Chapter 11: The Woman Who Was Erased
For the first time that night, I felt lost.
Not angry.
Not betrayed.
Lost.
Because every answer opened another door.
Every door led to another secret.
I looked at Grace.
“What do you mean another woman?””
She didn’t answer.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the phone.
“Grace.””
She took a shaky breath.
“When I was pregnant, I met someone.””
My heart tightened.
“Who?””
She looked at Noah.
“A woman.””
Marcus frowned.
“Why didn’t you mention this before?””
Grace looked at him.
“Because I didn’t think it mattered.””
I stepped closer.
“What woman?””
Grace swallowed.
“Her name was Lily.””
The name meant nothing to me.
But the way Grace said it told me everything.
“She was at the hospital?””
“Yes.””
Dr. Bennett looked surprised.
“You knew Lily?””
Grace nodded.
“She was admitted the same day as me.””
The room became quiet.
“The same day Noah was born?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Dr. Bennett.
“What was her situation?””
He checked the records.
His expression changed.
“She had complications.””
“What kind?””
He hesitated.
“Complications involving her pregnancy.””
Grace closed her eyes.
“I remember her.””
She looked away.
“She was alone.””
I listened.
“She had no family there. No husband. Nobody.””
A sadness crossed her face.
“She was scared.””
I looked at the message again.
Find out what happened to his real mother.
“Are you saying Noah isn’t Lily’s child?””
Grace shook her head.
“No.””
“Then why does this matter?””
She looked at me.
“Because Lily saw what happened.””
A chill moved through me.
“What happened?””
Grace’s voice became quiet.
“She saw Simone.””
Everyone froze.
Marcus stepped forward.
“What did she see?””
Grace looked at me.
“Simone arguing with a nurse.””
Dr. Bennett’s face changed.
“A nurse?””
Grace nodded.
“She said Simone was asking questions about my baby.””
My jaw tightened.
“Why?””
Grace whispered:
“I don’t know.””
Then she added:
“But Lily knew.””
The hallway suddenly felt smaller.
I looked at Dr. Bennett.
“Where is Lily now?””
He looked through the records.
Then stopped.
“I don’t know.””
“What do you mean?””
Her file was incomplete.
Parts missing.
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course.””
More missing pieces.
More erased history.
Marcus took the folder.
“Someone has been cleaning records.””
Dr. Bennett nodded.
“Yes.””
I looked at Simone.
She had been silent for several minutes.
That scared me.
“Did you know Lily?””
She didn’t answer.
“Simone.””
Slowly, she looked up.
“Yes.””
My stomach dropped.
“How?””
Her eyes filled.
“Because Lily was my sister.””
The words hit everyone.
Grace stepped back.
“No.””
Simone nodded.
“She was my older sister.””
Nobody moved.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”” I asked.
Simone looked broken.
“Because Lily was the reason everything started.””
I stared.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at Noah.
“When Lily got pregnant, my family fell apart.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Simone.””
“No.””
Simone shook her head.
“I’m done hiding.””
For the first time all night, she looked honest.
“My sister was sick.””
Marcus frowned.
“What kind of sick?””
“She had a condition that made pregnancy dangerous.””
Grace whispered:
“She knew.””
Simone looked at her.
“Yes.””
A tear rolled down her face.
“Lily knew she might not survive.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Then what does this have to do with Noah?””
Simone looked at me.
“Everything.””
She took a breath.
“Because Lily made a decision before she died.””
Nobody spoke.
“What decision?””
Simone looked at Grace.
“She asked Grace to protect Noah.””
Grace’s eyes widened.
“What?””
Simone nodded.
“Lily knew something was wrong.””
Dr. Bennett looked shocked.
“She knew about the records?””
“Yes.””
I stared.
“Then why didn’t anyone tell me?””
Simone looked at the floor.
“Because Lily never got the chance.””
The hallway went silent.
“What happened to her?””
Nobody answered.
Then Evelyn whispered:
“She disappeared.””
My body went cold.
“When?””
“The night Noah was born.””
The same night.
The same hospital.
The same night everything changed.
I looked at Simone.
“You knew.””
She cried.
“Yes.””
“And you still lied?””
Her voice broke.
“I was afraid.””
I shook my head.
“You keep saying that.””
She looked at me.
“Because I was.””
She stepped closer.
“But I was also wrong.””
A security alarm suddenly sounded.
Everyone turned.
A guard ran toward us.
“Mr. Carter.””
“What?””
His face was pale.
“We found someone in the restricted archive room.””
My heart raced.
“Who?””
The guard looked down.
Then said:
“A woman.””
May you like
Nobody breathed.
“She says her name is Lily Whitmore.””
