Chapter 11: The Letter From My Father
I drove to Rachel’s house immediately.
I didn’t care about traffic.
I didn’t care about the questions waiting for me.
I needed answers.
My father had spent seven years smiling at family dinners.
Seven years calling Ava his little princess.
Seven years pretending he had never been part of the darkest night of my life.
When I arrived, Ava ran toward me.
“Mommy!””
I dropped to my knees and hugged her.
Her small arms wrapped around my neck.
For a moment, everything else disappeared.
Then she whispered:
“Are you and Daddy getting divorced?””
My heart cracked.
“Why do you ask that?””
“Because Daddy looked sad.””
I held her tighter.
“Adults sometimes make mistakes.””
“Is it because of me?””
I pulled back.
“Never.””
Her eyes searched mine.
“You promise?””
“I promise.””
After she went back inside, Rachel handed me the envelope.
“He left this.””
I stared at my father’s handwriting.
My fingers shook.
I opened it.
The letter was only two pages.
But every sentence felt like another piece of my childhood breaking.
*Lauren,*
*If you are reading this, then the truth has finally reached you.*
*I know you will hate me. You have every right.*
I stopped reading for a second.
Then continued.
*The night Ava was born was not supposed to become what it became.*
*I went to the hospital because I discovered what the doctor was doing.*
*I wanted to stop him.*
My eyebrows tightened.
That was not what everyone had told me.
*But when I arrived, the situation had already changed. Claire’s baby was suffering. The doctor was trying to hide his mistake.*
I looked up.
Rachel watched me.
“What?””
I handed her the letter.
She read silently.
Then looked shocked.
I continued.
*I made the worst decision of my life. I chose reputation over honesty.*
*I helped cover up the investigation because I was afraid of what would happen to everyone involved.*
My hands tightened around the paper.
*But I never wanted Ava harmed.*
A tear fell onto the page.
Not because I forgave him.
Because I remembered him holding Ava.
Maybe some people could love you and still destroy you.
The letter continued.
*The person who knew the most was Melissa.*
I stopped.
Again.
Melissa.
*She discovered the records were altered. She tried to expose everything. But before she could, someone threatened her.*
My heart raced.
*Lauren, Melissa did not leave because she betrayed you. She left because she was protecting you.*
I looked at Rachel.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?””
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
I kept reading.
The final lines made my blood run cold.
*There is one thing I never told anyone.*
*The person who ordered the changes was not the doctor.*
*It was someone inside our family.*
The room became silent.
I looked at Rachel.
“Who?””
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A message.
*Your father finally told you his version. Ask him who signed the original order.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
*Ask your husband why he kept the second envelope.*
My heart stopped.
Second envelope?
I looked at Ethan’s name in my contacts.
Then I remembered.
When we were in the storage unit, he had looked at something before I saw the photograph.
Something he quickly hid.
I called him.
He answered immediately.
“Lauren?””
“Where is the second envelope?””
Silence.
Long silence.
Then:
“How did you know about that?””
I closed my eyes.
Because his answer told me everything.
“You had another secret.””
“Lauren, please listen.””
“No.””
My voice became cold.
“I’m done listening.””
“Where is it?””
He didn’t answer.
“Ethan.””
Finally, he whispered:
“I have it.””
“Why?””
Another pause.
May you like
Then he said:
“Because your father gave it to me seven years ago.””
