Chapter 4: The Signature That Betrayed Me
I stared at the signature at the bottom of the letter until the words stopped looking real.
My fingers tightened around the paper.
Because I knew that handwriting.
I had seen it on birthday cards.
On school forms.
On permission slips when I was younger.
My father’s signature.
For several seconds, I couldn’t move.
The noise of the ceremony faded around me.
The applause.
The conversations.
The footsteps.
Everything disappeared.
Captain Williams noticed my expression.
“Cadet Kade?””
I folded the letter quickly.
“Nothing, sir.””
He studied me.
“You’re a terrible liar.””
I almost smiled.
Almost.
But my chest felt too heavy.
Major General Hayes stepped closer.
“Emily, you need to understand something.””
I looked at him.
“The request was submitted privately yesterday evening.””
My stomach turned.
“What request?””
He hesitated.
“A request to change your speaking position.””
I looked down at the letter again.
“Change?””
“Yes.””
My voice became quieter.
“To who?””
The commandant didn’t answer immediately.
He didn’t need to.
I already knew.
“Chloe.””
The name felt strange coming out of my mouth.
Major General Hayes nodded.
“The request claimed there was a family issue and that another cadet should represent your class.””
I closed my eyes.
A family issue.
That was what he called me?
An issue?
Captain Williams looked angry.
Not at me.
At the situation.
“Did you approve it?””
“No,” Major General Hayes said firmly.
He looked at me.
“Because your record speaks for itself.””
I swallowed.
“Why show me this?””
“Because you deserve to know.””
I looked toward the ceremony hall.
My father was still sitting there.
Watching.
Probably wondering why I looked so different.
But he had no idea.
He thought he had just taken away a seat.
He didn’t realize he had tried to take away my voice.
After the ceremony ended, people surrounded me.
Officers congratulated me.
Classmates hugged me.
Pictures were taken.
Everyone was celebrating.
Everyone except the three people who were supposed to be closest to me.
My father approached when the crowd finally disappeared.
“Can we talk?””
I looked at him.
The old version of me would have said yes immediately.
The old version of me would have hoped.
But that person was gone.
“About what?””
He glanced around.
“Not here.””
“Why?””
His face tightened.
“Because this is embarrassing.””
I laughed softly.
“You’re worried about embarrassment?””
He looked hurt.
“I made a mistake.””
“No.””
The word came out before I could stop it.
He froze.
“No?””
I shook my head.
“A mistake is forgetting something.””
I held up the letter.
“This was a decision.””
His expression changed.
He recognized the paper.
“Where did you get that?””
“So you know what it is.””
Silence.
That was my answer.
My father looked down.
“I was trying to help Chloe.””
“By removing me?””
“No.””
“Then explain.””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
For the first time, my father had no explanation.
Diane stepped forward.
“Emily, you’re being dramatic.””
I looked at her.
“Did you know?””
She looked away.
That was enough.
I nodded slowly.
“Both of you.””
My father lowered his voice.
“Your sister needed an opportunity.””
I stared at him.
“I needed my father.””
The sentence hit harder than I expected.
His face changed.
Just for a moment.
A small crack.
But it disappeared quickly.
“I didn’t know it meant that much.””
And there it was.
The truth.
Not that he hated me.
Not that he wanted me to fail.
Something worse.
He simply never paid enough attention to know.
I handed the letter back to him.
“Congratulations.””
He looked confused.
“For what?””
“For finally finding out who your daughter is.””
Then I walked away.
That night, I stayed in my academy room instead of going home.
I sat beside the window, still wearing my uniform.
My phone kept lighting up.
Messages from classmates.
From instructors.
From people congratulating me.
But one message stopped me.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
There was only one sentence.
“I know what your father did, and I know why he did it.””
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
“Your family has been hiding something from you since before you entered the academy.””
My heartbeat changed.
A third message arrived.
And this time, there was a name attached.
May you like
A name I hadn’t heard in years.
My mother.
