At the time, Second Mrs. Valentine was having a medical emergency, so Iris Weldon went to find a doctor, leaving Riley Perry and the second wife's child in the hospital room. By the time Iris Weldon finally tracked down a doctor and returned, only the second wife and her daughter were left. Riley Perry was gone.
Of course, back then, Riley Perry wasn't called Riley Perry. She was Cheryl Valentine, with the nickname Claire.
Iris Weldon searched for her daughter like a woman possessed, but once a child is lost, they aren't easily found. The kidnapper was eventually caught. He confessed that after snatching the child, he'd intended to sell her for a quick profit, but something unexpected happened, and he lost her.
Somehow, Riley Perry ended up in Norgate, where she was found by Patrick Perry. He and his wife had been married for over a year and were childless, so they decided to adopt her.
