Chapter 7: The Woman Who Claimed to## Chapter 7: The Woman Who Claimed to Be Lily's Mother
"Vanessa said she was Lily's biological aunt?""
I repeated the words because my mind refused to accept them.
The family friend Be Lily's Mother
"Vanessa said she was Lily's biological aunt?""
I repeated the words because my mind refused to accept them.
The family friend, Claire, was still on the phone.
"Yes, Marcus. She said it was an emergency. She wanted to speak to Lily immediately.""
"Did you let her?""
"Absolutely not. I told her Lily was resting and that she needed to speak to you.""
I looked at Ethan.
He was already gathering the, Claire, was still on the phone.
"Yes, Marcus. She said it was an emergency. She wanted to speak to Lily immediately.""
"Did you let her?""
"Absolutely not. I told her Lily was resting and that she needed to speak to you.""
I looked at Ethan.
He was already gathering the photographs from the table.
"Did she threaten you?"" I asked Claire.
"Not directly. But photographs from the table.
"Did she threaten you?"" I asked Claire.
"Not directly. But she said something strange.""
"What?""
Claire hesitated she said something strange.""
"What?""
Claire hesitated.
"She said, 'You don't understand who that child belongs to.''"
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Listen to me..
"She said, 'You don't understand who that child belongs to.''"
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Listen to me. Lock the doors. Don't let anyone inside. I'm coming.""
I ended the call.
Ethan stood.
"We need to move.""
"Tell Lock the doors. Don't let anyone inside. I'm coming.""
I ended the call.
Ethan stood.
"We need to move.""
"Tell me what you know.""
"Not here.""
"Ethan, I'm done me what you know.""
"Not here.""
"Ethan, I'm done with half-truths.""
He looked at me.
For a moment, I with half-truths.""
He looked at me.
For a moment, I saw the younger brother I remembered. The boy who used to follow me around our saw the younger brother I remembered. The boy who used to follow me around our parents' garden, who cried when I parents' garden, who cried when I went away to college, who once broke his arm went away to college, who once broke his arm trying to copy me climbing a tree.
Then his expression hardened.
"Vanessa wasn't just interested in the inheritance. She was interested in Lily's identity.""
trying to copy me climbing a tree.
Then his expression hardened.
"Vanessa wasn't just interested in the inheritance. She was interested in Lily's identity.""
I stared.
"What does that mean?""
He opened his bag and removed a thinI stared.
"What does that mean?""
He opened his bag and removed a thin folder.
Inside were copies of medical documents.
One page had Emma's name.
Another had Vanessa's.
I read the first paragraph folder.
Inside were copies of medical documents.
One page had Emma's name.
Another had Vanessa's.
I read the first paragraph.
Then I read it again.
"What is this?""
"Records from a private fertility clinic.""
I looked at him.
"Why would Emma have been.
Then I read it again.
"What is this?""
"Records from a private fertility clinic.""
I looked at him.
"Why would Emma have been there?""
Ethan pulled out a chair.
"Before Lily was born, Emma and Vanessa were close.""
I frowned.
"That's there?""
Ethan pulled out a chair.
"Before Lily was born, Emma and Vanessa were close.""
I frowned.
"That's impossible. They barely knew each other.""
"That's what you were told.""
He explained that Emma and Vanessa had met through a charity organization several years before Lily's birth.
Vanessa had been impossible. They barely knew each other.""
"That's what you were told.""
He explained that Emma and Vanessa had met through a charity organization several years before Lily's birth.
Vanessa had been dealing with infertility.
Emma had offered to help her find dealing with infertility.
Emma had offered to help her find a reputable clinic.
At the time, Vanessa had seemed grateful.
But something had happened during the medical process.
Ethan placed another document in front of me.
It contained several lines of medical terminology.
I couldn't make sense of them.
"Explain it.""
"Emma donated eggs to a fertility program. The clinic used them in a separate treatment arrangement.""
a reputable clinic.
At the time, Vanessa had seemed grateful.
But something had happened during the medical process.
Ethan placed another document in front of me.
It contained several lines of medical terminology.
I couldn't make sense of them.
"Explain it.""
"Emma donated eggs to a fertility program. The clinic used them in a separate treatment arrangement.""
I stared at him.
"Whose treatment?""
"Vanessa's.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I looked down at the documents.
"Are you saying Lily—"
"I'm saying Vanessa may be her biological aunt.""
I shook my head.
"No. That's not possible.""
Ethan didn't argue.
He simply slid another page toward me.
It was aI stared at him.
"Whose treatment?""
"Vanessa's.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I looked down at the documents.
"Are you saying Lily—"
"I'm saying Vanessa may be her biological aunt.""
I shook my head.
"No. That's not possible.""
Ethan didn't argue.
He simply slid another page toward me.
It was a letter from the clinic.
The patient names had been partially redacted, but the dates were visible.
Emma had undergone a procedure.
Vanessa had received treatment.
And Lily had been born nine months later.
I looked letter from the clinic.
The patient names had been partially redacted, but the dates were visible.
Emma had undergone a procedure.
Vanessa had received treatment.
And Lily had been born nine months later.
I looked up.
"Why would Emma agree to this?""
"She wanted to help Vanessa. She believed the arrangement would remain confidential up.
"Why would Emma agree to this?""
"She wanted to help Vanessa. She believed the arrangement would remain confidential.""
"But why didn't she tell me?""
"She planned to.""
"But why didn't she tell me?""
"She planned to. Then the clinic records disappeared.""
I stared at him. Then the clinic records disappeared.""
I stared at him.
"How did you get these?""
"Emma gave me.
"How did you get these?""
"Emma gave me copies.""
I felt my hands begin to shake.
"Then why did Vanessa copies.""
I felt my hands begin to shake.
"Then why did Vanessa tell everyone she was only my wife's friend?""
"Because she wanted to keep the arrangement hidden.""
tell everyone she was only my wife's friend?""
"Because she wanted to keep the arrangement hidden.""
I stood.
"Does this mean Lily isn't my daughter?""
Ethan looked directlyI stood.
"Does this mean Lily isn't my daughter?""
Ethan looked directly at me.
"Marcus, listen carefully. Nothing in those documents changes the fact at me.
"Marcus, listen carefully. Nothing in those documents changes the fact that you're her father. And nothing changes the fact that Emma raised her that you're her father. And nothing changes the fact that Emma raised her with love.""
I swallowed.
"But biologically?""
"We need a proper test. with love.""
I swallowed.
"But biologically?""
"We need a proper test. The paperwork isn't enough to establish everything.""
I looked toward the café window The paperwork isn't enough to establish everything.""
I looked toward the café window.
The black sedan had disappeared.
"Why would Vanessa call herself Lily.
The black sedan had disappeared.
"Why would Vanessa call herself Lily's aunt?""
Ethan hesitated.
"Because she may have believed the arrangement gave her rights over's aunt?""
Ethan hesitated.
"Because she may have believed the arrangement gave her rights over Lily.""
"She's not getting anywhere near my daughter.""
"I agree Lily.""
"She's not getting anywhere near my daughter.""
"I agree.""
My phone rang.
Claire.
I answered immediately.
"What's happening?""
.""
My phone rang.
Claire.
I answered immediately.
"What's happening?""
"Marcus, there's a car outside.""
"What car?""
"A black SUV. Two"Marcus, there's a car outside.""
"What car?""
"A black SUV. Two people are inside.""
"Are they trying to enter?""
"One people are inside.""
"Are they trying to enter?""
"One of them just got out.""
I stood so quickly my chair fell backward of them just got out.""
I stood so quickly my chair fell backward.
"Don't open the door. Call the police.""
"I already.
"Don't open the door. Call the police.""
"I already have.""
I turned toward Ethan.
"We're going.""
He grabbed the folder.
We left through the café's rear entrance and hurried toward the parking lot.
As I have.""
I turned toward Ethan.
"We're going.""
He grabbed the folder.
We left through the café's rear entrance and hurried toward the parking lot.
As I reached my car, my phone rang again reached my car, my phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID showed Vanessa's number.
I answered.
"Where is Lily?""
Vanessa's voice was calm.
Almost gentle.
"Marcus, I think we need.
This time, the caller ID showed Vanessa's number.
I answered.
"Where is Lily?""
Vanessa's voice was calm.
Almost gentle.
"Marcus, I think we need to stop behaving like enemies.""
"You don't get to call me.""
"I know you're angry to stop behaving like enemies.""
"You don't get to call me.""
"I know you're angry.""
"Where did you get Claire's number?""
"That isn't important.""
"Where did you get Claire's number?""
"That isn't important.""
"Don't contact Lily again.""
She sighed.
"She's my family too.""
I gripped the phone.
"You locked her in a room.""
.""
"Don't contact Lily again.""
She sighed.
"She's my family too.""
I gripped the phone.
"You locked her in a room.""
"That was a misunderstanding.""
"You hit her.""
"She was difficult.""
"That was a misunderstanding.""
"You hit her.""
"She was difficult.""
I closed my eyes.
Even now.
Even after everything.
SheI closed my eyes.
Even now.
Even after everything.
She still couldn't say she was sorry.
"Vanessa, listen to me. If you come near my daughter, I'll make sure every relevant authority still couldn't say she was sorry.
"Vanessa, listen to me. If you come near my daughter, I'll make sure every relevant authority knows exactly what happened in that house.""
Her voice hardened.
knows exactly what happened in that house.""
Her voice hardened.
"You really don't understand, do you?""
"Understand what?""
"Emma made a terrible mistake.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Don't speak about Emma.""
"She gave me something that should have been mine.""
"What?""
"You really don't understand, do you?""
"Understand what?""
"Emma made a terrible mistake.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Don't speak about Emma.""
"She gave me something that should have been mine.""
"What?""
"Lily.""
I almost dropped the phone.
Vanessa continued.
"You think you"Lily.""
I almost dropped the phone.
Vanessa continued.
"You think you can take her away because you're her father. But you have can take her away because you're her father. But you have no idea what happened before she was born.""
I looked at Ethan.
He shook no idea what happened before she was born.""
I looked at Ethan.
He shook his head, silently warning me not to say anything.
"Whatever happened his head, silently warning me not to say anything.
"Whatever happened before Lily was born, you don't have the right to hurt her.""
Vanessa laughed softly.
before Lily was born, you don't have the right to hurt her.""
Vanessa laughed softly.
"You should ask Emma why she changed the trust.""
"Emma is dead"You should ask Emma why she changed the trust.""
"Emma is dead.""
"Exactly.""
The call ended.
I stood beside the.""
"Exactly.""
The call ended.
I stood beside the car.
Ethan approached.
"What did she say?""
"She said Emma gave car.
Ethan approached.
"What did she say?""
"She said Emma gave her something that should have been hers.""
He closed his eyes.
"She's losing her something that should have been hers.""
He closed his eyes.
"She's losing control.""
"Then we need to protect Lily.""
We drove straight to Claire's house.
Two police vehicles were already parked outside.
Claire opened control.""
"Then we need to protect Lily.""
We drove straight to Claire's house.
Two police vehicles were already parked outside.
Claire opened the door.
Lily ran toward me.
"Daddy!""
I dropped to my knees.
She threw her arms around my neck.
I held the door.
Lily ran toward me.
"Daddy!""
I dropped to my knees.
She threw her arms around my neck.
I held her tightly.
"Are you okay?""
She nodded.
Then she looked over my shoulder.
"Un her tightly.
"Are you okay?""
She nodded.
Then she looked over my shoulder.
"Uncle Ethan?""
Ethan stood in the doorway.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then he crouched.
"Hello, princess.""
Lily stared at himcle Ethan?""
Ethan stood in the doorway.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then he crouched.
"Hello, princess.""
Lily stared at him.
"Are you really Uncle Ethan?""
He smiled.
"Yes.""
She touched his cheek.
"Daddy said you went away.""
.
"Are you really Uncle Ethan?""
He smiled.
"Yes.""
She touched his cheek.
"Daddy said you went away.""
Ethan swallowed.
"I did. But I'm back now.""
Lily thought about that.
Then she asked:
"Are you going to leave too?""
EthanEthan swallowed.
"I did. But I'm back now.""
Lily thought about that.
Then she asked:
"Are you going to leave too?""
Ethan looked at me.
His eyes were wet.
"No, sweetheart. Not if I looked at me.
His eyes were wet.
"No, sweetheart. Not if I can help it.""
Claire handed me a small envelope.
"Someone pushed this through the can help it.""
Claire handed me a small envelope.
"Someone pushed this through the letterbox about ten minutes ago.""
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of Lily as a newborn.
Emma was holding her letterbox about ten minutes ago.""
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of Lily as a newborn.
Emma was holding her.
Vanessa stood beside the hospital bed.
On the back, someone.
Vanessa stood beside the hospital bed.
On the back, someone had written:
The truth is in the original birth record.
I turned the photograph over.
A hospital name was printed beneath the handwriting.
St. Catherine's Medical Centre.
I knew the place.
It had closed several years earlier.
But the records had been transferred to a regional had written:
The truth is in the original birth record.
I turned the photograph over.
A hospital name was printed beneath the handwriting.
St. Catherine's Medical Centre.
I knew the place.
It had closed several years earlier.
But the records had been transferred to a regional archive.
Ethan looked at the photograph.
"Marcus, there's something I haven't told you.""
I archive.
Ethan looked at the photograph.
"Marcus, there's something I haven't told you.""
I turned.
"What?""
He pointed to Vanessa in the photograph.
"She wasn't supposed to be at that hospital.""
"Why?""
"Because turned.
"What?""
He pointed to Vanessa in the photograph.
"She wasn't supposed to be at that hospital.""
"Why?""
"Because Emma told me Vanessa had disappeared two weeks before Lily was born.""
I stared at him.
"Then why is she standing beside the bed?""
Ethan's Emma told me Vanessa had disappeared two weeks before Lily was born.""
I stared at him.
"Then why is she standing beside the bed?""
Ethan's face darkened.
"Because she came back the night Lily was delivered.""
He paused.
"And she left with something.""
I face darkened.
"Because she came back the night Lily was delivered.""
He paused.
"And she left with something.""
I looked down at my daughter.
She was holding her rabbit pillow.
Her little fingers were tracing the looked down at my daughter.
She was holding her rabbit pillow.
Her little fingers were tracing the torn ear.
"What did she leave with?""
Ethan looked at the photograph torn ear.
"What did she leave with?""
May you like
Ethan looked at the photograph again.
"The original birth record.""
