Chapter 19: The Truth I Was Never Meant to Know
I stared at the message on Claire’s mother’s phone.
*Ask David why Emily was never supposed to survive.*
The words didn’t make sense.
Not at first.
Because they suggested something impossible.
Something I refused to believe.
I looked at Emily.
She looked at me.
And the fear in her eyes told me she understood.
“David,” she whispered.
“No.””
I shook my head.
“No. Whatever this is, it’s another lie.””
Emily stepped closer.
“I wish it was.””
The rain continued falling around us.
Everyone stood frozen.
Daniel.
Claire.
Mark.
Claire’s mother.
All of them had secrets.
All of them had hidden pieces of the truth.
But somehow, the message was about me.
“What does it mean?”” I asked.
Nobody answered.
Then Claire’s mother spoke.
“Your father knew.””
I looked at her.
“Knew what?””
She hesitated.
“That Emily’s illness wasn’t accidental.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Emily grabbed my hand.
“David…”
“No.””
I looked at her.
“No, don’t tell me my father was involved.””
Emily’s eyes filled.
“He wasn’t trying to hurt you.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She looked down.
“He knew about the genetic research.””
I felt dizzy.
“The research that caused all of this?””
“Yes.””
“And he knew about me?””
“Yes.””
I stepped back.
“How?””
Emily took a breath.
“Because your father was one of the people who helped create the original protection plan.””
I stared.
“What protection plan?””
“The one that was supposed to keep Lily safe.””
I looked at my daughter.
“She was always the target.””
Emily nodded.
“But not because of money.””
“Then why?””
Emily looked at Claire’s mother.
“Because Lily carried proof.””
I frowned.
“Proof of what?””
“The company’s illegal experiments.””
Silence.
Claire whispered:
“Experiments?””
Emily nodded.
“My biological parents discovered that the research had been manipulated. They tried to expose it.””
“And they were stopped.””
“Yes.””
I looked at the locket.
“The documents.””
Emily nodded.
“The documents proved everything.””
My mind raced.
“Then why did everyone chase Lily?””
“Because her DNA was the final evidence.””
I felt sick.
“She’s a child.””
“I know.””
Emily’s voice broke.
“That’s why I disappeared.””
I looked at her.
“You disappeared to protect her.””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I was afraid you would come looking for me.””
I froze.
“What?””
“David, I knew you.””
A sad smile appeared.
“You would have burned the world down to find me.””
She was right.
I hated that she was right.
“I couldn’t risk Lily losing both parents.””
I looked away.
Seven years.
Seven years of believing she abandoned us.
And she had been suffering too.
“What happened that night?””
Emily took my hand.
“The accident.””
I nodded.
“The hospital said you died.””
“I was moved before they could identify me.””
“Who helped you?””
Emily looked at Mark.
Mark lowered his head.
“Me.””
I closed my eyes.
“Of course.””
Mark stepped forward.
“I thought I was saving her.””
“And you were.””
Emily looked at him.
“You gave me a chance.””
Mark’s eyes filled.
“But I also gave Daniel information.””
“Yes.””
Everyone was quiet.
Then Daniel laughed.
“You’re all acting like victims.””
I turned.
“You caused this.””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“You did.””
My fists tightened.
“What?””
“You think Emily’s disappearance happened because of me?””
He smiled.
“Your father started this.””
“No.””
“He created the first version of the protection plan.””
Emily looked at him.
“Stop.””
Daniel continued.
“He knew Lily’s existence would expose everything.””
I shook my head.
“You’re lying.””
“Ask Emily.””
I looked at her.
And she didn’t deny it.
That hurt.
“Emily?””
She whispered:
“Your father made a choice.””
“What choice?””
“He asked my parents to hide the truth.””
“Why?””
“Because he believed exposing it would destroy everyone.””
I felt broken.
“My father protected a secret.””
“Yes.””
“And everyone paid for it.””
Emily nodded.
The truth finally came together.
The lies.
The missing documents.
The threats.
The locket.
The reason everyone was afraid.
My family had been built on secrets.
But there was still one question.
“Who wrote the protection plan?””
Emily looked at me.
“You did.””
I froze.
“What?””
She reached into her coat.
And pulled out a document.
My handwriting.
My signature.
A plan dated eight years ago.
Before Lily was born.
I stared.
“I never wrote this.””
Emily’s eyes filled.
“You did.””
“No.””
“You just don’t remember.””
I looked at the paper.
And then I saw it.
A sentence.
A sentence I recognized.
Because it was something I always said.
*Protect her, no matter what it costs me.*
My knees weakened.
“What happened to me?””
Emily whispered:
“The night before Lily was born, you were in an accident.””
I stared.
“What?””
“You suffered memory loss.””
The world went silent.
“You forgot parts of your life.””
Emily touched my face.
“Your father used that.””
I looked at the document.
The plan.
The secret.
The life I had forgotten.
Then Emily whispered:
“The person who wrote the plan was you.””
A sound came from behind us.
A police siren.
Then another.
Daniel looked toward the road.
His face changed.
For the first time.
Fear.
Emily looked at me.
“It’s over.””
But I knew.
The truth wasn’t over.
May you like
Because there was one thing I still needed to know.
Why had my memory been taken from me?
