Chapter 14: The Last Secret
I didn’t want to believe her.
Not anymore.
After everything my mother had done, I wanted every word from her to be a lie.
But one thing bothered me.
Emily’s reaction.
Because when my mother said there was more to Lily’s birth…
Emily looked afraid.
Not angry.
Afraid.
That night, after Lily was asleep, I sat beside Emily.
“We need to talk.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
She already knew what I meant.
“The night Lily was born.””
Emily looked down.
“I should have told you.””
I waited.
She took a deep breath.
“When I went into labor, your mother arrived before you did.””
I frowned.
“I was there.””
“Not at first.””
She looked at her hands.
“The first hour, when I was in pain and scared, she was the only person there.””
My heart hurt.
Because I remembered being stuck in traffic after getting called from work.
“I’m sorry.””
“Don’t.””
Emily shook her head.
“You came as fast as you could.””
She paused.
“But your mother said something.””
“What?””
“She said if I loved you, I would give her control.””
I felt sick.
“What control?””
Emily looked toward Lily’s room.
“She wanted to be the person who made decisions for the baby.””
I shook my head.
“She couldn’t.””
“I told her no.””
Emily’s voice became quieter.
“And then she told me something.””
I waited.
“She said she knew something about my past.””
My eyebrows pulled together.
“My past?””
Emily nodded.
“She said she knew about my first pregnancy.””
I froze.
“What first pregnancy?””
Emily began crying.
“I was nineteen.””
I sat completely still.
“I had a baby before.””
The room felt silent.
“What?””
Emily looked at me.
“She was stillborn.””
My heart broke.
“Emily…”
“I never told anyone.””
“Why?””
She wiped her tears.
“Because it was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced.””
I understood.
Not because I had lived it.
But because I could see the pain on her face.
“Your mother found out somehow.””
“How?””
“I don’t know.””
Emily looked down.
“She used it against me.””
My stomach turned.
“What did she say?””
“She told me maybe I wasn’t meant to be a mother.””
I felt something inside me break.
Nobody should ever say that to someone.
Especially not someone who had already suffered a loss.
“She said Lily needed someone stronger.””
I took Emily’s hand.
“You are strong.””
Emily cried.
“I was scared you would think the same thing.””
“Emily.””
She looked at me.
“I could never think that.””
A long silence passed.
Then she whispered:
“There’s something else.””
My heart sank.
“What?””
“When I lost my first baby…”
She took a shaky breath.
“Your mother was there.””
I froze.
“What?””
Emily nodded.
“She was my neighbor’s friend back then.””
The room went cold.
“She knew me before I knew you.””
I stood.
“That’s impossible.””
Emily shook her head.
“She recognized my name when you introduced us.””
My mind raced.
All this time, I thought my mother met Emily because of me.
But maybe she didn’t.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I didn’t understand it.””
Emily looked terrified.
“But after everything she did…”
She whispered:
“I think your mother chose me.””
I stared at her.
“What do you mean?””
Emily’s eyes filled with tears.
“She didn’t just dislike me.””
A pause.
“She targeted me.””
My phone buzzed.
A message.
From my mother.
May you like
Only four words.
*Now you understand why.*
