THE CLOSET DOOR WAS BREATHING: MY HUSBAND'S AFFAIR WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE BETRAYAL

I had never met Damon's mother.

Not properly.

He always said she was private, fragile, and uncomfortable around strangers.

He claimed she had moved abroad after his father's death.

Sometimes he mentioned her in passing, but whenever I asked to visit, he changed the subject.

I had assumed it was grief.

Now I wondered whether it had been something else.

I showed Margaret the message.

She read it twice.

“Do you know her name?””

“Victoria Carter.””

Margaret immediately picked up her phone.

“I'm calling someone.””

She walked into the hallway.

Owen sat beside me.

“Emily, there's something I should tell you.””

I looked at him.

“What?””

“My grandfather didn't trust Victoria.””

“Why?””

“Because she was the person who introduced Richard to your father.””

I frowned.

“Introduced them?””

“Yes. She was working at the same financial firm as your father before she married Richard.””

I remembered my mother's video.

A man had helped Richard steal money from my father's company.

A man my father had once trusted.

I looked at Owen.

“Was that Victoria?””

He nodded.

“My grandfather believed she was the person who designed the entire arrangement.””

I felt my stomach tighten.

“Then why did my mother put you in charge of the trust?””

“Because she knew my grandfather had kept the original records.””

He paused.

“And because Victoria couldn't control me the way she controlled Damon.””

Margaret returned.

Her expression was grim.

“Victoria Carter is in the country.””

I stared.

“Where?””

“At a private residence outside the city.””

“How do you know?””

“Because she submitted a formal request to become your emergency medical representative.””

I felt sick.

“Can she do that?””

“No. But the request includes a document claiming you previously granted her power of attorney.””

I stared at Margaret.

“Another forgery?””

“Apparently.””

Owen stood.

“We need to find her.””

Margaret shook her head.

“No. We need to let the authorities handle that.””

But before she could continue, my phone rang.

Unknown number.

I answered.

“Hello?””

A woman's voice came through.

“Emily.””

I froze.

It was calm.

Elegant.

Almost affectionate.

“Victoria?””

A soft laugh.

“I see you've been doing some digging.””

I looked at Margaret.

She immediately signaled for me to put the call on speaker.

“What do you want?””

“I'm disappointed that Damon couldn't keep things simple.””

“You arranged my marriage.””

A pause.

Then Victoria answered.

“Your father arranged your marriage.””

“My father is dead.””

“Yes. And he left quite a mess.””

I felt anger rise.

“Why did you want me to marry Damon?””

“Because your father had something that belonged to our family.””

“The inheritance?””

“Not the money, Emily. The records.””

I frowned.

“What records?””

“The original company accounts. The documents proving who actually controlled your father's estate.””

I looked at Owen.

He leaned closer.

Victoria continued.

“Your father believed he could destroy Richard by hiding those records in a trust. He thought giving you the inheritance would make it untouchable.””

“So you married me off to your son to get access?””

“Damon was a useful tool.””

My hands trembled.

“You destroyed my life.””

“Don't be dramatic. You had a comfortable home, a husband, and a baby on the way.””

“You planned to take my daughter.””

Victoria sighed.

“Only temporarily.””

I felt sick.

“Why?””

“Because the trust requires a biological descendant to activate the final distribution.””

I closed my eyes.

“You wanted my baby.””

“I wanted the inheritance secured.””

“And what happens to my daughter?””

Victoria's voice became colder.

“She would have been raised by people capable of providing her with everything.””

“You mean people who paid for her?””

“Emily, you're becoming emotional.””

I almost laughed.

Everyone in that family used the same words whenever they wanted me to stop asking questions.

“Tell me something, Victoria. Did you know I was Rachel's daughter?””

“Yes.””

“Did you know I was adopted?””

“Of course.””

“Did you know Claire was my twin?””

Victoria was silent.

Then she answered.

“I arranged for both of you to be placed where you would be most useful.””

My stomach turned.

“You arranged our adoptions?””

“I arranged protection for two children who were born into a complicated family.””

“Protection?””

“Your mother was unstable. Rachel was young. Your father was obsessed with money. I made sure you both had homes.””

I looked at Owen.

He was recording the call on his phone.

“Why did you let Claire grow up believing she had been abandoned?””

Victoria laughed softly.

“Because she needed to become independent.””

“And what about me?””

“You needed to become wealthy.””

I felt tears burning behind my eyes.

“You made us strangers.””

“No, Emily. Life did that.””

I gripped the phone.

“You used us.””

Victoria's voice sharpened.

“Careful. You have no idea how much your family owes me.””

“My family?””

“Yes.””

She paused.

“Your mother begged me to protect you. She knew what would happen if the original records became public.””

I remembered the letter.

The warning.

The fear.

“What did my mother know?””

Victoria didn't answer.

Instead, she said:

“Ask Michael what happened the night Rachel died.””

The call ended.

I looked at Margaret.

“Can you find Michael?””

“He's already been located.””

Owen immediately called him.

The phone rang several times.

Then Michael answered.

“Hello?””

“Michael, it's Owen. We need to ask you something about Rachel's death.””

There was a long silence.

Then Michael said:

“I was hoping nobody would ask.””

I felt my heart begin pounding.

“What happened?”” I asked.

Michael recognized my voice.

“Emily?””

“Yes.””

He took a shaky breath.

“Rachel didn't die from childbirth complications.””

I covered my mouth.

“What?””

“She was recovering normally. She was supposed to leave the hospital the following morning.””

“Then what happened?””

“Someone came to see her that night.””

“Who?””

Michael hesitated.

“Victoria Carter.””

Owen stood abruptly.

“What?””

Michael continued.

“She told Rachel that the adoption had been finalized. Rachel refused to sign the final papers.””

My hands began shaking.

“What happened next?””

“She was given medication. The nurses said it was prescribed.””

“Was it?””

“I don't know. But Rachel stopped breathing a few hours later.””

I felt nauseated.

“Did you report it?””

“I tried.””

“What happened?””

“The hospital records disappeared. The doctor who treated her resigned. Victoria's lawyers threatened to have me charged with harassment.””

He paused.

“And I received a letter telling me that if I continued searching for Lily, I would never see either of my daughters again.””

I looked at Owen.

He was pale.

“Why didn't you tell me earlier?”” I whispered.

“Because I was afraid.””

Michael's voice broke.

“I lost Rachel. Then I lost my daughter. I couldn't risk losing the only information I had left.””

Margaret leaned forward.

“Michael, do you still have the original hospital records?””

“Yes.””

“Where?””

“At my house.””

“Don't touch them. Don't show them to anyone. We'll arrange for an investigator to collect them.””

Michael agreed.

Then he added something else.

“There's one more thing.””

“What?”” I asked.

“Rachel called me shortly before she died.””

I held my breath.

“She told me Victoria had been trying to contact your mother.””

“Why?””

“Because your mother had discovered that the adoption records were not the only documents Richard had hidden.””

“What else was there?””

Michael hesitated.

“An original birth register.””

I looked at Owen.

He understood immediately.

“The second twin's identity?””

Michael nodded, even though he couldn't see us.

“Yes. And it names the person who authorized the separation.””

“Victoria?””

“No.””

The room became silent.

Michael spoke again.

“Your father.””

I stared.

“My father?””

“Not the man who raised you. Your biological father.””

My entire body went cold.

“Who was he?””

Michael answered quietly.

“Richard Carter.””

I couldn't breathe.

Richard Carter.

Damon's father.

The man who had stolen my father's company.

The man whose family had arranged my adoption.

The man who had been responsible for the inheritance scandal.

And now, according to Michael, my biological father.

Owen slowly sat down.

“That's impossible.””

Michael continued.

“Rachel had a relationship with Richard before she married me. He was older, wealthy, and promised to take care of her. When she became pregnant, he refused to acknowledge the children.””

I stared at the wall.

“So Damon…”

“Is your half-brother,” Michael whispered.

I felt the world collapse around me.

My husband.

The man I had married.

The father of the man who had fathered my unborn child—or so the documents claimed.

Damon wasn't simply a stranger who had entered my life for money.

He was my biological half-brother.

I couldn't speak.

Natalie covered her mouth.

Owen looked as though he might be sick.

Margaret slowly closed the folder.

“That's why Victoria arranged the marriage,” she whispered.

I looked at her.

“What?””

“She knew your biological connection. If she could establish the marriage before the truth came out, she could use the resulting legal confusion to challenge the trust and control the estate.””

I shook my head.

“Did Damon know?””

Margaret didn't answer.

My phone vibrated.

A message from Damon.

*Emily, I know you've spoken to Victoria. There is something I need to tell you before she does.*

Another message appeared.

*The man you think is your father isn't the man who raised you. And the child you're carrying isn't connected to the Carter family the way you believe.*

I stared at the screen.

Then another message arrived.

*Ask Owen what he did with the original DNA report.*

I slowly turned toward Owen.

He wouldn't meet my eyes.

“Owen?””

He stood up.

“Emily, I can explain.””

“What DNA report?””

He rubbed his face.

“Your mother asked me to run a test before she died.””

“What test?””