Chapter 10: The Daughter I Chose
The knocking came again.
Three slow knocks.
Emma grabbed my hand.
Not Rachel’s.
Mine.
And somehow, that hurt more than anything.
Because she wasn’t asking if I was her father.
She already knew the answer.
She was asking if I would still be.
I looked at the front door.
Then at my daughter.
No.
Not my daughter by blood.
But my daughter in every way that mattered.
I walked toward her.
“Emma.””
She looked up.
“Yeah?””
I knelt down.
“Do you remember the first time we met?””
She shook her head.
“You were too little.””
I smiled sadly.
“You were three months old when I held you for the first time.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Was that before you knew?””
I nodded.
“Yes.””
“Did you love me before?””
My throat tightened.
“Emma, I loved you before I knew anything.””
She stared at me.
“Then why did everyone lie?””
I looked toward Rachel.
Because that was the question none of us had wanted to answer.
Rachel stepped forward.
“I was scared.””
Emma looked at her.
“Of what?””
Rachel cried silently.
“That someone would take you away.””
A knock interrupted us.
This time louder.
I stood.
“Stay here.””
Rachel grabbed my arm.
“Don’t open it.””
I looked at her.
“We can’t hide forever.””
I approached the door.
But before I touched the handle, my phone buzzed.
Another message.
Unknown number.
*“You finally know the truth.””*
Then another message appeared.
*“Ask Rachel why she really married you.””*
I looked at my wife.
She saw my expression.
“What?””
I showed her the phone.
Her face went pale.
“No.””
“What does that mean?””
Rachel stepped backward.
“I never wanted this.””
“Wanted what?””
She looked at me.
“The truth coming out this way.””
The knocking stopped.
Then a voice came from outside.
“Rachel.””
Her entire body froze.
Daniel.
“I know you’re inside.””
Emma moved closer to me.
I put my arm around her.
Daniel continued.
“You can’t protect her forever.””
I opened the door.
Only a small amount.
Enough to see him.
Daniel stood on the porch.
No anger.
No panic.
Just confidence.
“You.””
He looked past me.
At Emma.
Then back at me.
“You have no idea what your father started.””
I stepped outside.
“Stay away from my family.””
Daniel smiled.
“Family.””
He laughed quietly.
“That’s the word everyone keeps using.””
“What do you want?””
“The truth.””
“You’ve been threatening us.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“I’ve been warning you.””
“You broke into my house.””
“I wanted you to find the letters.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
Daniel looked surprised.
“Rachel didn’t tell you?””
I turned.
Rachel looked terrified.
Daniel continued.
“She didn’t want you to know how she found Emma.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“How?””
Daniel looked directly at Rachel.
“Tell him.””
Rachel said nothing.
“Tell him you didn’t find a baby.””
Silence.
“Tell him you found a deal.””
I looked at Rachel.
“What is he talking about?””
Her lips trembled.
“I…”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Your wife didn’t just protect Emma.””
He paused.
“She agreed to keep her hidden.””
I turned to Rachel.
“Is that true?””
Rachel started crying.
“I didn’t know what else to do.””
My voice became quiet.
“What did you agree to?””
She looked at Emma.
Then at me.
“I agreed to marry you.””
The world stopped.
Emma looked confused.
Rachel whispered:
“Because your father believed you were the only person who could keep her safe.””
I stared at her.
“So our marriage…”
“No.””
She shook her head quickly.
“No.””
But tears were falling now.
“I fell in love with you.””
I couldn’t speak.
Because the worst part was…
I believed her.
Daniel stepped back.
“Now you understand.””
I looked at him.
“You’re not here for Emma.””
His expression changed.
“I’m here because your father destroyed my life.””
“And now?””
Daniel looked at Emma.
“Now I want what he stole.””
“What did he steal?””
Daniel smiled.
“Proof.””
“What proof?””
He looked at Rachel.
“She knows where it is.””
Rachel went completely still.
And I realized something.
May you like
There was one secret left.
The one nobody wanted to reveal.
