Chapter 9: The Daughter Who Came Back
My first instinct was anger.
Not fear.
Anger.
Because even after everything, my mother was still trying to control the situation.
Still appearing when she wasn't invited.
Still deciding when the truth would come out.
I walked toward the door.
Evelyn grabbed my arm.
"Wait.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because you don't know why she's here.""
I almost laughed.
"Yes, I do.""
But Evelyn didn't let go.
"Maya.""
Something in her voice stopped me.
Not fear.
Warning.
I looked through the window.
My mother stood outside.
Alone.
No father.
No Dylan.
Just her.
And she looked broken.
Not angry.
Not defensive.
Broken.
I opened the door.
She looked at me.
Then at Evelyn.
And tears immediately filled her eyes.
"You found her.""
I froze.
The sentence was so strange that for a second I didn't understand.
Found who?
Then I remembered.
Lily.
My mother stepped inside.
"I knew this day would come.""
Evelyn's expression hardened.
"Twenty-four years too late.""
My mother looked at her.
"You don't understand.""
"I understand everything.""
"No.""
My mother's voice cracked.
"You understand what you saw.""
She looked at me.
"But you don't know what happened.""
I crossed my arms.
"Then tell me.""
She looked older than she had two days ago.
"I was twenty-nine years old when Lily disappeared.""
She sat down.
"I was young. Your father was drowning in debt.""
I stared.
"Debt?""
She nodded.
"He made mistakes.""
"Stealing from your children isn't a mistake.""
She closed her eyes.
"I know.""
The admission shocked me.
"You know?""
She looked at me.
"I know everything I did.""
Silence.
Then she said:
"But I did not kill my daughter.""
The room went still.
I hadn't realized that was the question everyone was avoiding.
Until she said it.
Evelyn looked away.
My mother continued.
"Lily found the financial records.""
"I know.""
"She confronted your father.""
I watched her carefully.
"What happened?""
My mother's hands shook.
"They argued.""
"About the money?""
"Yes.""
"Then?""
She swallowed.
"Then Lily ran away.""
I frowned.
"Ran away?""
"She was scared.""
"Of your father?""
My mother didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
"Where did she go?""
"I don't know.""
"You don't know?""
My mother's eyes filled.
"She left a note.""
My heart jumped.
"A note?""
She nodded.
"She said she needed to leave.""
Evelyn shook her head.
"No.""
My mother looked at her.
"Yes.""
"You let everyone believe she was dead.""
My mother cried.
"I was trying to protect her.""
I stared.
"How?""
"Because your father was looking for her.""
A chill went through me.
"What?""
My mother looked at me.
"The night Lily disappeared, your father found out she had copies of the documents.""
I felt sick.
"What documents?""
"The ones proving he took the money.""
Evelyn stepped closer.
"And?""
My mother whispered:
"He was going to stop her from talking.""
The room went silent.
I couldn't move.
"What does that mean?""
My mother looked down.
"It means I helped Lily escape.""
I stared.
"You helped her?""
"Yes.""
"Then why hide it?""
Her eyes filled.
"Because if your father knew I helped her, he would have found her.""
I looked at Evelyn.
Then back at my mother.
"So Lily has been alive this whole time?""
My mother nodded.
"Yes.""
"Where?""
She hesitated.
Then pulled out her phone.
A picture appeared.
A woman.
Older.
Dark hair.
Standing outside a small house.
My breath caught.
Because even older.
Even changed.
I recognized her eyes.
My own eyes.
"Lily.""
My mother nodded.
"She asked me not to contact you.""
"Why?""
"Because she was afraid.""
"Of me?""
"No.""
She looked at me.
"Of what you would discover.""
My hands shook.
"Where is she now?""
My mother looked toward the window.
"She came back.""
I froze.
"What?""
"She returned two weeks ago.""
The world seemed to tilt.
"Where is she?""
My mother didn't answer.
"Maya.""
"No.""
I stepped closer.
"Where is my sister?""
She whispered:
"She is closer than you think.""
My phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
But this time, I knew the name.
I opened it.
*Maya, I'm sorry I couldn't tell you myself.*
*I wanted to.*
*But I needed to know if you were ready.*
I stared at the screen.
The next line appeared.
*I'm outside your apartment.*
I looked up.
My heart pounding.
Because Nadia's apartment was eight blocks away.
And nobody knew I had left.
Except one person.
May you like
The person whose name appeared at the bottom of the message.
*Lily.*
