Chapter 13: The Secret From The Hospital
I couldn’t speak.
Daniel’s words repeated in my mind.
She may have tried to make sure Mia was never part of our family.
Never part of our family.
My daughter.
The little girl Patricia had looked at with disgust.
The little girl she refused to call her granddaughter.
Suddenly, every cruel comment had a deeper meaning.
Every cold look.
Every moment she avoided Mia.
It wasn’t just hatred.
It was something planned.
“Daniel,” I said slowly, “what are you talking about?””
His breathing was heavy.
“I found old messages between my mother and someone at the hospital.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What messages?””
“I don’t know everything yet.””
“Then tell me what you know.””
There was a pause.
“She tried to interfere after Mia was born.””
My heart raced.
“Interfere how?””
Daniel’s voice became quieter.
“She wanted to convince me that Mia wasn’t really my daughter.””
The world seemed to stop.
I sat down on the porch steps.
“What?””
“She questioned everything.””
I closed my eyes.
Mia’s face appeared in my mind.
Her smile.
Her laugh.
The way she looked exactly like me when she was happy.
Daniel continued.
“My mother told me I should get a test.””
“You did?””
“No.””
The answer surprised me.
“Why?””
“Because I knew Mia was mine.””
For the first time in days, I heard something from Daniel that sounded like the man I used to know.
But it wasn’t enough.
Not anymore.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I thought it was just my mother being difficult.””
I laughed sadly.
“You always thought everything was just your mother being difficult.””
Silence.
“And every time, Mia paid the price.””
After the call ended, I went straight to Olivia.
When I explained everything, her expression became serious.
“We need those hospital records.””
“Can we get them?””
“If they exist, yes.””
The next few days moved quickly.
For the first time, I stopped feeling trapped.
I wasn’t chasing answers anymore.
I was uncovering them.
Then Olivia called.
“Emma, I found something.””
I held my breath.
“What?””
“The hospital contacted me.””
“And?””
“There was an incident report from the day Mia was born.””
My heart pounded.
“What kind of incident?””
She hesitated.
“Someone attempted to remove your name from some of the paperwork.””
My hands went cold.
“Someone?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
A pause.
Then:
“Patricia.””
I felt sick.
“What?””
“She came to the hospital after Mia was born.””
I remembered that day.
I remembered being exhausted.
Holding my newborn daughter.
Daniel crying when he saw her.
Patricia standing in the corner.
Silent.
I thought she was overwhelmed.
I thought she needed time.
I never imagined she was plotting.
“What did she try to do?””
Olivia looked through her notes.
“She tried to claim there was confusion with the records.””
“Why?””
“To create doubt.””
I covered my mouth.
She had tried to erase my daughter before Mia even came home.
That night, I sat beside Mia’s bed.
She was sleeping peacefully.
Completely unaware of the war happening around her.
I brushed a curl away from her face.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
Not because she needed an apology.
Because I did.
I was sorry I spent years trying to convince people to love someone who was already perfect.
The next morning, I received a message.
From Patricia.
*We need to talk. Alone.*
I showed Olivia.
She immediately shook her head.
“No.””
“I need answers.””
“Not alone.””
I agreed to meet at a public place.
When Patricia arrived, she looked different.
Not angry.
Worried.
She sat across from me.
“You’ve been digging.””
I stared at her.
“You tried to erase my daughter.””
Her face hardened.
“I never said that.””
“You don’t have to.””
I placed copies of the hospital records on the table.
Her expression changed.
For the first time, Patricia looked afraid.
“You don’t understand what happened.””
“No.””
I leaned forward.
“I understand exactly what happened.””
She looked away.
Then she whispered:
“You were never supposed to find those records.””
A chill went through me.
“Why?””
She looked back at me.
And for the first time, she told the truth.
“Because if you found out everything, Daniel would never forgive me.””
I stared.
“What did you do?””
Patricia’s hands trembled.
May you like
Then she said:
“I made a deal.””
