Chapter 18: The Reason I Was Chosen
Daniel's message stayed on my screen.
Next, you'll learn why I needed you.
I showed everyone.
My father's face changed.
Adrian immediately reached for his phone.
"Do not respond.""
"Why?""
"Because he wants your attention.""
"He's been controlling my entire life.""
My voice shook.
"I'm done letting him.""
Adrian looked at me.
"You think this is about revenge.""
"No.""
I looked at him.
"It's about answers.""
For once, nobody argued.
Because everyone knew I deserved them.
Adrian opened the file.
Inside were documents my grandfather had collected.
Financial records.
Names.
Connections.
But one document was different.
A medical record.
I frowned.
"What is this?""
Adrian went quiet.
My mother took it.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then she looked at me.
"Emma...""
"What?""
She looked scared.
"This is why Daniel was interested in you.""
I grabbed the paper.
It was a DNA report.
My DNA.
Connected to someone else's.
I read the name.
And froze.
"My grandfather?""
Adrian nodded.
"Your grandfather discovered something about Daniel's family.""
"What?""
"Daniel's father was involved in illegal adoption records.""
The room went cold.
"He changed children's identities.""
I stared.
"And me?""
Adrian looked at me.
"Your grandfather found proof that Daniel changed records to hide his crimes.""
My mother whispered:
"Emma wasn't just his target.""
I looked at her.
"Then what was I?""
Adrian answered.
"The evidence.""
I felt sick.
"What does that mean?""
"When Daniel changed your birth records, he created a connection.""
"A connection to what?""
"To the files your grandfather hid.""
My head spun.
"Why would my birth records contain evidence?""
Adrian looked at the documents.
"Because your grandfather was smart.""
He pointed at the DNA report.
"He knew Daniel would search every office, every computer, every safe.""
"But not me.""
Adrian nodded.
"Not a child.""
The realization hit me.
My entire identity had been turned into a hiding place.
A secret nobody knew existed.
My mother sat beside me.
"I'm sorry.""
I looked at her.
"For what?""
"For letting you grow up without knowing.""
I shook my head.
"I don't know what to feel anymore.""
She held my hand.
"You don't have to forgive everyone today.""
That was the first time someone said something that didn't feel like a demand.
Then Lily walked in.
She was holding another envelope.
"Emma.""
We all turned.
"Where did you get that?""
She looked nervous.
"It was in Dad's desk.""
My father stood.
"Lily...""
"I wasn't searching for secrets.""
Her voice shook.
"I was looking for pictures.""
She handed it to me.
On the front was my name.
But the handwriting wasn't familiar.
I opened it.
Inside was one page.
A letter.
From my grandfather.
The first line made my breath stop.
*To my granddaughter, Emma. If you are reading this, Daniel has already found the truth.*
I continued.
*Do not trust the person who tells you they saved you.*
My hands shook.
Because I knew where this was going.
The letter ended with one final sentence.
*The person closest to you knows exactly what happened the night your mother disappeared.*
Everyone looked at each other.
Then the front door opened.
A police officer stood there.
"Emma?""
I stepped forward.
"Yes?""
He held out a folder.
"We found this in Daniel Reed's abandoned office.""
My heart raced.
"What is it?""
The officer looked at the papers.
"A confession.""
I took the folder.
The first page had Daniel's signature.
And beneath it...
A name I never expected to see.
The person who had been protecting Daniel all along.
May you like
The person who had known the truth from the beginning.
My father.
