Chapter 6: The Secret From The Delivery Room
I didn’t open the folder until I got home.
Not because I didn’t want answers.
Because I was scared of what those answers might be.
Emily was sitting on the couch when I walked in.
Lily was sleeping beside her.
The house was quiet.
Peaceful.
Almost like the nightmare from yesterday had never happened.
But I knew better.
“James?””
Emily looked up.
“You look worried.””
I sat beside her.
My eyes went to the folder in my hand.
She noticed immediately.
“What is that?””
I took a breath.
“My mother gave it to me.””
Emily’s face changed.
“What’s inside?””
“I don’t know.””
She became still.
Then she whispered:
“Does it have something to do with Lily’s birth?””
My heart dropped.
“You know?””
Emily looked down.
For a moment, I saw fear in her eyes.
Not confusion.
Fear.
“Emily.””
She closed her eyes.
“I didn’t want you to know.””
My voice became quiet.
“Know what?””
She wiped away a tear.
“The night Lily was born…”
She stopped.
I waited.
“Emily.””
She looked at me.
“Your mother came to the hospital.””
I frowned.
“I know. She visited.””
“No.””
Her voice shook.
“She didn’t just visit.””
I felt cold.
“What happened?””
Emily looked toward Lily.
“She came into my room after delivery.””
“And?””
“She told me something.””
“What?””
Emily’s hands tightened around the blanket.
“She said if I wanted to keep your family together, I needed to follow her rules.””
I stared at her.
“She threatened you?””
Emily nodded.
“She said you would always choose her because she was your mother.””
My chest tightened.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Lily was born that night.””
Her voice broke.
“I had just become a mother. I was exhausted. I was scared. And your mother kept saying that if I caused problems, I would be the reason you lost your relationship with her.””
I reached for her hand.
“I’m sorry.””
She shook her head.
“There’s more.””
My body went still.
“What more?””
Emily looked toward the folder.
“She knows something about the delivery.””
“What?””
Emily swallowed.
“Something she’s been using against me.””
I opened the folder.
Inside were hospital documents.
Messages.
And a photograph.
A photograph of my mother standing outside Emily’s hospital room.
Taken at 2:13 AM.
The same night Lily was born.
On the back of the photo, my mother had written one sentence.
*“She will never tell James what really happened.””*
I looked at Emily.
“What happened at 2:13 AM?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
And before she could answer, my phone rang.
The caller ID appeared.
It was the hospital.
The nurse on the other end spoke quickly.
“Mr. Carter, we need to talk about your daughter’s birth records.””
I stood up.
“Why?””
The nurse hesitated.
“Because someone requested changes to the file.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who requested them?””
May you like
The nurse lowered her voice.
“Your mother.””
