Chapter 2 - THE SECRET SHE COULD NOT BURY Ethan couldn't explain why the little girl's voice had shaken him so deeply.
He remained kneeling in front of Lily.
“Why did you call me Daddy?”
Lily looked toward Elena.
Her mother had gone completely still.
“She heard me talking about you once,” Elena said.
It was a lie.
A necessary one.
Ethan stood slowly.
“Elena, we need to talk.”
Victoria stepped between them.
“There is nothing to talk about.”
Ethan looked at his wife.
“Victoria.”
“She is an employee.”
“I didn't ask what she was.”
His voice became colder.
“I asked why she is here.”
Victoria smiled.
“The agency sent her.”
“You knew she was coming?”
“Of course.”
Ethan glanced toward Elena.
“And you two know each other?”
Victoria answered before Elena could.
“They were apparently friends years ago.”
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
“Friends?”
Elena lowered her head.
“We knew each other.”
Seven years earlier, Ethan and Elena had been inseparable.
They had grown up in the same town. Ethan had been building his business while Elena worked two jobs to support her family.
They had dreamed of a small house.
A garden.
Children.
A simple life.
Then everything collapsed.
Elena's father became seriously ill. Her family fell into debt. At the same time, Ethan's company was facing a financial crisis.
And Victoria had entered Ethan's life.
She had money.
Connections.
Influence.
She convinced Ethan that Elena had abandoned him.
Elena, meanwhile, had received a different message.
A lawyer had told her Ethan wanted nothing more to do with her.
Then came threats.
Then the forged medical documents.
Then the disappearance.
By the time Elena understood what had happened, she was pregnant.
She gave birth to Lily alone.
Now seven years later, the truth stood in the same kitchen.
And Victoria knew it.
She had known for years.
After Ethan went upstairs, Victoria approached Elena.
Her voice became a whisper.
“You should have stayed gone.”
Elena looked at her.
“You destroyed my life.”
Victoria smiled.
“And I can destroy what's left.”
Elena's heart pounded.
Victoria leaned closer.
“I know Lily is Ethan's daughter.”
Elena's face drained of color.
Victoria continued.
“I found the medical records three years ago.”
“You forged them.”
“I paid people to make sure Ethan never learned the truth.”
Elena stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because you would have taken everything from me.”
“No,” Elena whispered. “You were afraid he would love me again.”
Victoria's eyes flashed.
“Be careful.”
She grabbed Elena's collar.
“Tell Ethan nothing.”
Lily began crying.
“Mommy?”
Victoria released Elena.
Then she smiled.
“You have until sunset.”
“Until sunset for what?”
“To leave.”
Victoria walked away.
Elena hugged Lily.
She looked toward the staircase.
Somewhere upstairs was the man she had loved for most of her life.
And for the first time, she realized that running might no longer protect her daughter.
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The truth had followed her here.
And Victoria was willing to do anything to bury it.
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