up.

“Then why did you allow everyone to separate us?”

Evelyn looked at her son.

“Your grandfather believed Maya’s family was a threat to the company. Victoria offered to handle the situation. I disagreed with her methods, but I was afraid of what your grandfather would do if he discovered how much I knew.”

Daniel’s voice became cold.

“So you watched me lose the woman I loved because you were afraid?”

Evelyn lowered her eyes.

“I made a terrible mistake.”

Before Maya could ask another question, Daniel’s phone rang.

Adrian.

He answered immediately.

“Sir, I found something.”

“What is it?”

“The doctor, Dr. Mensah, is alive. He has been staying outside Accra under a different name.”

Daniel looked at Maya.

“Where is he?”

“Adrian has arranged a meeting. But there’s something else. The hospital records show that two babies were registered on the same night.”

Daniel went silent.

“Two babies?”

“Yes, sir. One registration was later amended. Someone paid to have the original record changed.”

Maya slowly turned towards Evelyn.

“Two babies?”

Evelyn’s face had gone pale.

“Daniel, please. You don’t understand what you’re getting into.”

Daniel stared at his mother.

“Then explain it.”

But Evelyn only shook her head.

“I can’t. Not here.”

Maya stepped closer.

“Does this have something to do with my mother?”

Evelyn looked at her with tears in her eyes.

“Your mother gave birth to a child that night.”

Maya’s knees nearly gave way.

“That’s impossible. I was already born.”

“Yes,” Evelyn whispered. “But there was another child.”

Daniel felt his stomach tighten.

“Who was the father?”

Evelyn looked between them.

Before she could answer, someone knocked sharply on the garden door.

A housekeeper hurried outside and returned with a small envelope.

“Madam, someone left this at the gate.”

Evelyn took it.

Her hands began to shake as she opened the envelope.

Inside was a photograph of two newborn babies lying beside each other.

On the back, someone had written:

One of them belongs to the Bennett family. The other belongs to Maya’s family. And one of them was never supposed to survive.

Evelyn dropped the photograph.

Daniel picked it up.

Maya covered her mouth.

Then Evelyn whispered the words that neither of them was prepared to hear.

“Your grandfather knew about the babies.”