Chapter 9: The Truth About Lily
I left Rebecca’s apartment without another word.
I didn’t remember walking to my car.
I didn’t remember starting the engine.
I only remembered one thing.
Daniel’s voice.
Broken.
Afraid.
“Chloe…”
But I had heard that before.
Fear.
Regret.
Apologies.
People always became honest when they were finally caught.
I drove until I reached the old playground near Lily’s preschool.
The place where Daniel and I had spent hours when she was little.
The place where he taught her to ride a bike.
The place where he cried the first time she called him “Daddy.””
I sat there alone.
Trying to separate truth from lies.
Then Daniel arrived.
He didn’t say anything at first.
He just stood there.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked at him.
“Don’t start with that.””
He stopped.
“Okay.””
“Tell me the truth.””
He nodded.
“I will.””
I looked away.
“Did you know about Emma?””
“Yes.””
My heart hurt.
“How long?””
“Since Lily was two.””
I turned toward him.
“Two?””
“Yes.””
“And you said nothing?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“You were protecting yourself.””
He looked down.
I knew I was right.
“Tell me everything.””
Daniel sat beside me.
“After Megan’s accident, Robert took control.””
“What does that mean?””
“He told everyone Megan wasn’t capable of raising a child.””
“Was she?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Yes.””
That answer surprised me.
“She was struggling. She needed help. But she wasn’t dangerous.””
My stomach turned.
“So Robert took Emma away?””
“He convinced Megan to sign temporary guardianship papers.””
“And then?””
“He never gave Emma back.””
I covered my mouth.
“That’s kidnapping.””
Daniel looked away.
“I know.””
“Did you know where she went?””
“Yes.””
My eyes filled with anger.
“Where?””
“She was adopted by a couple.””
“Who?””
Daniel swallowed.
“My father arranged it.””
I waited.
“And?””
“He chose people who would never connect Emma to Megan.””
My hands shook.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because Robert believed Megan was a threat to the Peterson reputation.””
I closed my eyes.
Everything made sense.
The obsession.
The perfection.
The silence.
The lies.
But one question remained.
“Why does Megan blame Lily?””
Daniel’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because when Emma disappeared…”
He stopped.
“Say it.””
“She was told Emma was gone because of me.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Megan believed I abandoned her.””
“And did you?””
His silence was painful.
Finally:
“Yes.””
I stared at him.
“You left her?””
“I was scared.””
“You left a woman who lost her baby?””
“I was twenty-five.””
“That doesn’t matter.””
“I know.””
He wiped his face.
“I thought if I stayed, everything would get worse.””
I looked at him.
“And then you met me.””
“Yes.””
“And built a life.””
“Yes.””
“And never told me.””
“Yes.””
I stood.
“I don’t know who you are anymore.””
He looked devastated.
“I know.””
My phone buzzed.
A message.
From an unknown number.
I opened it.
A picture.
A teenage girl.
Brown hair.
Brown eyes.
Standing in front of a school.
Underneath:
*Her name is Emma. She is alive.*
My breath stopped.
Daniel saw my face.
“What?””
I handed him the phone.
He stared.
Then whispered:
“No.””
A second message appeared.
*Robert knows you found out. He is coming for her next.*
I looked at Daniel.
“Who sent this?””
He shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
Then the phone rang.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A young woman’s voice spoke.
“Are you Chloe Peterson?””
I couldn’t breathe.
“Yes.””
“I think you’re my sister’s mother.””
I froze.
“What?””
The girl’s voice trembled.
“My name is Anna Miller.””
I looked at Daniel.
Anna continued:
“My parents adopted a baby five years ago.””
My heart raced.
“Emma?””
“Yes.””
I grabbed the phone tighter.
“Where is she?””
A pause.
Then:
“She’s been looking for her biological mother.””
Tears filled my eyes.
“Why?””
Anna whispered:
“Because someone told her her real mother didn’t want her.””
I felt sick.
“Who told her that?””
The line went quiet.
Then Anna said:
“The Petersons.””
Daniel stood suddenly.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He stared at the phone.
“Chloe…”
“What?””
His face turned pale.
“I know where Emma is.””
“How?””
He looked terrified.
“Because Robert brought her to our Thanksgiving dinner.””
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“Megan wasn’t looking at Lily that night because she hated her.””
I stared at him.
“Then why?””
He looked at me.
“Because she recognized Emma.””
The world went silent.
And then I remembered.
Megan’s face at dinner.
The anger.
The shock.
The way she stared at Lily.
Not like an enemy.
Like someone who had just seen a ghost.
Daniel whispered:
“She thought Lily was the only child taken from her.””
He looked at me.
“But she was wrong.””
My phone buzzed again.
A final message.
May you like
From Emma.
*I’m at the Peterson house. Please come before Grandpa finds out I know the truth.*
