Chapter 13: The Father I Thought I Knew
The phone slipped from my hand.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The world continued outside my window.
Cars passed.
People walked by.
A dog barked somewhere down the street.
But inside that room, everything stopped.
“My father?””
The word came out like a question.
Like if I said it differently, the answer would change.
James picked up the phone.
“Claire.””
I looked at him.
“Did she say my father?””
He didn’t answer.
Because he heard it too.
Detective Harris stepped closer.
“Who was on the phone?””
I looked at him.
“My sister.””
“Where is she?””
“I don’t know.””
“What did she say?””
I stared at the floor.
“She said my father was involved.””
Nobody spoke.
Then James shook his head.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“You don’t believe it?””
“I believe something happened.””
His voice softened.
“But I don’t believe your father would hurt Emma.””
Neither did I.
That was the worst part.
Because my entire life, Richard Walker had been the one person I trusted completely.
He taught me to swim.
He waited outside my school when I was sick.
He sat beside my bed after nightmares.
He was the person who told me monsters weren’t real.
Now I had to wonder if one had been living inside my family the entire time.
Detective Harris looked at me.
“We need to talk to your father.””
I nodded.
“Now.””
We found him at my parents’ house.
He was sitting alone in the living room.
The Christmas tree lights were still blinking.
The same room where everything had started.
When Dad saw our faces, he knew.
“What happened?””
I walked inside.
“Where were you the night I was born?””
His expression changed.
Not confusion.
Fear.
“Claire…”
“Answer me.””
My father looked older suddenly.
“I was at the hospital.””
“Everyone knows that.””
I stepped closer.
“What happened after?””
He looked at Detective Harris.
Then back at me.
“Who told you?””
“Lauren.””
His face tightened.
“She shouldn’t have.””
“Why?””
He didn’t answer.
My voice broke.
“Why shouldn’t she tell me the truth?””
He sat down.
“Because she promised.””
“Promised what?””
He rubbed his face.
“To protect you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone loves saying that.””
My mother appeared in the hallway.
“Claire.””
I turned.
“Did you know?””
Her eyes filled.
“Your father made mistakes.””
My chest tightened.
“That’s not an answer.””
Dad stood.
“Claire, listen to me.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I spent my whole life believing you saved me.””
He looked away.
“I did.””
“Then why is everyone afraid of the truth?””
Silence.
Finally, my father whispered:
“Because the truth is complicated.””
“Try me.””
He looked toward the Christmas tree.
Then said:
“The night you were born, Daniel took you.””
I nodded.
“I know.””
“But that wasn’t the first problem.””
“What was?””
He swallowed.
“Victor wasn’t the only person trying to control what happened to you.””
I felt cold.
“Who else?””
He looked at me.
“Your grandfather.””
I froze.
“My grandfather?””
Dad nodded.
“He wanted you gone.””
The room became silent.
“Why?””
“Because he believed Lauren was ruining her life.””
I stared.
“He wanted her to give me up?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he was obsessed with appearances.””
Dad’s voice shook.
“He thought a teenage pregnancy would destroy the family.””
I looked at my mother.
“And you let him?””
She started crying.
“We were young.””
“That excuse doesn’t work anymore.””
Dad closed his eyes.
“Your grandfather paid someone to handle the situation.””
My stomach dropped.
“Who?””
Dad looked at me.
“Victor.””
I stepped back.
“What?””
“Victor wasn’t just someone from Lauren’s past.””
His voice became quiet.
“He was hired.””
The room tilted.
“He was supposed to convince Lauren to give you up.””
James looked shocked.
“And when that failed?””
Dad nodded.
“He became obsessed.””
I could barely breathe.
“So everyone knew?””
“No.””
Dad shook his head.
“Not everyone.””
“Who knew?””
His silence answered.
“Mom knew.””
My mother covered her face.
“And Lauren?””
Dad looked at me.
“Lauren found out years later.””
I whispered:
“That’s why she was afraid.””
“Yes.””
A new message appeared on my phone.
Everyone looked.
Unknown number.
But this time, there was no threat.
Only one sentence.
*Ask Richard why Emma was never supposed to exist.*
May you like
I stared at my father.
And he looked terrified.
