Chapter 9: The Woman Behind the Voice

For a moment, nobody moved.

The house was silent.

Too silent.

I stared at my phone.

The call had ended.

But the woman’s words stayed.

*“She’s not the child you think she is.””*

I looked at Daniel.

“What does that mean?””

He didn’t answer.

I looked at Rebecca.

She was crying.

But not from fear.

From guilt.

And that scared me more.

“Rebecca.””

She slowly looked up.

“Tell me.””

Her lips trembled.

“I can explain.””

“I don’t want an explanation.””

I stepped closer.

“I want the truth.””

She covered her face.

“I was going to tell you.””

“When?””

She had no answer.

“After Lily disappeared?””

“No.””

“After I found the room?””

Silence.

“After someone else forced you?””

Her tears fell.

“I was scared.””

I shook my head.

“You keep saying that.””

Because suddenly I understood.

Fear wasn’t the only thing driving her.

It was shame.

And secrets.

Too many secrets.

Daniel walked to the window.

“We need to find out who has her.””

I looked at him.

“You know who that woman is.””

His shoulders tightened.

“I have an idea.””

“Who?””

He hesitated.

Then said:

“Her name is Claire.””

Rebecca went completely still.

“No.””

I turned.

“You know her?””

Rebecca whispered:

“She’s dead.””

Nobody spoke.

Daniel looked at her.

“She’s not.””

I felt a cold wave move through me.

“What is happening?””

Daniel turned.

“Claire was involved before the accident.””

“How?””

Rebecca sat down.

“She was my friend.””

I stared.

“Your friend?””

She nodded.

“We worked together years ago.””

“What does she want with Lily?””

Rebecca looked terrified.

“She knows the truth.””

“What truth?””

Rebecca looked at me.

“The truth about Lily’s birth.””

I froze.

“What?””

Daniel looked away.

I felt like the room was spinning.

“My daughter’s birth?””

Rebecca nodded slowly.

“There’s something you don’t know.””

I laughed.

A broken sound.

“Apparently there are a lot of things I don’t know.””

She grabbed my hand.

I pulled away.

“Adam…”

“No.””

I looked at her.

“Not until you tell me everything.””

She took a deep breath.

“Lily wasn’t supposed to be born.””

The sentence hit me harder than anything else.

“What does that mean?””

Rebecca looked down.

“When I was pregnant, doctors told me there were complications.””

I frowned.

“I know.””

“No.””

Her voice shook.

“You don’t know everything.””

Daniel stepped closer.

“Claire helped her.””

“Helped her with what?””

Rebecca whispered:

“Keeping Lily.””

I stared.

“Why would anyone need permission to keep their own child?””

Rebecca looked at me.

“Because Lily wasn’t just my child.””

My blood turned cold.

“What are you saying?””

Before she could answer, the front door opened.

Everyone turned.

A woman stood there.

Older.

Dark hair.

A familiar face.

She looked directly at me.

Then at Rebecca.

And said:

“I’m sorry it took this long, Adam.””

Rebecca stood frozen.

“Claire…”

The woman stepped inside.

Her eyes filled with sadness.

“Your wife has spent six years lying to you.””

I moved in front of the hallway instinctively.

“Where is my daughter?””

Claire looked at me.

“She’s with someone who knows who she really is.””

My voice became sharp.

“Who?””

Claire hesitated.

May you like

I Raised Her for Twelve Years—But at Graduation, She Called Another Man...

"Don't touch me! You're not my real dad!"" My stepdaughter screamed those words in front of hundreds of people. And the worst pa...

My Mother Stole the Wedding Dress I Spent Six Months Sewing for My Eye S...

“Stop crying, Olivia. A real designer could make another dress from scraps.”” My mother said those words while my sister stood in...

My Husband Brought His Pregnant Mistress to My Baby Shower—Then His Fath...

At 1:59 p.m., I was lying on the floor of my own baby shower, eight months pregnant, surrounded by shattered glass and crushed cup...

Then whispered:

“Her biological father.””