Chapter 28 - The Confession Lorraine Changed
Confronted with Claudia’s recording, Lorraine finally revealed Evelyn Shaw’s identity.
Evelyn was Andrew’s former lover.
She was also Lillian’s biological mother.
After becoming pregnant, Evelyn approached Andrew and asked him to leave Lorraine. Andrew refused, but offered to help raise the child.
Evelyn agreed to a private placement with Andrew and Lorraine.
Then she discovered Claudia Voss’s network.
Instead of surrendering Lillian, Evelyn began working with Claudia.
“She wanted to punish Andrew,” Lorraine said. “She told him Lillian had been taken by another family. She made him spend years searching.”
“Did she take Leah too?” Jake asked.
Lorraine’s silence answered him.
Evelyn had been present at the hospital when Jake and Leah were born, using a false administrative position. She selected Leah because she knew losing a daughter would reopen Lorraine’s deepest wound.
“Why didn’t you tell the police?” Megan asked.
“Evelyn threatened to expose the payment we made for Lillian.”
“You protected yourself.”
“I protected my family.”
Jake stood abruptly.
“No. You protected the version of the family you wanted everyone to believe.”
Lorraine’s eyes filled with anger.
“You think Megan is different? You think she would tell you every secret if it meant losing her child?”
Megan did not react.
Lorraine leaned toward the glass.
“Evelyn sent me the financial records while Jake was deployed. Martin gave me the petition, but Evelyn gave me the photographs of Emma. She wanted me frightened. She wanted me to become exactly what the court believed I was.”
“You chose to threaten me,” Megan said.
“Yes.”
For once, Lorraine offered no excuse.
Then she revealed the most important detail.
Evelyn had contacted her after Grace’s birth.
“She said Grace proved Andrew’s bloodline continued,” Lorraine whispered. “She said the final placement could begin.”
“What placement?” Jake demanded.
May you like
Lorraine looked toward Detective Bennett.
“The one Andrew died trying to stop.”
