Chapter 3: The Other Daughter
Ava had spent eighteen years believing she was an only child.
Now, in less than ten minutes, she had learned that her father was alive, her mother had lied about his death, and another woman claimed to be his daughter.
The birthday balloons suddenly looked ridiculous.
The Mercedes looked ridiculous.
Even the expensive cake seemed like something from another family's life.
Ava stepped toward her father.
“Who is she?””
His eyes softened.
“I'll explain.””
“No.””
Ava shook her head.
“Everyone keeps saying they'll explain.””
She pointed toward Denise.
“She lied.””
Then toward Thomas.
“He brought me paperwork.””
Then back toward her father.
“And you show up after eighteen years and tell me I have a sister.””
Her father swallowed.
“You deserve the truth.””
“Then tell me now.””
He looked at Denise.
“Her name is Lily.””
Denise's face crumpled.
Ava noticed.
“You know her.””
Denise didn't answer.
Ava's voice dropped.
“You know her.””
“I've never met her.””
“You're lying again.””
Robert stepped forward.
“Denise, enough.””
She looked at him.
“I never wanted this to happen.””
Robert shook his head.
“What did you do?””
“I did what I thought I had to do.””
Ava stared at her father.
“Why did you go to prison?””
His eyes lowered.
“I was convicted of fraud.””
“Did you do it?””
“No.””
“Then why didn't you fight?””
“I did.””
His voice broke.
“I fought until I had nothing left.””
Ava looked at Thomas.
“Is that true?””
Thomas nodded.
“New evidence overturned his conviction last year.””
Maya stepped closer.
“Then why did he wait until now?””
Thomas answered.
“Because your father wasn't released with a clean slate.””
Ava frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“He spent years trying to locate you.””
Her father looked at her.
“Your mother changed your records. Your school. Your address. Even your surname.””
Ava looked at Denise.
“You erased me from him?””
Denise whispered, “I saved you.””
“From what?””
Denise's lips trembled.
“From your grandfather.””
Ava went still.
“My grandfather?””
Her father closed his eyes.
“He was the real reason I went to prison.””
Robert stared at him.
“What are you saying?””
“My father controlled the company. When I discovered he was moving money through fake accounts, I threatened to expose him.””
Thomas opened his briefcase.
“We have bank records confirming it.””
Maya looked at the papers.
“So Ava's father was framed?””
“Yes,” Thomas said.
Ava looked at Denise.
“Then why hide me?””
Denise's tears fell freely now.
“Because your grandfather threatened to take you.””
Ava whispered, “And you believed him?””
“I was twenty-two years old.””
“You could have told me.””
“I was terrified.””
Her father stepped forward.
“You weren't the only one.””
Ava looked at him.
“What?””
He reached into his coat and pulled out an old envelope.
“I received this six years ago.””
He handed it to her.
Ava opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
A teenage girl stood beside an older woman.
The girl looked familiar.
Very familiar.
Ava stared at the picture.
Maya leaned over her shoulder.
“Oh my God.””
Ava looked at her.
“What?””
Maya pointed at the girl.
“She looks like you.””
Ava's heart began pounding.
Her father nodded.
“That's Lily.””
“Where is she?””
He looked toward the black sedan.
“She came with me.””
Ava turned.
The rear door opened.
A young woman stepped out.
She was about Ava's age.
Same dark eyes.
Same curved eyebrows.
Same small scar near the left side of her chin.
Ava stopped breathing.
The woman looked at her.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Lily whispered:
“You have Mom's eyes.””
Ava's lips parted.
“Mom?””
Lily's face changed.
“You don't know?””
Denise suddenly screamed.
“Lily, don't!””
Everyone froze.
Lily looked at Denise.
“You've lied to her for eighteen years.””
Denise covered her mouth.
Lily took another step toward Ava.
“I didn't come here to take anything from you.””
Ava's voice shook.
“Then why are you here?””
“Because Dad wanted to meet you.””
Ava looked at her father.
“Why did you never come before?””
His eyes filled with tears.
“I tried.””
Lily reached into her purse.
“There is one more thing.””
She pulled out a folded document.
Ava stared at it.
“What is that?””
Lily hesitated.
“A copy of our mother's original birth record.””
Ava's stomach dropped.
“Your mother?””
Lily looked directly at her.
“Our mother.””
Ava slowly turned toward Denise.
“No.””
Denise began sobbing.
Ava shook her head.
“No. Don't do this.””
Her father stepped forward.
“Ava…”
She backed away.
“You said he was my father.””
He nodded.
“He is.””
“Then who is Lily's mother?””
Nobody answered.
Ava looked at the birth certificate again.
The mother's name was clearly printed across the page.
*Denise Brooks.*
Ava's hands went numb.
She looked at Lily.
“You're my sister.””
Lily nodded.
Then she said quietly:
“Not your stepsister.””
Ava looked toward the Mercedes.
Toward Maya.
Toward the family she had known all her life.
And suddenly, the birthday gift no longer mattered.
Because the woman she had called her stepsister for ten years was staring at her with tears in her eyes.
And Ava finally realized there was one question nobody had answered.
May you like
If Lily was her biological sister…
*who was Ava's real mother?*
