Chapter 6: The Door That Opened The Past
The phone kept ringing.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
The name on the screen seemed impossible.
*Richard Hale.*
Emily’s father.
The man she claimed was gone.
The man she had spent years pretending didn’t exist.
I looked at her.
“You told me he was dead.””
Emily’s lips trembled.
“I know.””
“Why?””
She couldn’t answer.
The ringing stopped.
Then immediately started again.
Jason stepped forward.
“Don’t answer.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because he wants to know where you are.””
The words sent a chill through me.
“He’s been looking for us?””
Jason nodded.
“For months.””
Emily covered her mouth.
“I thought I got away.””
I stared at her.
“You thought?””
She looked at me.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“No.””
My voice came out colder than I expected.
“You were trying to control what I knew.””
She looked hurt.
But I didn’t apologize.
Not anymore.
Too many secrets had been buried while I was building a life based on lies.
The baby monitor suddenly made a louder sound.
Our son stirred.
Immediately, every argument disappeared.
Emily rushed toward him.
Then stopped.
Her hand hovered above the crib.
She still couldn’t touch him.
I noticed.
And I hated that I noticed.
Because despite everything, a part of me still wanted to understand.
I picked up my son.
He calmed instantly against my chest.
Emily watched quietly.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
I didn’t answer.
“Daniel, I know I destroyed everything.””
I looked at her.
“Did you ever plan to tell me?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I tried.””
“When?””
“The night before he was born.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Emily looked down.
“I was going to tell you everything.””
“But you didn’t.””
“No.””
“Why?””
She swallowed.
“Because Jason disappeared.””
I looked at him.
Jason looked away.
“I received the threat that night,” he admitted.
Emily continued.
“I thought I had lost everyone.””
Her voice became smaller.
“And then I looked at you sleeping beside me, and I realized I was about to destroy the only person who still believed in me.””
I held my son tighter.
“So you chose silence.””
“Yes.””
A knock interrupted us.
Everyone turned.
A man stood outside the hospital room.
Older.
Tall.
Wearing a dark coat.
His eyes moved from Emily to Jason.
Then to my son.
I knew immediately.
Richard Hale.
Emily stepped backward.
“No…”
The man smiled slightly.
“Hello, Emily.””
Her face went pale.
“How did you find me?””
Richard ignored the question.
Instead, he looked at me.
“You must be Daniel.””
I didn’t respond.
He walked closer.
“I’ve wanted to meet you.””
I tightened my grip on my son.
“Why?””
Richard’s smile disappeared.
“Because you have something that belongs to my family.””
The room went silent.
Emily grabbed my arm.
“Daniel, don’t listen to him.””
Richard looked at her.
“You still haven’t told him, have you?””
My heart sank.
“Told me what?””
Richard stepped closer.
And with one sentence, he revealed the secret Emily had spent her entire life hiding.
“The baby you’re protecting isn’t just your son.””
May you like
He looked directly at Emily.
“He’s the reason your mother died.””
