CHAPTER FOUR — THE NIGHT THEY WERE  SEPARATED

Amara stood in front of her bedroom door, staring at her phone.

Don't open the door.

Her heart raced.

Your mother isn't the person you should be afraid of.

She swallowed hard.

Then the final message appeared.

It's Nadia.

Amara stared at it.

Nadia.

The same woman Daniel had called his mother.

The same woman who had apparently known her family seventeen years ago.

The same woman whose name seemed to appear everywhere Amara looked.

Another knock came.

Three slow knocks.

Amara stepped backward.

"Mum?"

Still no answer.

She didn't open the door.

Instead, she called her mother.

The phone rang downstairs.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then someone picked up.

"Hello?"

It was her mother's voice.

"Mom, where are you?"

"I'm in the kitchen."

Amara looked at the bedroom door.

"Then who's outside my room?"

Silence.

Her mother's breathing changed.

"Amara..."

"What?"

"Don't open that door."

Amara's eyes widened.

"You know about this?"

"Stay in your room."

"Mom, what's happening?"

"I don't know, just don't open the door."

Suddenly, the knocking stopped.

Amara waited.

Nothing.

She slowly moved toward the door.

Then she heard footsteps moving away.

She opened it just a little.

The hallway was empty.

But something was lying on the floor.

A small brown envelope.

Amara picked it up.

Written across the front were four words:

FOR AMARA. THE TRUTH.

---

THE FIRST REVELATION

Downstairs, Amara found her mother sitting at the dining table.

Her face was pale.

"Mum."

Her mother looked up.

"You opened the door."

"I didn't."

She placed the envelope on the table.

"This was outside my room."

Her mother's eyes fell on it.

She immediately recognized the handwriting.

Her hands began shaking.

"Where did you get this?"

"It was left outside my door."

Her mother closed her eyes.

"Then they know."

"Who?"

Her mother looked at her.

"The people who were there that night."

Amara sat down.

"Tell me everything."

Her mother remained silent for several seconds.

Then she finally spoke.

"Seventeen years ago, I gave birth to a boy."

Amara's chest tightened.

"Daniel?"

Her mother nodded.

"His name was Daniel."

Amara stared at her.

"Then Daniel really is my brother?"

"Yes."

The words finally came.

No more half-truth.

No more uncertainty.

Daniel was Amara's biological older brother.

Amara's eyes filled with tears.

"But why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I believed he was dead."

"You said Nadia told you he was dead."

"Yes."

"Why would Nadia lie?"

Her mother looked down.

"Because Daniel was never supposed to remain with her."

Amara froze.

"What?"

Her mother took a deep breath.

"That night, Nadia was with me at the hospital."

---

THE NIGHT DANIEL WAS BORN

Seventeen years earlier...

Amara's mother had been in labour.

Nadia was beside her.

She had been her closest friend.

The delivery was difficult, and after hours of labour, a baby boy was born.

Daniel.

But something happened shortly afterward.

The baby became seriously ill.

The doctors rushed him away.

Amara's mother was exhausted and barely conscious.

Then, before she could properly understand what was happening, she was told her child was dead.

She wept

Cried

But she was only consoled 

Where is the body?

Amara's mother asked the nurse

Your friend has gone to bury him...

Two years after what happened to her son

She had been in labour for her second child.

Nadia was there

She gave birth again.

A baby girl.

Amara.

---

NADIA'S DECISION 

But Nadia had been watching everything.

And Nadia made a decision.

A decision that would separate two Siblings.

---

Amara stared at her mother.

"What did she do?"

Her mother's voice trembled.

"She told the nurse to tell me, Daniel died."

The nurse was,

Miriam.

"But why would she even do such."

"I don't know."

"Where was he kept?"

"I know Nadia took him but this is getting way too confusing".

Her mother looked at the envelope.

"Yes, Nadia took him."

Amara's eyes widened.

"She took my brother?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"Mum, we need to get answers and arrest Nadia if possible because I'm tired of you telling me you don't know". 

"I don't know where to start this case from".

"Do you mean Daniel grew up believing Nadia was his mother."

"Yes."

Amara stood.

"So she stole my brother?"

Her mother nodded.

"Amara gasped for breath".

All that went through her mind was thoughts of how she developed strong feelings for her brother.

---

THE THIRD WOMAN

The next day.

Amara had more questions to ask.

She remembered the photograph Favour had sent her.

Three women.

Her mother.

Nadia.

And another woman.

The woman holding a baby.

"Mum..."

Her mother looked up.

The third woman on this photograph, showed her mum.

"Who is this?"

Her mother's face changed.

"How did you get this?"

"From someone".

"Who?"

"Does it really matter mum".

Her mother slowly sat down.

"That's Miriam, the nurse who helped me that night."

Amara's eyes widened.

"The woman holding the baby?"

"Yes."

"Why was a boy standing beside her?"

Her mother looked at her.

"That happens to be Daniel."

"But Nadia came along with him and told Miriam not to open up, but tell me he was Miriam's son".

"What?"

Her mother took the photograph from Amara.

"That photograph was taken after you were delivered."

Amara stared at it.

"Daniel".

"Miriam's son?"

"Yes."

"And she's holding me?"

"Yes."

Amara's breathing became shallow.

"Then Daniel was holding my hand because..."

Her mother finished the sentence.

"Because he knew you were his little sister."

Amara covered her mouth.

"He knew?"

"I think his instincts told him so". 

"He was only a child. But he knew you were his baby sister."

Amara looked at the photograph again.

Suddenly, the picture wasn't mysterious anymore.

Daniel wasn't standing beside the baby because he was a stranger.

He was standing there because he was her brother.

And he was holding her tiny hand because she was his sister.

---

WHO TOOK DANIEL?

"But why would Miriam let Nadia take him?"

"She didn't."

Amara looked up.

"What?"

"Miriam tried to stop her."

Her mother pointed at the photograph.

"That was the last moment Miriam saw Daniel before Nadia took him."

"Then what happened?"

"I was unconscious. Miriam tried to call for help."

"And Nadia?"

"She disappeared with Daniel."

Amara's eyes widened.

"So Miriam knows what happened?"

"She knows more than anyone."

"Where is she now?"

Her mother looked away.

"I don't know."

Amara stared at her.

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"Then why does Favour have information about her?"

Her mother looked confused.

"Favour?"

---

FAVOUR'S SECRET

Across town, Favour sat alone in her room.

Her phone was on the bed.

She stared at the photograph she had sent Amara.

She hadn't found it online.

She hadn't received it randomly.

Someone had given it to her.

Three days earlier.

An elderly woman had approached her outside a small bookshop.

The woman had asked one question.

"Are you Amara's friend?"

Favour had been suspicious.

"Who are you?"

"She was Miriam".

The woman had handed her an envelope.

"Give this to Amara when she is ready."

Inside was the photograph.

And one name.

Miriam.

Favour had asked who Miriam was.

The woman had refused to answer.

Instead, she said:

"Tell Amara that the truth didn't disappear. It was hidden."

Favour hadn't told Amara because she was afraid.

But now everything was getting worse.

Her phone suddenly rang.

Unknown number.

Favour answered.

"Hello?"

A woman's voice whispered:

"You shouldn't have sent the photograph."

Favour froze.

"Who is this?"

The call ended.

Favour immediately called Amara.

But before she could speak, another message arrived.

If you want Amara alive and safe, stop asking questions.

Favour's hands trembled.

She finally understood.

It was Nadia

---

THE UNKNOWN NUMBER

Back at Amara's house, her mother opened the brown envelope.

Inside was another photograph.

Her mother gasped.

Amara took it.

It showed the hospital corridor from seventeen years ago.

Miriam was standing near the door.

Daniel was beside her.

And Nadia was close to Daniel.

Amara looked closer.

There was another person in the background.

A man.

"Mum, who is that?"

Her mother stared at the photograph.

"I don't know."

Amara turned the photograph over.

Written on the back:

Miriam knows.

Then another line.

And I know where Miriam is.

"Mum".

"She looked up".

I think the man had taken all this photographs and gave to Miriam

"Maybe".

Amara's phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

She answered immediately.

"Who are you?"

Silence.

"Who's this?"

Finally, a voice spoke.

A woman's voice.

"I'm sorry Evelyn I failed to stop Nadia."

"Mum, I think this is for you"

"She called your name".

Evelyn froze.

Took the phone.

"Who are you?"

"Miriam."

"What?"

"Miriam".

Evelyn, keep Amara safe

Nadia is after her life.

"Nadia has been looking for you."

"Why?"

"Because you are the only person who can expose what she did."

Evelyn's voice shook.

"Where does Nadia stay?"

Miriam paused.

"She's alive."

She stays two streets away from Daniel

Evelyn's s heart jumped.

"Where?"

"I can't tell you yet."

"Why?"

"Because you will rush things."

Amara looked toward the window not understanding the conversation between her mum and whoever was on the phone.

"What do you mean?"

The call disconnected 

Called back 

No response.

"Mum, who was that?"

Miriam.

Amara eyes widened.

---

DANIEL DISCOVERS THE SAME TRUTH

At the same time, Daniel was sitting in his room.

He had been searching through the old documents his mother kept hidden.

Then he found something.

His birth certificate.

His eyes moved across the page.

Mother: Evelyn, Amara's mother.

Daniel stopped breathing.

For seventeen years, Nadia had told him she was his biological mother.

She had lied.

He picked up his phone and called her.

No answer.

He called again.

Nothing.

Then an unknown number sent him a photograph.

The same photograph Amara had received.

Daniel stared at it.

There he was.

A little boy.

Standing beside Miriam.

Holding the baby's hand.

His baby sister.

Amara.

Another message arrived.

Now you know who you are.

Daniel typed:

Who are you?

The reply came immediately.

Someone who was there that night.

Daniel's hands shook.

What happened to Miriam?

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Finally:

Miriam has been hiding because Nadia has been searching for her for seventeen years.

Daniel typed another message.

Why?

The answer came.

Because Miriam knows where your mother was and how you were taken.

Daniel froze.

His mother.

Not Nadia.

His real mother.

Amara's mother.

Evelyn.

He immediately called Amara.

She answered.

"Daniel?"

"Amara, I know."

"Know what?"

"I'm your brother."

Silence.

Then Amara began crying.

"So it's true."

"Yes."

For the first time, neither of them had to wonder.

The photograph was real.

The memories were real.

The connection between them was real.

They were siblings.

But there was still one question.

Why had Nadia stolen Daniel?

And what was she trying to hide?

---

THE TRUTH ABOUT NADIA

Daniel's phone vibrated again.

Unknown number.

One final message:

Ask Nadia why Miriam was holding Amara when you were taken.

Daniel stared at the message.

Then another appeared.

Ask her who the baby was supposed to be given to.

Daniel's face changed.

He suddenly understood.

Nadia hadn't simply taken him.

There had been a plan.

A plan involving both children.

And Miriam had witnessed it.

Daniel immediately called Amara.

"We need to find Miriam."

"Why?"

"Because she isn't just a witness."

"Then who is she?"

Daniel's voice dropped.

"She's the only person who knows what Nadia planned to do with both of us."

"Amara was speechless, but there was no way she was telling Daniel she had spoken to Miriam".

---

THE FINAL REVELATION

A car was parked across the street from Amara's house, Nadia sat silently.

Her phone rang.

She answered.

"Did they find Miriam?"

A voice replied:

"No."

Nadia exhaled.

"Good."

"But Daniel knows."

Nadia's expression hardened.

"And Amara?"

"She knows Daniel is her brother."

Nadia closed her eyes.

"Then we have very little time."

The caller asked:

"Should we leave?"

Nadia looked toward Amara's house.

"No."

She smiled faintly.

"Let them think they've discovered everything."

"Why?"

"Because they haven't."

Nadia ended the call.

Then she looked at an old photograph lying on the passenger seat.

It showed Miriam.

Daniel.

Baby Amara.

Nadia.

She folded the photograph and placed it inside her bag.

Then she looked toward the house.

Snaps her fingers,

We are getting Amara.

---

Amara stood beside her bedroom window.

Daniel was her brother.

Miriam was alive.

Favour had been receiving information from Miriam.

The unknown number belonged to someone who had witnessed that night and was secretly trying to protect them.

Miriam, 

A man.

And Nadia...

Nadia had lied about everything.

But one question remained.

Why did Nadia take Daniel away?

And why had Nadia spent seventeen years making sure Daniel never knew his biological mum and his baby sister?

The truth was finally coming out.

But the biggest secret had only just been uncovered.