Chapter 12: The Woman Who Held Two Babies
I stared at the message.
Come alone if you want to meet your daughter.
Every instinct told me to go.
Every instinct told me it was a trap.
But somewhere out there was a child who might be connected to Ava.
A child who might have spent years wondering why nobody came.
I looked at Maria.
“Who took Lily?””
She didn’t answer.
“Maria.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t know.””
I knew she was lying.
Not because she was cruel.
Because she was afraid.
“You know something.””
She looked down.
“I know someone who might.””
“Who?””
Maria closed her eyes.
Then said:
“Simone’s sister.””
I froze.
“Simone has a sister?””
“Yes.””
“How have I never heard of her?””
Maria looked at me.
“Because Simone erased her.””
The words were unbelievable.
“Why?””
Maria took a breath.
“Because her sister was there that night.””
The hospital.
The babies.
The secret.
I grabbed my coat.
“I’m going.””
Maria stood.
“Darius.””
“I’m not waiting anymore.””
She stepped in front of me.
“Listen to me.””
I stopped.
“Whoever sent that message wants you emotional.””
“They have a child.””
“We don’t know that.””
I looked at her.
“But you do.””
She went silent.
That was the answer.
I lowered my voice.
“Tell me.””
Maria sat down.
Her hands shook.
“Her name was Renee.””
“Was?””
Maria nodded.
“Simone’s older sister.””
“What happened to her?””
Maria looked at the hospital bracelet.
“She was the one who helped Simone leave the hospital.””
My heart sank.
“Renee took Ava?””
Maria shook her head.
“No.””
She looked at me.
“Renee took Lily.””
The room went silent.
“Why?””
Maria’s voice became barely a whisper.
“Because she believed Simone deserved one child.””
I felt sick.
One child.
As if children were things people could divide.
Assign.
Choose.
“What happened after?””
Maria looked away.
“She disappeared with Lily.””
“Where?””
“I don’t know.””
“Then why is she contacting me now?””
Maria didn’t answer.
My phone buzzed.
Another message.
A picture.
Not Ava.
A different little girl.
A child around the same age.
Curly hair.
Big eyes.
Holding a stuffed rabbit.
Under the picture:
She deserves to know who her father is.
My hands shook.
I stared at the image.
The resemblance was impossible to ignore.
The same eyes as Ava.
The same small smile.
I whispered:
“Lily.””
Maria nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
I looked at her.
“Why now?””
Before Maria could answer, the front door opened.
I turned quickly.
Simone walked inside.
Alone.
She looked exhausted.
“I know about Lily.””
My body went still.
Maria stood.
“You followed him?””
Simone ignored her.
She looked at me.
“Darius, you can’t go.””
I stared at her.
“You don’t get to tell me what I can do.””
“I know.””
Her voice was quiet.
“I know I lost that right.””
For once, she wasn’t trying to control the situation.
She looked broken.
“I need to tell you the truth about Renee.””
I crossed my arms.
“Go ahead.””
Simone took a breath.
“Renee didn’t take Lily because she wanted to hurt us.””
“Then why?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because she thought Lily was in danger.””
I frowned.
“From who?””
Simone looked at me.
And whispered:
“From my father.””
The room froze.
“My grandfather?””
She nodded.
“Your father wasn’t the only person who knew.””
I felt a chill.
“What does that mean?””
Simone stepped closer.
“The reason everyone was trying to protect Ava wasn’t because of the hospital.””
She looked toward the picture of Ava on the wall.
“It was because someone wanted access to both children.””
“Who?””
She swallowed.
“The person who paid for the cover-up.””
I stared at her.
“Who?””
Simone’s voice broke.
“The person who has been searching for Lily all these years.””
A pause.
Then:
“Your own family’s lawyer.””
My phone buzzed again.
A new message.
May you like
This time, only four words.
I know where Ava sleeps.
