Chapter 9: The Brother My Mother Feared
I couldn’t breathe.
The accusation hung in the air.
Daniel.
My uncle.
The man who claimed he spent twenty-three years regretting losing my mother.
The man who said he tried to protect me.
The man who brought us the documents.
Now Dr. Hayes was saying he was part of it.
Gabriel turned toward Daniel.
“Is that true?””
Daniel looked frozen.
“No.””
One word.
Quiet.
Broken.
But not convincing.
I stared at him.
“Tell me.””
Daniel’s eyes met mine.
“I didn’t hurt your mother.””
“That’s not what he said.””
“I know.””
“Then explain.””
Daniel looked at Dr. Hayes.
“You’re lying.””
The doctor looked devastated.
“I wish I was.””
Gabriel stepped between them.
“Everyone stops talking around the truth.””
His voice was firm.
“Daniel. Start.””
My uncle sat down.
For the first time, he looked old.
“I made a mistake.””
My heart sank.
“What mistake?””
He rubbed his hands together.
“I thought I was helping.””
“That’s what everyone says.””
“I know.””
He looked at me.
“But I didn’t know what Richard was planning.””
Dr. Hayes shook his head.
“You knew enough.””
Daniel looked at him.
“And you did nothing.””
The doctor went silent.
That shocked me.
Because suddenly it sounded like everyone had blood on their hands.
Everyone had pieces of the truth.
Everyone had chosen silence.
Except me.
I was the only person who didn’t know anything.
“What did you do, Daniel?””
My uncle looked down.
“Richard contacted me after Sarah gave birth.””
“Why?””
“He said Sarah was unstable.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Unstable?””
“He told me she was confused. That she wanted to run away with you and ruin Gabriel’s life.””
“And you believed him?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The word broke something inside me.
“You believed him over your own sister?””
“I was wrong.””
“You let him take me.””
“No.””
His voice became desperate.
“I never let him take you.””
“Then what happened?””
Daniel looked at the floor.
“I followed Sarah.””
The room became silent.
“Where?””
“To the hospital parking lot.””
My heartbeat increased.
“And?””
“She was there with you.””
I swallowed.
“She was alive.””
“Yes.””
The answer came softly.
“Yes.””
A tear slipped down my face.
All these years.
My mother had been alive after the hospital.
She had held me.
She had fought.
“What happened next?””
Daniel looked away.
“She gave you to me.””
My breath caught.
“What?””
“She knew she was being followed.””
“Then why didn’t you take me?””
His face collapsed.
“Because someone attacked me.””
Nobody moved.
“Who?””
Daniel whispered:
“Thomas Reed.””
Gabriel looked shocked.
“Thomas?””
Daniel nodded.
“He hit me. Took the documents Sarah had. Then he told me if I wanted you to live, I had to disappear.””
I stared at him.
“And my mother?””
Daniel’s silence was the answer.
“No.””
The word came from Gabriel.
“No.””
Dr. Hayes looked down.
“Sarah survived that night.””
I turned.
“What?””
The doctor swallowed.
“She survived.””
My knees almost gave out.
“Then where is she?””
Nobody answered.
I looked at Gabriel.
Then Daniel.
Then Dr. Hayes.
“Where is my mother?””
Daniel’s face filled with pain.
“She made me promise something.””
“What?””
“That if she couldn’t raise you…”
His voice broke.
“I would make sure you never found out what happened to her.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn’t answer my question.””
Daniel looked at me.
And finally said the words I had spent my entire life waiting for.
“Emily…”
A tear rolled down his cheek.
“Your mother is alive.””
The room went completely silent.
Gabriel stared at him.
“She’s alive?””
Daniel nodded.
“But there’s a reason she never came back.””
My voice barely worked.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at the door.
Like he was afraid someone was listening.
“Because for twenty-three years…”
May you like
He paused.
“She has been hiding from the person who is still trying to find her.””
