The Daughter Who Had Everything to Lose
Chapter 14 - The Daughter Who Had Everything to Lose
Rachel Whitaker was thirty-two.
She was composed, intelligent, and furious.
She looked directly at Ethan.
“This isn't personal.”
Ethan almost laughed.
“It feels personal.”
Rachel turned toward her father.
“You meet a stranger at work, he carries an old photograph, and suddenly he's your son?”
Thomas explained everything.
The letters.
Margaret's confession.
Samuel.
Lily's journal.
Rachel remained unconvinced.
Marisol's patience disappeared.
“Your grandmother admitted it.”
“My grandmother is eighty-four and emotionally unstable.”
Thomas stiffened.
“Rachel.”
“No, Dad. Someone has to think clearly.”
Ethan stood.
“You're right.”
Everyone turned.
He lifted his duffel.
“You don't know me.”
Rachel hesitated.
“And I don't know you.”
Ethan continued.
“I didn't come here for your father. I didn't come for money. I didn't even know Thomas existed until my mother was dying.”
He picked up Lily's photograph.
“I came because she asked me to find her sister.”
Rachel's anger softened slightly.
Ethan walked toward the door.
Thomas tried to stop him.
Ethan shook his head.
“She's allowed to be angry.”
Rachel looked surprised.
“Her life changed too.”
Ethan left.
For the first time, Rachel saw him as something other than a threat.
That night, she visited Margaret alone.
She demanded the truth.
Margaret gave it to her.
Every ugly piece.
Then Margaret told Rachel something no one else knew.
After Lily disappeared, Thomas had searched for her for almost five years.
He had postponed marrying Rebecca twice.
Rachel's mother had known about Lily.
And Rebecca had once made Margaret promise that if Lily was ever found, Thomas deserved to know.
Rachel's eyes filled.
“My mother knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell Dad?”
Margaret looked toward the window.
“Cowardice.”
Rachel left without saying goodbye.
At six the next morning, she drove to Marisol's house.
Ethan was sleeping on the couch.
Rachel sat across from him until he woke.
Then she said quietly:
“I owe you an apology.”
But she had brought something else.
May you like
A letter written by her mother before she died.
And it was addressed to Lily.
