Chapter 11: The Family Secret
I stared at the photograph on my phone.
The document was blurry, but one thing was clear.
My mother’s name was there.
I felt like I was falling through the floor.
My mother.
The woman who held my hand when Lily was born.
The woman who told me I was lucky to have Mark.
The woman who always said family came first.
How long had she known?
“Chloe?””
Zoe’s voice brought me back.
I looked up.
She was standing beside me.
“What happened?””
I handed her the phone.
She read the message.
Then her face changed.
“She knew.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Chloe.””
“No.””
I grabbed my jacket.
“I need to talk to her.””
Mark stood.
“Chloe, wait.””
I turned.
“You don’t get to tell me to wait anymore.””
He stopped.
Because he knew I was right.
I drove to my mother’s house with Zoe beside me.
Neither of us spoke.
There were too many questions.
Too many possibilities.
When we arrived, my mother opened the door with a smile.
That smile disappeared the moment she saw my face.
“What happened?””
I walked inside.
“You tell me.””
Her expression changed.
“What?””
I held up my phone.
“Why do you have Lily’s DNA test?””
The color drained from her face.
That was all the answer I needed.
“You knew.””
My mother sat down.
“Chloe…”
“No.””
My voice shook.
“Not another lie.””
She covered her mouth.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Protect me from what?””
She looked toward Zoe.
Then back at me.
“From losing your family.””
I stared.
“You let me live a lie for five years.””
“I thought it was better.””
“Better?””
My voice rose.
“Better than knowing my own daughter’s father existed?””
My mother started crying.
“I was scared.””
“Everyone was scared.””
I stepped closer.
“But somehow everyone’s fear mattered except mine.””
She looked down.
“Your life was already falling apart.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You decided what my life should be.””
Silence.
Then Zoe asked:
“When did you find out?””
My mother looked at her.
“Before Lily was born.””
I closed my eyes.
Another person.
Another betrayal.
“How?””
She hesitated.
“Ethan came to me.””
My heart tightened.
“He did?””
“Yes.””
“What did he say?””
She looked ashamed.
“He wanted to talk to Chloe.””
“And you stopped him?””
“I thought he would hurt you.””
“He loved me.””
“I didn’t know that.””
I stared at her.
“You didn’t know. So you chose.””
She cried harder.
“I made a mistake.””
I looked around the house I grew up in.
The place where I thought I was safe.
Now it felt like another room full of secrets.
“Where is the test?””
My mother didn’t answer.
“Mom.””
She whispered:
“I gave it to Mark.””
I froze.
“What?””
“He said he needed it.””
“Why?””
She looked terrified.
“Because he said he needed proof in case you ever tried to leave.””
My chest tightened.
“He planned this from the beginning.””
My mother looked away.
“Not from the beginning.””
“What does that mean?””
She swallowed.
“Mark didn’t want custody because he hated you.””
I waited.
“He wanted custody because someone convinced him you were going to take Lily away from him.””
“Who?””
My mother’s eyes filled with fear.
“Megan.””
I felt a chill.
Again.
Megan.
Always Megan.
But something still didn’t make sense.
“Why would Megan do this?””
My mother looked at me.
And whispered:
“Because she was protecting her own secret.””
“What secret?””
Before she could answer, there was a knock at the door.
Everyone froze.
My mother looked toward it.
Her face went pale.
“No.””
I frowned.
“Who is it?””
She whispered:
“She shouldn’t be here.””
May you like
The door opened before anyone answered.
And Megan walked inside.
