Chapter 9: The Friend Who Betrayed Me
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
My best friend.
The person who had held my hand during pregnancy.
The person who brought me food when I was too exhausted to cook.
The person who cried with me when I was afraid I wasn’t a good mother.
No.
It couldn’t be.
“That’s impossible.””
Lauren looked at me sadly.
“I wish it was.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
James squeezed my hand.
“Claire.””
I looked at him.
“You don’t understand. She was there for everything.””
Lauren’s voice was quiet.
“Sometimes the people closest to you know the most.””
I stared at the paper.
The handwriting.
The questions.
The information.
Someone had known details about my life.
Details only a few people knew.
My pregnancy appointments.
My fears.
My struggles.
I looked at my mother.
“Who contacted Evelyn?””
She looked terrified.
“I don’t know.””
“Who knew about my hospital?””
Nobody answered.
Then Dad slowly spoke.
“Your friend did.””
I turned toward him.
“What?””
Dad looked uncomfortable.
“She visited the hospital after Emma was born.””
“Everyone visited.””
“She asked questions.””
“What kind of questions?””
Dad hesitated.
“Questions about your recovery.””
My stomach dropped.
“What questions?””
He looked at James.
“She asked whether Claire was sleeping. Whether she seemed overwhelmed. Whether doctors were worried.””
The room spun.
Those were the same things Lauren had written.
The same accusations.
The same concerns.
I felt sick.
“She was collecting information.””
James nodded.
“It looks like it.””
I stepped away.
“No.””
Everyone looked at me.
“I refuse to believe that.””
Because believing Lauren was one thing.
But believing my best friend had betrayed me?
That felt impossible.
My phone suddenly rang.
The sound echoed through the silent room.
I looked down.
Her name appeared on the screen.
The timing was terrifying.
Nobody moved.
James looked at me.
“Answer it.””
My hands shook as I accepted the call.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then a voice.
“Claire?””
I closed my eyes.
It was her.
My best friend.
“Where are you?””
Her voice sounded nervous.
“I need to talk to you.””
“About what?””
Another pause.
Then she whispered:
“About Emma.””
My entire body went cold.
“What about my daughter?””
“I should have told you earlier.””
My heart raced.
“Told me what?””
I looked around the room.
Everyone was watching me.
The voice on the phone trembled.
“Claire, your sister isn’t the only person who was trying to protect Emma.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“She was trying to protect her from someone.””
I gripped the phone tighter.
“Who?””
My friend went silent.
Then she said:
“The person who has been watching Emma…”
I waited.
“Is someone in your family.””
The call suddenly ended.
I stared at the phone.
Nobody spoke.
May you like
Then slowly…
everyone turned toward my parents.
