Chapter 9 - The Woman at the Door
Hannah expected to feel joy.
Instead, she felt fear.
Dean Grant told her Emily was staying at a private rehabilitation facility outside the city.
She had been found through a decades-old identity trail.
Hannah drove there with Dean Grant.
The entire journey passed in silence.
When they arrived, a nurse led them down a quiet hallway.
A woman stood beside a window.
Older.
Thinner.
Her hair streaked with gray.
But Hannah recognized the eyes.
The same eyes from the photograph.
Emily turned.
For several seconds, neither woman moved.
Then Emily whispered.
"Hannah."
Hannah couldn't answer.
Emily covered her mouth.
"You grew up."
Hannah's eyes filled with tears.
"You know me."
"I've always known you."
"Why didn't you find me?"
Emily's face collapsed.
"I tried."
"Why didn't you come?"
"They told me you were dead."
Hannah froze.
"Who?"
Emily looked toward the hallway.
"Richard."
Hannah closed her eyes.
Emily continued.
"He told me you had died after birth."
"But you knew I was alive."
"Years later."
"How?"
Emily touched the photograph on the table.
"Your grandmother found me."
Hannah's voice trembled.
"My grandmother?"
"She told me you were alive."
"Then why didn't you take me?"
Emily began crying.
"Because by then, Richard had power."
"What power?"
"He controlled the hospital records."
Hannah stared at her.
"How?"
"Money."
That word explained too much.
Emily looked at her daughter.
"I fought him."
"What happened?"
"He threatened everyone."
"Who?"
"Doctors. Nurses. Your grandmother."
Hannah felt sick.
"And Linda?"
Emily looked away.
"Linda knew."
Hannah's voice became cold.
"She knew."
"Yes."
"She knew I wasn't her biological daughter?"
Emily nodded.
"Then why did she raise me?"
Emily looked at her.
"Because Richard promised her something."
"What?"
"I don't know."
Hannah stepped closer.
"Why did he take me?"
Emily's expression changed.
Fear returned.
"I don't know."
"You must know something."
"I know what happened the night you were born."
Hannah waited.
Emily whispered.
"You weren't the only baby born that night."
Silence.
"There were twins."
Hannah stopped.
"What?"
Emily nodded.
"You had a twin."
Hannah's mind went blank.
"Where is she?"
Emily looked at the floor.
"I don't know."
"Does Richard know?"
"Yes."
"Does Linda know?"
Emily hesitated.
"Yes."
Hannah felt the world shift again.
Allison.
Her sister.
The woman who had grown up beside her.
The woman who had always been favored.
Hannah whispered.
"Allison."
Emily looked at her.
"I never said her name."
Hannah stared.
Emily's eyes widened.
Then she whispered.
"Oh God."
May you like
A terrible realization crossed both their faces.
"Allison may not be your sister."
