CHAPTER 7 The Woman Who Changed Lily’s Records
CHAPTER 7 The Woman Who Changed Lily’s Records
I didn’t speak during the drive back to the hotel.
Not one word.
Michael sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window.
For once, he had no explanation.
No warning.
No theory.
Nothing.
And somehow, that scared me more than his accusations against Diane.
Because Michael always seemed to know something.
But now?
Now he looked like a man who had just discovered the ground beneath him wasn’t real.
Lily sat in the back seat, humming softly to herself.
She was completely unaware that the adults around her were fighting over secrets connected to her existence.
She was just a little girl.
A little girl who wanted pancakes.
A little girl who trusted everyone.
And that was exactly why I had to keep going.
Because everyone else had been protecting themselves.
I was the only one protecting her.
When we arrived at the hotel, Jason was waiting outside.
My first instinct was anger.
My second was fear.
Because if Jason knew where we were…
who else knew?
He stepped toward us.
“Emma.”
I held up my hand.
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
“I need to talk to you.”
“No.”
His face changed.
“Emma, please.”
I looked at Lily.
Then at him.
“You lost the right to ask me for trust.”
Pain crossed his face.
But I didn’t let it affect me.
Not this time.
“What do you want?”
He lowered his voice.
“I need to explain what happened with the records.”
I looked at Michael.
Then back at Jason.
“Fine.”
I crossed my arms.
“Explain.”
Jason glanced at Michael.
“Not here.”
I almost smiled.
“Of course.”
“What?”
“You always need the perfect place.”
His eyebrows pulled together.
“What does that mean?”
“It means secrets are always easier when nobody else can hear them.”
Jason looked hurt.
But he stayed silent.
Finally, he said:
“The person who changed Lily’s records wasn’t Diane.”
My heart tightened.
“What?”
Jason looked at Michael.
“It was someone who worked for her.”
“Who?”
“A woman named Victoria Hale.”
Michael’s expression changed.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Who is she?”
Jason looked at him.
“You know her.”
Michael went pale.
“No.”
I looked between them.
“What?”
Jason took a breath.
“Victoria was the Bennett family attorney.”
Michael shook his head.
“She disappeared.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
Jason looked at me.
“After Michael left.”
The pieces started moving.
“Why would an attorney change hospital records?”
Jason looked down.
“Because she wasn’t just our family lawyer.”
“What was she?”
His answer was quiet.
“Diane’s closest ally.”
That night, after Lily fell asleep, we met in the hotel conference room.
I didn’t want Jason near my daughter without answers.
He understood.
Maybe for the first time, he understood boundaries.
Michael placed a photo on the table.
A woman in her fifties.
Elegant.
Professional.
Cold eyes.
“Victoria Hale.”
I studied the picture.
“She doesn’t look dangerous.”
Michael gave a bitter smile.
“Neither did Diane at first.”
Jason looked uncomfortable.
“Victoria knew everything.”
“Everything?”
“About the company.”
“About the money?”
“Yes.”
“About Lily?”
Jason nodded.
My stomach tightened.
“Then why did she change the records?”
Jason looked at me.
“Because Diane ordered her to.”
I shook my head.
“Why?”
Nobody answered.
I stood.
“Why?”
Jason finally spoke.
“Because the original records showed something Diane couldn’t allow.”
“What?”
He looked at me.
“Lily’s blood test.”
I froze.
“What blood test?”
Michael leaned forward.
“After birth, hospitals run standard tests.”
“Yes.”
“Lily’s results showed something unexpected.”
My heartbeat increased.
“What?”
Jason looked down.
“Something that questioned whether I was her biological father.”
Silence.
The words hit me like a physical blow.
I stared at him.
“No.”
“Emma…”
“No.”
I stepped back.
“You’re telling me you thought Lily wasn’t yours?”
Jason’s eyes filled with regret.
“Yes.”
“When did you find out?”
“Six months ago.”
I laughed.
But there was no humor.
“Six months ago.”
I repeated the words.
“You knew there was a possibility that our daughter wasn’t yours.”
“Yes.”
“And you stayed quiet?”
“I was trying to confirm it.”
“Without telling me?”
“I was afraid.”
I turned away.
Again.
Always fear.
Always an excuse.
But this time…
the excuse involved my daughter.
“What did Diane know?”
Jason answered:
“She knew before I did.”
My body went cold.
“How?”
“Because she ordered the test.”
“Why?”
Jason looked at me.
“Because she suspected you.”
I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“She suspected me?”
“She believed you were hiding something.”
I stared at him.
“After everything I gave this family?”
My voice shook.
“She thought I betrayed you?”
Jason looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
Michael suddenly spoke.
“That’s not the whole story.”
We both looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
Michael looked at Jason.
“You never told her why Diane suspected Emma.”
Jason became silent.
My heart started pounding.
“Jason?”
He looked away.
“Tell me.”
His voice was barely audible.
“Because before you met me…”
He stopped.
“Because what?”
He swallowed.
“Diane found out about someone from your past.”
My mind raced.
“What person?”
Jason didn’t answer.
Michael did.
“Your biological father.”
I froze.
“My father?”
Michael nodded.
“Diane discovered something about him.”
“What?”
He looked at me.
“He was connected to the Bennett family.”
The room went silent.
I felt dizzy.
“My father died when I was young.”
“I know.”
“Then how?”
Michael opened the folder.
He pulled out a document.
My hands shook as I read the first line.
Bennett Holdings Internal Report.
Then I saw the name.
My father’s name.
And underneath:
Former financial partner of Diane Bennett.
I couldn’t breathe.
“No.”
Jason stepped closer.
“Emma…”
I moved away.
“No.”
Because suddenly, everything changed.
The questions weren’t only about Lily anymore.
They were about me.
My past.
My family.
My entire life.
Diane hadn’t entered my marriage by accident.
She hadn’t investigated me because she was controlling.
She had known my name before I knew hers.
She had known my family.
And she had chosen Jason for a reason.
My phone suddenly vibrated.
A message appeared.
Unknown number.
One sentence.
My blood turned cold.
Ask Jason why your father really died.
I looked at Jason.
His face changed.
Because he knew.
He knew exactly what that message meant.
And for the first time…
May you like
I wondered if the biggest secret in my marriage wasn’t Lily.
Maybe it was me.
