Chapter 14 - THE DAUGHTER THEY TRIED TO ERASE
Seven hours later, Daniel heard his daughter's first cry.
Every wall he had built around himself disappeared.
The nurse placed the tiny baby against Elena's chest.
Elena cried silently.
Daniel stood beside the bed, unable to speak.
“She’s beautiful.”
Elena looked up at him.
“You can hold her.”
Daniel hesitated.
“What if I—”
“You won't.”
The nurse helped place the baby in his arms.
Daniel looked down.
Tiny nose.
Dark hair.
One little hand curled against his shirt.
“Hi.”
His voice broke.
Elena watched him.
Daniel swallowed.
“I'm your dad.”
The baby opened her eyes for barely a second.
Daniel laughed through tears.
“And I'm already completely unprepared.”
Elena smiled.
“What should we name her?”
Daniel looked at Elena.
“I thought you had a name.”
“I did.”
“What changed?”
“A lot.”
Daniel looked back at their daughter.
“What about Margaret?”
Elena's eyes softened.
“Your mother?”
Daniel nodded.
“Margaret Sofia Whitmore.”
Elena repeated it quietly.
“Maggie.”
Daniel smiled.
“Maggie.”
Three days later, Rachel came to the hospital.
She waited until Maggie was asleep.
Then she handed Daniel a folder.
“The medical examiner finished the review.”
Daniel looked at Elena.
Then opened it.
Marcus had altered Charles's medication.
Vanessa had known about the switch.
She hadn't administered it.
But surveillance evidence proved she had removed the original medication bottle before investigators arrived.
Daniel closed the folder.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Elena touched his hand.
“Daniel?”
He looked at his sleeping daughter.
“My father knew they were coming for him.”
Elena nodded.
“And he spent his last days protecting us.”
Daniel's eyes filled.
He didn't hide it.
“He never even got to meet her.”
Elena looked toward Maggie.
“He knew her before she was born.”
Daniel turned.
Elena smiled softly.
“He called her his second chance.”
Daniel lowered his head.
Elena squeezed his hand.
Charles Whitmore was gone.
May you like
But the child he had fought to protect was sleeping only a few feet away.
And this time, nobody could erase her.
