Chapter 7 - THE SECOND SECRET
My mother stood in the snow as if she owned the entire street.
She didn't look afraid.
She looked tired.
"Get in the car," she said.
I laughed.
"You're out of your mind."
"No."
She looked at Noah.
"I'm trying to prevent something much worse."
Emily held the baby tighter.
"You've been lying for years."
My mother looked at her.
"You ran."
"Because you threatened my daughter."
"I never touched Leah."
"You tried to take her."
"Because I knew what would happen if she stayed with you."
I stepped between them.
"Enough."
My mother looked at me.
"You want the truth?"
"Yes."
"Then listen."
She pointed at Noah.
"That child is not my son."
I stared.
"What?"
"He is Daniel's."
"I know."
Her expression changed.
"You know?"
"Emily told me."
My mother looked toward Emily.
Then she smiled.
"She didn't tell you everything."
Emily went silent.
My mother continued.
"Daniel wasn't the father."
I frowned.
"Then who?"
She looked at me.
"Your grandfather."
The world seemed to stop.
"No."
My mother nodded.
"Your grandfather had another child."
"Daniel?"
"No."
She pointed at Noah.
"Him."
I stared at the baby.
"That's impossible."
"Your grandfather had an affair shortly before he died."
"With whom?"
My mother didn't answer.
Emily did.
"Me."
I looked at her.
"What?"
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
"I didn't know who he was."
My mother laughed bitterly.
"Of course you didn't."
Emily looked down.
"He told me his name was Richard."
My father's name.
My grandfather's name.
I couldn't breathe.
My mother stepped closer.
"Noah is not Daniel's son."
"Then why does the birth certificate say unknown?"
"Because I changed it."
I stared.
"Why?"
"Because if the truth came out, the entire family trust would collapse."
I looked at Emily.
She nodded slowly.
"Your grandfather was Noah's biological father."
My mind raced.
That meant Noah wasn't my half-brother.
He was...
My uncle.
I looked at the baby.
The family tree had just become a nightmare.
My mother sighed.
"I hid him because your grandfather wanted him hidden."
"Why?"
"Because he was born with a heart condition."
I looked at Noah.
"He's sick?"
"Not anymore."
She glanced toward the medical records.
"Your grandfather paid for his treatment."
"Then why hide him?"
"Because he was afraid someone would use Noah to claim the inheritance."
I stared.
"And Leah?"
My mother looked at Emily.
"Leah was the key."
"To what?"
"The trust."
I frowned.
My mother continued.
"Your grandfather wrote the adoption clause after he learned what I had done."
"Why?"
"Because he wanted to protect Leah."
She paused.
"And he wanted to protect Noah."
I couldn't understand.
"Then why did you put Leah beside the trash can?"
My mother looked away.
"Because I needed you to activate the trust."
I stared at her.
"What?"
She smiled sadly.
"You think I wanted to humiliate Leah?"
"Didn't you?"
"No."
She shook her head.
"I wanted you angry enough to leave."
I couldn't speak.
"You needed to leave the family."
"Why?"
"Because your father was going to confess."
My blood went cold.
"Confess what?"
My mother looked at Emily.
"What happened to Leah's biological father."
Emily closed her eyes.
I turned toward her.
"Who was he?"
She whispered:
"Daniel Voss."
I froze.
"Daniel?"
Emily nodded.
"He wasn't just an investigator."
My mother continued:
"He was Leah's biological father."
I looked at Noah.
Then Emily.
Then my mother.
Everything I'd believed about my family was collapsing.
"Then why did you hide Leah from him?"
Emily answered.
"Because he wanted to sell her."
I felt sick.
My mother nodded.
"He was involved in the adoption network."
"Then why work with him?"
"I didn't."
She looked toward the road.
"He worked for your grandfather."
I shook my head.
"No."
My mother looked at me.
"That's why your grandfather's trust exists."
A car suddenly screeched around the corner.
Daniel.
He stepped out holding a gun.
"Enough."
My mother turned.
Daniel pointed at her.
"You weren't supposed to tell him."
She smiled.
"You were never supposed to find out."
Daniel's gun moved toward me.
"Give me Noah."
I stepped back.
"No."
Daniel raised the weapon.
Then my father appeared from behind the SUV.
He stood between us.
"Put the gun down."
Daniel laughed.
"You finally grew a spine."
My father looked at him.
May you like
"You're done."
Daniel fired.
