Chapter 8: The Choice She Never Told Me About
I waited until Richard was gone.
Then I turned to Emily.
“Why did you choose me?””
She looked confused.
“What?””
“His last words.””
Her face fell.
“Daniel…”
“No.””
My voice was quiet.
But firm.
“I need to know.””
Emily sat down.
Jason stayed near the door, silent.
For once, nobody interrupted.
“I met you when I was trying to escape my family,” she said.
I remembered.
Six years ago.
A coffee shop.
A woman sitting alone near the window.
A woman who smiled at me when I accidentally spilled coffee on her notebook.
She told me she loved my kindness.
She told me I made her feel safe.
But now I wondered.
Was that the truth?
Or was I just a hiding place?
“I wasn’t looking for someone to love,” Emily whispered.
My chest tightened.
“I was looking for somewhere to disappear.””
The honesty hurt.
“But then you became my home.””
I looked away.
“Don’t do that.””
“Do what?””
“Say beautiful things after destroying everything.””
Emily nodded slowly.
“You’re right.””
She didn’t fight.
That somehow made it worse.
“I did love you,” she said.
“Did?””
She looked down.
“I still do.””
I stayed silent.
Emily wiped her tears.
“When I found out I was pregnant, I was happy.””
I looked at her.
“You were?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you change?””
Her hands trembled.
“Because Richard found out.””
The room became colder.
“He came to my house.””
“When?””
“Two months before I gave birth.””
I stared at her.
“What did he say?””
Emily swallowed.
“He told me my baby would destroy him.””
Jason spoke quietly.
“He knew about the evidence.””
I looked at him.
“What evidence?””
Emily answered.
“My mother left a recording.””
I frowned.
“A recording?””
“She recorded a conversation with my father before she died.””
The pieces started connecting.
“She knew something would happen.””
Emily nodded.
“She was afraid.””
“Afraid of him?””
“Yes.””
I looked at my son.
“And he thinks the baby can expose him?””
Emily looked at the crib.
“He thinks my mother hid something with me.””
Jason added:
“Richard believes the child’s birth would force old secrets to come back.””
I shook my head.
“This still doesn’t explain why you wanted to give him away.””
Emily’s eyes filled with shame.
“Because Richard told me if I kept him, he would hurt everyone around me.””
My anger softened slightly.
Not disappeared.
But changed.
“You believed him?””
“I had spent my whole life believing him.””
That sentence stayed with me.
Because I finally understood something.
Emily wasn’t just hiding a secret.
She had been trapped by one.
A doctor walked in.
“Mr. Carter?””
I turned.
“Yes?””
“Your son’s tests are complete. He can go home today.””
I looked at my baby.
Home.
The word felt strange.
Where was home now?
The doctor left.
Emily stood.
“Daniel…”
I looked at her.
“I know I don’t deserve forgiveness.””
I didn’t answer.
“But please don’t let him take our son.””
I stared at her.
“Our son?””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
For the first time since everything started, I believed she meant it.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From an unknown number.
I opened it.
My blood ran cold.
A photo appeared.
It was a picture of my house.
Taken that morning.
Then another message came.
*You should have left the baby with Emily.*
I looked up.
Jason saw my face.
“What happened?””
I showed him the phone.
His expression changed instantly.
“He found your house.””
Emily whispered:
“No…”
May you like
Another message appeared.
*Now I’m coming for what belongs to me.*
