Chapter 11: My Mother's Betrayal
The back door stood open.
Cold air rushed through the kitchen.
But I couldn't move.
I stared at my mother.
"What did you do?""
She looked toward the hallway.
"Emily, we don't have time.""
"Tell me.""
"Your father asked me to protect you.""
"And you betrayed him?""
"I made a choice.""
"What choice?""
Another crash came from the front room.
Daniel's voice echoed through the house.
"Emily, your mother has been lying to you for twenty years!""
My mother grabbed my shoulders.
"Listen to me.""
Her hands were trembling.
"I loved your father.""
"I know.""
"But when he discovered Daniel's fraud, he wanted to go to the police.""
"Why didn't he?""
"Because Daniel threatened to expose you.""
I swallowed.
"What did he threaten?""
"He had photographs.""
My stomach dropped.
"What kind?""
"Photographs of you with Michael.""
I stared.
"The night Lily was conceived.""
My mother nodded.
"Daniel knew Michael was the father.""
"Then why did he stay with me?""
"Because he believed Lily gave him leverage.""
I felt sick.
"He wanted my daughter.""
"He wanted your father's trust.""
The front door slammed.
Daniel shouted, "Emily!""
My mother pulled me toward the back exit.
"We have to go.""
We stepped into the yard.
But a man was already standing beside the gate.
Daniel.
His suit was wrinkled.
His tie was gone.
His face looked nothing like the polished businessman I'd married.
He looked exhausted.
Desperate.
Dangerous.
Two men stood behind him.
Daniel smiled.
"You always were predictable.""
My mother stepped in front of me.
"Leave her alone.""
Daniel laughed.
"You've been hiding her for twenty years.""
"Because you were going to destroy her.""
"I was going to protect my family.""
I stared at him.
"Your family?""
He looked at me.
"Yes.""
"You kidnapped my daughter.""
"I protected Lily.""
"You stole another child.""
His smile disappeared.
"Claire was never supposed to know.""
"She has the right to know who she is.""
Daniel's eyes hardened.
"And you have no idea what happens if she does.""
My mother whispered, "He's bluffing.""
Daniel looked at her.
"Am I?""
He pulled a folded document from his jacket.
"Ask her what happened the night your father died.""
I looked at my mother.
She closed her eyes.
"Mom?""
Daniel smiled.
"Go ahead.""
My mother began to cry.
"Your father knew Daniel was going to be arrested.""
"Then why wasn't he?""
"Because...""
She couldn't finish.
Daniel answered for her.
"Because your mother helped me.""
I felt something break inside me.
"How?""
My mother finally spoke.
"Daniel came to me that night.""
"Why?""
"He said if I didn't cooperate, he would kill you.""
"What did he want?""
"The ledger.""
I looked at the black book still clutched in my hand.
"You gave it to him?""
"No.""
She shook her head.
"I gave him a copy.""
Daniel's smile vanished.
My mother continued.
"Your father had already moved the original.""
"Where?""
"With Michael.""
I looked toward the gate.
Daniel's face had gone pale.
"Where is it?"" he demanded.
My mother stood taller.
"I never knew.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"You expect me to believe that?""
"Yes.""
He looked at me.
"Your mother has spent twenty years protecting a man who betrayed her.""
I shook my head.
"My father didn't betray her.""
Daniel laughed.
"He lied to everyone.""
My mother suddenly screamed.
"Because I asked him to!""
Everyone froze.
She looked at me.
"I asked your father to tell the world I was dead.""
"Why?""
"Because I was pregnant.""
My breath stopped.
Daniel stared at her.
My mother whispered:
"I was carrying your father's child.""
I shook my head.
"You were pregnant?""
"Yes.""
"Then where is the child?""
My mother looked at Daniel.
"He took her.""
Daniel's face changed.
My mother pointed at him.
"Daniel took my daughter the night she was born.""
I couldn't breathe.
"You mean...""
My mother nodded.
"Claire.""
Daniel stepped backward.
"No.""
My mother cried.
"Rachel wasn't Claire's mother.""
I stared at her.
"Then who was?""
My mother looked at me.
"I was.""
Silence.
The woman Daniel had called a stranger.
The woman who had been searching for her identity.
The girl I had just discovered was my sister.
Was my mother's daughter.
And Daniel had stolen her.
But before anyone could speak, police sirens erupted outside.
Daniel turned toward the road.
My mother whispered:
"Your father finally kept his promise.""
I looked at her.
"What promise?""
She pointed at the ledger.
"The original isn't with Michael.""
"Then where is it?""
May you like
Her eyes filled with tears.
"It's already in court.""
