Chapter 6: The Truth About That Night
I couldn’t speak.
The words repeated inside my head.
The night we lost Emily.
I was right there.
I had been alive.
I had grown up.
So what did that mean?
Lost how?
My father took the phone from my hand.
“Ethan, where did you find this?””
“In the box you gave me.””
Robert closed his eyes.
“What box?””
“The one labeled with Emily’s birth date.””
I stared at my father.
“You gave Ethan my records?””
He didn’t answer.
And once again, that silence told me everything.
“You knew this would happen.””
“No,” he said quickly.
“I knew I couldn’t hide it forever.””
I stepped back.
“You all keep saying that.””
My voice cracked.
“But you all still hid it.””
Nobody argued.
Because they couldn’t.
The truth was standing right in front of them.
My entire family had built walls around me.
And now those walls were falling.
Patricia slowly sat down.
“I need to tell you about that night.””
I looked at her.
“The night I was born?””
She nodded.
“The night everything changed.””
My father looked at her.
“Are you sure?””
Patricia wiped her face.
“No more lies.””
For the first time, I believed she meant it.
She looked at me.
“Your mother and Daniel were together before she met Robert.””
I nodded slowly.
“I know.””
“But when your mother found out she was pregnant, Daniel panicked.””
My eyebrows pulled together.
“Why?””
“Because his family wanted him to marry someone else.””
I frowned.
“That doesn’t explain anything.””
Patricia swallowed.
“Daniel was scared of losing everything.””
My father’s jaw tightened.
“He wasn’t scared. He was selfish.””
I looked at him.
“You hated him.””
Robert looked down.
“I hated what he did.””
“What did he do?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Patricia whispered:
“He tried to take you.””
The room went completely still.
“What?””
“After you were born, Daniel came to the hospital.””
I felt my heartbeat in my ears.
“He wanted custody.””
My father continued quietly.
“Your mother refused.””
“Then what happened?””
Patricia looked at the floor.
“There was an argument.””
“Between who?””
“Your mother and Daniel.””
“And?””
She hesitated.
“And Daniel threatened to tell everyone that Robert wasn’t your biological father.””
I felt numb.
“Why?””
“Because he believed Robert had stolen his place.””
My father looked away.
“He said if he couldn’t have you, nobody would.””
I covered my mouth.
That didn’t sound like the man my mother loved.
But then again…
How much did I really know about anyone?
Patricia continued.
“That was when your mother made the decision.””
“What decision?””
“To protect you.””
I waited.
“She changed your records.””
My eyes widened.
“What?””
My father stepped forward.
“Emily—”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“Let her finish.””
Patricia looked at me.
“Your mother made it appear that Robert was your biological father.””
The room was silent.
“She did it because she was afraid Daniel would take you.””
I looked at my father.
“And you agreed?””
“Yes.””
The answer came immediately.
No hesitation.
“I agreed because I loved you.””
My eyes filled with tears.
For a moment, I hated him.
Then I remembered every night he stayed awake when I was sick.
Every school event he attended.
Every time he told me I mattered.
Love and betrayal existed in the same place.
And that was the hardest thing to accept.
Then my phone buzzed again.
A new message.
Unknown number.
My hands shook as I opened it.
One sentence appeared.
Your father told you the story he wanted you to hear.
I looked up.
“Who is this?””
Another message arrived.
Ask Patricia what happened after your mother died.
I turned slowly.
Everyone was watching me.
Patricia’s face had gone completely pale.
Because she knew.
May you like
Whoever was texting me…
knew the part they were still hiding.
