Chapter 6: The Truth About Emily
Claire looked like she already knew what I was going to ask.
That scared me.
Because it meant the secret wasn’t new.
Only hidden.
“Who is Emily?”” I asked.
My voice was quiet.
But everyone heard it.
Claire sat down slowly.
Maria remained standing near the doorway.
Nobody moved.
Finally, Claire said:
“She was my sister.””
“I know that.””
She looked up.
“You know what I mean.””
I waited.
Claire took a shaky breath.
“Emily wasn’t just my sister.””
I said nothing.
“She was my responsibility.””
The sentence confused me.
“Why?””
“Because after our mother died, I raised her.””
The anger I felt softened slightly.
“She was ten years younger than me.””
Claire looked at her hands.
“I was eighteen when I became the person who took care of her.””
Maria quietly said:
“Claire never talks about this.””
My wife continued.
“Everyone thought Emily was fragile.””
She gave a sad smile.
“But she was actually the strongest person I knew.””
She looked toward Lily’s nursery.
“Until she became a mother.””
I swallowed.
“What happened?””
Claire’s eyes filled.
“She had a daughter.””
“Your niece?””
She nodded.
“Her name was Ava.””
The name sounded familiar.
Then I remembered.
Claire had a small necklace with the letter A.
I had asked her about it once.
She said it was private.
I never pushed.
“What happened to Ava?””
Claire looked away.
“She died.””
The room became heavy.
“How?””
Claire closed her eyes.
“She was eight months old.””
My heart sank.
“What happened?””
“She was sleeping.””
Claire’s voice cracked.
“Emily was exhausted. She hadn’t slept properly in days.””
I knew where this was going.
But I didn’t want to hear it.
“One night, Emily fell asleep while holding her.””
She wiped her cheek.
“When she woke up…”
Claire stopped.
“She was gone.””
Nobody spoke.
I looked at Lily.
A baby.
A fragile little life.
And suddenly I understood why Claire looked terrified every time Lily cried.
“She blamed herself.””
Claire whispered.
“She never recovered.””
I sat down.
“And your father?””
Claire laughed bitterly.
“My father blamed me.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because I was the one who told Emily she needed help.””
She looked at the floor.
“He said I made her believe she was a bad mother.””
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“It didn’t to me either.””
Claire’s voice became quieter.
“But after Emily died, my father changed.””
“How?””
“He became obsessed with protecting children.””
Maria nodded slowly.
“That’s why he watches.””
I looked at her.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Maria looked ashamed.
“Because I didn’t know how much was true.””
Claire stood.
“Daniel, your father has been watching me for months.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
“Because he thinks I’m going to become Emily.””
I felt a chill.
“That’s why he was here?””
She nodded.
“He said he needed proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“That I was dangerous.””
The room went quiet.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone looked at it.
Nobody wanted me to answer.
But I did.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice came through.
“Daniel Bennett?””
“Yes.””
“You don’t know me.””
I stood.
“Who is this?””
“My name is Rachel Carter.””
Claire’s face changed.
I noticed immediately.
She knew that name.
“Claire?””
My wife looked terrified.
Rachel continued.
“I’m the person your father hired to watch your wife.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
“I have been following Claire for six months.””
Claire whispered:
“No…”
Rachel continued.
“But I stopped working for him two weeks ago.””
“Why?””
A pause.
Then:
“Because I found out your father wasn’t trying to protect Lily.””
I looked toward the nursery.
“Then what was he trying to do?””
Rachel’s voice lowered.
“He was trying to prove Claire was unstable so he could take custody of your daughter.””
My blood went cold.
“But why?””
Another pause.
Then she said:
“Because your father believes Lily belongs to his family.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Rachel took a breath.
“Daniel…”
The line crackled.
“Your father has been hiding something about Lily’s birth.””
I froze.
“What?””
Rachel’s next words changed everything.
“Your daughter’s DNA test was never supposed to exist.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
May you like
And for the first time that day, I wondered if the biggest secret in my house wasn’t what happened to Lily.
It was whether Lily was really my daughter at all.
