Chapter 7 - EVELYN FINALLY TOLD DANIEL THE WHOLE STORY
Months later, mediated meeting.
Evelyn.
Daniel.
No me at first.
She told.
She met Thomas at twenty.
He was thrilling.
Then terrifying.
Debt.
Disappearing.
Infidelity.
When pregnant, she realized she did not want him raising child.
Then Robert.
Kind.
Stable.
He knew she was pregnant.
He chose.
Why no clean adoption?
Thomas weaponized signature.
Asked for money.
Robert refused initially.
Then eventually paid settlement so Daniel could use Carter surname and avoid custody fight.
But paperwork stalled.
Then grandfather amendment solved inheritance designation.
Family stopped caring legal loose ends.
Then Thomas reappeared periodically.
After Robert died, Evelyn no longer had someone to stand beside her.
So she paid.
Why lie Thomas dead?
Because easier than explaining.
Then Daniel:
“You made me mourn a dead man who never existed in my life.”
Evelyn cried.
“I wanted Robert to be your only father.”
“He was.”
Then:
“You didn’t need to kill Thomas in story for that.”
There.
Then wedding theft.
She said:
“I panicked.”
Then slap.
“I hated Mia for seeing me cornered.”
But I hadn’t yet.
She projected.
Then Daniel asked:
“Do you hate her now?”
“No.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
Honest.
Then:
“Why?”
“She changed you.”
Daniel replied:
“I changed.”
Good.
Then:
“And you blamed her because you preferred me dependent.”
May you like
Evelyn did not answer.
That was answer.
