Chapter 3 - My Mother Had Destroyed Emily’s Life—and the Evidence Was Hidden Inside the Mansion I Still Lived InMy mother had been dead for six years.

She had always been the gentler parent.

My father was the businessman.

My mother was the socialite.

She attended charity events.

Hosted dinners.

Smiled for photographs.

She never raised her voice.

I had idolized her.

Now Rebecca was telling me she had been involved.

"Why would my mother want Emily gone?"

"Because Emily knew your mother was helping your father."

"I don't believe you."

"I understand."

Rebecca placed another photograph on the table.

My mother stood in front of a courthouse.

Beside her was a man I didn't recognize.

"What does this have to do with Emily?"

"The man was a lawyer."

"So?"

"He handled the paperwork that made Emily disappear."

I stared.

"Meaning?"

"Your mother paid him."

My stomach turned.

"Why?"

"Because Emily was pregnant."

Silence.

I couldn't breathe.

"Pregnant with whose child?"

Rebecca's eyes met mine.

"Yours."

I stared at her.

"That's impossible."

"You were twenty-six."

"Emily and I—"

"You were together."

I remembered.

A month before she disappeared, Emily had told me she was late.

I had been excited.

She had smiled.

Then she became frightened.

I had asked why.

She said:

"Because your father will never let us keep this child."

At the time, I thought she was exaggerating.

Apparently she wasn't.

Rebecca continued.

"Emily planned to tell you."

"But she never did."

"She tried."

"When?"

"The night she disappeared."

My hands shook.

"What happened?"

Rebecca took a breath.

"She came to your house."

"My parents' house?"

"Yes."

I remembered that night.

I had been at a business dinner.

My father told me not to come home early.

I hadn't understood why.

"Emily came to the house," Rebecca said.

"Then what?"

"Your mother met her."

"Alone?"

"Yes."

"What did they say?"

Rebecca looked at me.

"Your mother offered her money to disappear."

I felt sick.

"Emily refused."

"Then?"

"Your mother threatened her."

"What did she say?"

Rebecca's eyes filled with tears.

"She told Emily that if she didn't disappear, she would make sure you hated her."

I closed my eyes.

That was exactly what happened.

Months later, my father told me Emily had stolen money.

He had shown me documents.

I believed him.

Rebecca continued.

"But Emily had already made a backup plan."

"What kind?"

"She gave me the baby."

My eyes opened.

"What baby?"

"The baby she had already given birth to."

I stared.

Rebecca's voice trembled.

"Emily gave birth secretly."

My world stopped.

"Where?"

"A private clinic outside the city."

"When?"

"Five years after she disappeared."

I stared.

Five years.

"Then who was the father?"

She looked at me.

"You."

I couldn't speak.

"Where is that child?"

Rebecca's tears spilled over.

"You met him this morning."

My chair shifted backward.

I almost fell from it.

"Sammy?"

She nodded.

"No."

"Yes."

"Sammy is your son?"

"No."

She swallowed.

"Sammy is Emily's son."

The room went silent.

I stared at the door.

The six-year-old boy who had touched my knee that morning.

The boy who knew Emily's name.

The boy who looked at me with a familiarity I couldn't explain.

My son.

I pressed my hands over my face.

"Why did Emily give him to you?"

"Because she believed she was being watched."

"By whom?"

"Your mother."

I looked up.

"She's been dead for six years."

"Yes."

"Then who is watching now?"

Rebecca's expression changed.

"That's what Emily has been trying to find out."

I felt cold.

"Emily is alive?"

Rebecca nodded.

"She is."

"Where?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why?"

"Because if they know you know, they'll come for Sammy."

I stared at her.

"Who?"

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Rebecca whispered:

"The people who caused your accident."