Chapter 2: The Daughter I Was Told I Lost
The first thing I did was take Lily away from that room.
Not because I was afraid of Nora.
Because I was afraid of what I might do if I stayed.
The police arrived within twenty minutes. Doctors confirmed the substance in my tea was a powerful sedative mixed with a chemical compound that could become fatal in a high enough dose.
Nora was taken into custody.
But I barely heard any of it.
My entire world had narrowed down to one small girl sitting on my bedroom couch, holding a cup of warm milk with both hands.
My daughter.
The word still felt impossible.
“Lily,” I said gently.
She looked up.
“Yes, Daddy?””
My heart broke every time she said it.
“How long have you known who I was?””
Her eyes dropped.
“A long time.””
“How long?””
She swallowed.
“Since I was little.””
“You knew I was your father?””
She nodded.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
A tear slipped down her cheek.
“Because Aunt Nora said you would hate me.””
The room became painfully quiet.
“Why would I hate you?””
“Because Mommy left.””
I froze.
“Who told you that?””
“Nora.””
My hands tightened.
“She told me Mommy ran away. She told me you didn’t want me because I was the reason Mommy left.””
The words felt like a knife.
No child should ever believe that.
I moved beside her and knelt down.
“Lily, look at me.””
Slowly, she raised her eyes.
“Your mother never left you.””
Her lips trembled.
“She didn’t?””
“No.””
“Then why did everyone say she was dead?””
I didn’t have an answer.
Not yet.
But I was going to find one.
The next morning, I went through every file connected to the fire at Saint Aurelia Hospital.
Every report.
Every photograph.
Every witness statement.
And something strange appeared.
A missing page.
One page from the official investigation file had been removed.
I stared at the empty space.
Someone had erased part of my life.
My assistant, Marcus, walked into my office holding a folder.
“Sir.””
I looked up.
His face was pale.
“What is it?””
“I found something.””
He placed the folder on my desk.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph taken eight years ago.
Sarah was standing outside a small house.
She was smiling.
And beside her was Nora.
But they weren’t alone.
A man stood between them.
A man I recognized immediately.
My older brother.
Daniel.
My fingers went numb.
“Why was my brother with them?””
Marcus hesitated.
“I don’t know.””
I looked closer.
Behind the photograph was a handwritten note.
Only six words.
Six words that changed everything.
*The child was never the target.*
I stood abruptly.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Who is this?””
For several seconds, there was only breathing.
Then a woman spoke.
A voice I had not heard in seven years.
A voice I would recognize in a thousand lifetimes.
“Ethan.””
I stopped breathing.
“Sarah?””
A quiet sob came through the phone.
“Yes.””
My hand gripped the desk.
“Where are you?””
Silence.
Then she whispered:
“Before you come looking for me, you need to know one thing.””
“What?””
Her voice cracked.
May you like
“Lily wasn’t the only thing Nora took from us.””
The call ended.
