Chapter 10: The Witness From The Hospital
I stared at the photograph in my hand.
A picture of Patricia holding newborn Lily.
A picture that should have been a happy memory.
Instead, it felt like a warning.
On the back, only one sentence was written.
*Ask who was in the hospital room the night she was born.*
Michael stood beside me.
“Who was there?””
I didn’t answer.
Because the memory came back instantly.
The hospital lights.
The cold room.
The sound of Lily crying for the first time.
And the one person I never talked about.
“My mother.””
Michael looked confused.
“Your mother?””
I nodded slowly.
“She was there.””
I sat on the edge of Lily’s bed.
“My mom knew everything.””
Michael frowned.
“Everything about what?””
I looked down.
“About Ethan leaving.””
The room went quiet.
“My mother was the last person who spoke to Ethan before he disappeared.””
Michael’s expression changed.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?””
“Because she asked me not to.””
“Why?””
I closed my eyes.
“Because she said she was protecting me.””
The next morning, I called my mother.
Her name was Linda.
She answered after three rings.
“Sarah?””
My voice shook.
“Mom, I need to ask you something.””
A pause.
“What happened?””
I looked at Michael standing across the room.
“He’s here with me.””
Another silence.
Then she whispered:
“Patricia finally told you?””
My blood ran cold.
“You knew?””
My mother sighed.
“I knew this day would come.””
I gripped the phone.
“What did you do?””
“I tried to help you.””
“No.””
My voice became sharper.
“You don’t get to say that. Everyone keeps saying they were helping me while making decisions behind my back.””
Michael looked at me.
He understood.
He had heard enough.
My mother was quiet.
“I made a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“I trusted Patricia.””
Those words shocked me.
My mother continued.
“After Lily was born, Ethan came to the hospital.””
I froze.
“What?””
“He wanted to see you.””
My heart pounded.
“But he never came.””
“He did.””
I sat down.
“Mom…”
“He stood outside your room for almost an hour.””
I covered my mouth.
“Why didn’t I know?””
“Because Patricia stopped him.””
Michael stepped closer.
“What did she do?””
My mother heard him.
“She told Ethan Sarah had chosen Michael.””
My eyes widened.
“That was a lie.””
“Yes.””
My mother’s voice cracked.
“She told him you wanted him gone.””
I felt sick.
All those years.
I thought he abandoned me.
But he had been standing outside that hospital room.
Waiting.
“Why didn’t you stop her?””
My mother cried softly.
“Because I believed her.””
I closed my eyes.
Everyone believed her.
That was Patricia’s greatest weapon.
She made people doubt each other.
After the call ended, Michael sat beside me.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked at him.
“For what?””
“For believing her.””
I didn’t answer.
Because forgiveness wasn’t something I could give in one moment.
Not after years of pain.
That afternoon, we went to meet Ethan again.
He looked at me before I even spoke.
“You know.””
I nodded.
“You came to the hospital.””
His eyes filled.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you fight harder?””
His face fell.
“I did.””
He reached into his bag.
“I kept this.””
He placed an old envelope on the table.
Inside were letters.
Letters addressed to me.
All dated seven years ago.
I stared.
“You wrote these?””
“Every week for months.””
“Then why didn’t I get them?””
He looked at me.
“Because Patricia intercepted them.””
My hands shook.
“How do you know?””
“Because one day she sent one back.””
He pulled out a copy.
On the top was my name.
But across the letter was a handwritten note.
*She doesn’t want to hear from you. Move on.*
I couldn’t speak.
Michael picked up the letter.
His face turned pale.
“She destroyed everything.””
Ethan nodded.
“She wanted Lily to belong to her family.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
Then my phone rang.
Rachel, our attorney.
I answered.
“Hello?””
Her voice was urgent.
“Sarah, you need to come here immediately.””
“What happened?””
She paused.
“We found the person who created the fake custody document.””
My heart raced.
“Who?””
May you like
Her answer was quiet.
“It wasn’t Patricia.””
