Chapter 10: The Final Page
I didn't tell anyone I was going.
That was the first mistake.
Or maybe it was the first thing I did right.
Because for twelve years, everyone had been making decisions for me.
My father decided what I could handle.
Nicole decided what I should believe.
Even my mother, with all her pain and all her reasons, had decided she could protect me by staying away.
I was tired of being the last person to know the truth about my own life.
So I left.
The old law office was three blocks from where my mother and Nicole used to work.
The building looked abandoned now.
The sign above the entrance was faded.
The windows were dusty.
But when I walked inside, the lights were on.
Someone was waiting.
Nicole.
She sat behind an old wooden desk.
The same kind of desk my mother described from her memories.
The irony wasn't lost on me.
She was sitting in the place where everything started.
"You came.""
Her voice was calm.
I stayed near the door.
"You wanted to talk.""
She smiled slightly.
"Your mother always said you were stubborn.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Don't talk about her.""
"Why?""
Nicole leaned back.
"Because she was the one who lied to you first?""
My anger flared.
"You don't get to say that.""
She placed a folder on the desk.
"The truth hurts, Emma.""
"Then tell it.""
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she opened the folder.
Inside was the missing page.
The final page of the custody agreement.
"I knew you'd come for this.""
I stared at the document.
"Why show me?""
"Because I'm tired.""
I almost laughed.
"Tired?""
"Yes.""
She looked older than I remembered.
Not innocent.
Not forgiven.
Just exhausted.
"Twelve years of protecting someone who never protected me.""
I frowned.
"Who?""
She looked toward the window.
"Your father.""
I didn't move.
"You're blaming him now?""
"I'm telling you the truth.""
"Why should I believe you?""
"Because I have nothing left to lose.""
That sentence bothered me.
People who have nothing left to lose are dangerous.
"What happened?""
Nicole looked at the document.
"When your mother found out about the money, she thought I was the only person involved.""
"But you weren't.""
Nicole shook her head.
"No.""
She looked at me.
"Daniel was.""
The lawyer.
My stomach tightened.
"Then why did you help him?""
Her expression changed.
"Because I was afraid.""
"Afraid of what?""
She laughed quietly.
"You know what your mother never understood?""
"What?""
"Daniel didn't threaten to ruin my reputation.""
She looked directly at me.
"He threatened my daughter.""
I thought of Lily.
My chest tightened.
"He said he would make sure I lost everything.""
"That doesn't excuse what you did.""
"I know.""
For the first time, Nicole didn't fight back.
"I know what I did to you was unforgivable.""
The words sounded strange coming from her.
I didn't know what to do with them.
She pushed the document toward me.
"Read the last page.""
I picked it up.
My eyes moved across the words.
And then I saw it.
The signature.
Not my father's.
Not Nicole's.
Someone else's.
A witness signature.
I looked closer.
My breathing stopped.
Because I recognized the name.
Daniel Reed.
But the date was wrong.
The signature was added months after the agreement was supposedly finalized.
"This was changed.""
Nicole nodded.
"Yes.""
"Who changed it?""
She didn't answer.
She didn't have to.
My father had been right.
The document wasn't just evidence.
It was a trap.
"Why are you giving me this?""
Nicole looked away.
"Because Lily deserves better than the person I became.""
I didn't expect that.
"Where is Daniel now?""
Her face tightened.
"Probably running.""
"Running from what?""
She looked at me.
"From the person who knows what he did.""
"Who?""
Before she could answer, the office door opened.
We both turned.
Daniel stood there.
And he wasn't alone.
Two police officers stood behind him.
Daniel smiled.
"Emma.""
Nicole immediately stood.
"What are you doing here?""
Daniel ignored her.
"I was hoping you wouldn't get involved.""
I stepped back.
"What is happening?""
Daniel held up a folder.
"I think it's time everyone knows the truth.""
He looked at Nicole.
"Especially about what she did.""
Nicole's face went pale.
Daniel smiled.
"Tell her, Nicole.""
Silence.
May you like
Then he said the words that changed everything.
"Tell Emma who really signed the document that took her away from her mother.""
