Chapter 2: Rachel’s Secret
Luke didn't answer.
The phone kept vibrating in his hand.
Eli.
Again.
Again.
Again.
I stared at the screen.
“Why is Eli calling you?””
Luke silenced it.
“It's nothing.””
I laughed once.
There was nothing funny about it.
“Everything is suddenly nothing.””
He looked at me.
“Emily, you're exhausted. You just gave birth.””
“Don't.””
My voice came out quieter than I expected.
“Don't use that.””
Luke frowned.
“Use what?””
“My exhaustion. My fear. My baby.””
Rachel stepped forward.
“He's done this before.””
Luke snapped his head toward her.
“Rachel, stop talking.””
She flinched.
Then she looked at me.
“Emily, you deserve to know.””
Detective Harris nodded.
“Let her speak.””
Luke shook his head.
“You have no idea what you're doing.””
Rachel's eyes filled with tears.
“I know exactly what he's doing.””
She walked toward my bed.
“My baby was born yesterday at 3:07 in the morning.””
I listened without blinking.
“A little girl,” she continued.
“Healthy. Eight pounds, two ounces.””
Her voice cracked.
“They put her on my chest. I kissed her forehead.””
She wiped her cheek.
“Then they told me there had been a complication.””
“What complication?”” I asked.
Rachel stared at Luke.
“They said my baby had stopped breathing.””
The room seemed to shrink.
“I begged them to let me see her,” Rachel said.
“They wouldn't.””
Jasmine's eyes lowered.
Rachel continued.
“They brought me another woman’s baby and told me she was mine.””
I looked at June.
My daughter stirred in her sleep.
A tiny sound escaped her lips.
My heart broke.
“Then what happened?”” I whispered.
Rachel reached into her purse.
She pulled out a folded photograph.
It showed a newborn baby wearing a pink cap.
Rachel handed it to me.
“That was my daughter.””
I stared at the photograph.
There was a small birthmark on the baby's left shoulder.
I looked at June.
Her shoulder was covered by her blanket.
I slowly pulled it back.
There.
A tiny reddish mark.
Rachel gasped.
“That’s her.””
Luke stepped forward.
“No.””
Rachel turned on him.
“You told them she was dead!””
“I never said that.””
“You did!””
Detective Harris moved between them.
“Enough.””
I looked at Luke.
“You knew.””
His silence answered me.
My chest tightened.
“How long?””
“Emily—”
“How long have you known Rachel?””
He looked away.
Rachel laughed bitterly.
“Six months.””
My eyes widened.
“Six months?””
Luke finally said, “It's complicated.””
I almost couldn't breathe.
“Six months?””
Rachel nodded.
“He met me before you became pregnant.””
Luke snapped, “That's not what happened.””
“You were there when I had my first ultrasound,” Rachel said.
My stomach turned.
I remembered that day.
Luke had told me he couldn't come because of work.
He'd said his manager needed him.
I had gone alone.
Rachel stared at me.
“He wasn't working.””
I looked at Luke.
“You were with her?””
He said nothing.
“Why?””
Rachel's voice softened.
“Because he told me he was going to help me.””
“Help you with what?””
“My baby.””
She looked down at the photograph.
“Luke told me he could make sure my daughter went to a family that could give her a better life.””
I felt sick.
“A family?””
Luke stepped toward me.
“Emily, that's not what you think.””
“What do I think?””
He had no answer.
Rachel did.
“He wanted money.””
My ears rang.
“Money?””
Rachel nodded.
“He told me someone was willing to pay a lot for a newborn.””
I stared at Luke.
“You tried to sell my daughter?””
“No!””
Luke's voice exploded through the room.
Then he lowered it.
“I was trying to fix a problem.””
“What problem?””
He looked at me.
“Our debts.””
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Rachel shook her head.
“You weren't trying to fix anything. You were building something.””
Detective Harris glanced at her.
“What do you mean?””
Rachel reached into her purse again.
This time, she pulled out several printed messages.
“I kept everything.””
She handed them to the detective.
He read the first page.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get these?””
“From Luke.””
Luke's face drained of color.
I looked over the detective's shoulder.
I could see pieces of the conversation.
*Don't use the real names.*
*The hospital system is easy to manipulate.*
*Once the babies are discharged, nobody will question it.*
My hands went numb.
I whispered, “Who was the other person?””
Rachel looked at me.
“I don't know.””
“Someone else was involved?””
“Yes.””
Luke turned toward the door.
Detective Harris blocked him.
“Going somewhere?””
“I need air.””
“No.””
Luke looked furious.
Rachel suddenly pointed at him.
“He wasn't doing this alone.””
Luke closed his eyes.
“Rachel…”
“You promised me my daughter would be safe.””
“I made a mistake.””
“A mistake?””
Rachel's voice broke.
“You told me my baby was dead.””
I started crying.
Not because I understood everything.
Because I suddenly understood enough.
Luke had lied to me.
He had lied to Rachel.
And somehow, our two daughters had become pieces on the same board.
Then Detective Harris's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
His expression turned grim.
He looked at me.
“Emily, there's been an update.””
“What?””
“We found another mother.””
Rachel froze.
Detective Harris continued.
“And she says Luke Carter promised her something too.””
Luke whispered one word.
“Damn.””
Rachel looked at him.
Then at me.
“Emily…”
“What?””
Rachel's face was filled with horror.
“She isn't looking for her baby.””
May you like
She pointed at Luke.
“She's looking for *you*.””
