Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew Daisy’s Secret
I didn’t let Emily inside immediately.
Maybe that sounds cold.
Maybe someone else would have invited her in, offered coffee, asked questions.
But my entire world had changed overnight.
A stranger showing up at my door claiming to know the baby in my house was not something I could casually accept.
“Why are you here?”” I asked.
Emily looked at me.
“Because I waited too long.””
The answer confused me.
“Waited for what?””
“To tell you the truth.””
Behind me, I heard Christopher walking closer.
The moment Emily saw him, her expression changed.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
“You know him,” I said.
Christopher stopped.
Emily looked at him.
“Yes.””
My heart sank.
“Christopher?””
He didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“Rebecca,” he said carefully, “I can explain.””
I turned around.
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“No more explanations after someone else shows up knowing more about my husband’s life than I do.””
Emily lowered her eyes.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked back at her.
“How do you know Christopher?””
She hesitated.
“I knew Lauren.””
The name immediately changed the atmosphere.
Christopher’s face went pale.
“You were friends with her?””
Emily nodded.
“Best friends.””
“Where is she?”” Christopher asked.
Emily’s expression broke.
“She’s gone.””
The room became silent.
“Gone where?””
Emily swallowed.
“She died six months ago.””
My hand moved to my mouth.
Christopher looked stunned.
“Died?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Cancer.””
He stepped back.
I watched the shock move across his face.
For a moment, I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
Then I remembered the years of secrets.
“Why didn’t you tell him?””
Emily looked at Christopher.
“Because Lauren didn’t want him to know.””
“Why?””
Emily looked down.
“Because she was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
No one answered.
I looked between them.
“What was Lauren afraid of?””
Emily whispered:
“Someone finding out Daisy was alive.””
A cold feeling spread through me.
Alive.
Not lost.
Not gone.
Alive.
Twenty-two years ago, everyone believed Lauren’s baby had died.
But Daisy was alive.
And she was now sleeping in my nursery.
“How old is Daisy?”” I asked.
Emily looked confused.
“What?””
“How old is she?””
“Rebecca…”
“How old?””
“Newborn.””
I shook my head.
“That’s not what I mean.””
Emily understood.
Her face changed.
“She’s twenty-two years old.””
The words hit me.
“No.””
“Yes.””
I looked toward the nursery.
The baby.
The tiny hands.
The soft breathing.
It didn’t make sense.
“That’s impossible.””
Emily nodded sadly.
“I know how it sounds.””
“Then explain it.””
She took a deep breath.
“Lauren was pregnant twenty-two years ago. But she didn’t lose the baby.””
Christopher stepped forward.
“Then why did she tell me that?””
Emily looked at him.
“Because someone forced her to.””
The room went silent.
“Who?”” I asked.
Emily looked afraid.
“I don’t know if I should say.””
“You came to my house.””
I stepped closer.
“You walked into my life.””
“You mentioned my husband.””
“You mentioned my daughter.””
“You don’t get to stop now.””
Emily closed her eyes.
Then she whispered:
“Your father-in-law.””
Christopher froze.
“What?””
I looked at him.
“What did she say?””
Emily looked at Christopher.
“Your father.””
A strange silence followed.
Christopher’s father had been dead for seven years.
A man I had met only a handful of times.
A serious businessman.
Cold.
Demanding.
A man who always seemed disappointed in Christopher.
“You’re saying my father knew Lauren?””
Emily nodded.
“He found out about the pregnancy.””
“How?””
“I don’t know.””
“And what did he do?””
Emily looked at me.
“He paid Lauren to disappear.””
My entire body went numb.
Christopher shook his head.
“No.””
Emily looked at him sadly.
“You don’t want to believe it.””
“My father would never do that.””
“He did.””
“Why?””
Emily’s voice became softer.
“Because he thought Lauren would ruin your future.””
Christopher stared.
“What future?””
“The future where you married Rebecca.””
I felt like the air had disappeared.
My name.
My marriage.
My family.
Everything was suddenly connected.
“He knew about me?””
Emily nodded.
“Your father knew you were planning to propose.””
I looked at Christopher.
He looked as shocked as I felt.
“He wanted you to cut ties with Lauren completely.””
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“It does if you knew your father.””
Christopher went quiet.
Because he did.
Better than anyone.
“What happened to Daisy?””
Emily’s eyes filled with tears.
“Lauren couldn’t raise her openly.””
“So where was she?””
“With people who protected her.””
“Who?””
Emily looked away.
“I can’t tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because those people are still watching.””
A chill ran through me.
“Watching?””
Emily nodded.
“Lauren spent twenty-two years hiding Daisy.””
“From who?””
May you like
Emily looked directly at me.
“From the same person who tried to erase her existence.””
