Chapter 11 - The Test
Rachel refused to believe another word without proof.
She demanded records.
DNA records.
Hospital records.
Anything.
Evelyn agreed.
Margaret refused.
That refusal was enough.
Rachel contacted a lawyer.
Within days, old records were being requested.
The family began splitting apart.
Vanessa stopped answering Margaret's calls.
Lily's father refused to let her visit Margaret.
And Rachel moved Emma somewhere safe.
But the question remained.
Who was Rachel's biological mother?
A test was arranged.
Rachel expected certainty.
Instead, the result created another mystery.
Evelyn was not Rachel's biological mother.
Rachel stared at the report.
"No."
The doctor confirmed it.
"I understand this is difficult."
Rachel shook her head.
"Then who is?"
The doctor couldn't answer.
Rachel called Margaret.
No response.
She called Vanessa.
Nothing.
Then she received a message.
Unknown number: Now you know why they lied.
Rachel typed.
Who am I?
The answer came minutes later.
Ask Margaret about the night Daniel brought you home.
Rachel's blood ran cold.
She drove straight to the old house.
Margaret was waiting.
Rachel walked inside.
"Tell me."
Margaret looked exhausted.
"I warned you."
"You lied to me."
"I protected you."
"You don't get to call it protection anymore."
Margaret sat down.
"Your father brought you to me."
"When?"
"The night you were born."
Rachel stared.
"That's impossible."
"No."
"Where was Evelyn?"
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"She wasn't there."
Rachel's voice shook.
"Then who was?"
Margaret looked at the floor.
"Another woman."
Rachel froze.
"Who?"
Margaret didn't answer.
Rachel slammed the report onto the table.
"Who is my mother?"
Margaret whispered.
"I don't know."
Rachel stared.
"What?"
"We knew the woman who gave birth to you as Sarah."
"Sarah who?"
"We never found out."
Rachel felt dizzy.
"Then why did you call Evelyn my real mother?"
Margaret closed her eyes.
"Because Evelyn raised you for the first four years."
Rachel stopped.
"You said she wasn't there."
"She wasn't there when you were born."
"Then she raised me?"
"Yes."
"Why don't I remember?"
Margaret began crying.
"Because after Daniel disappeared, everything fell apart."
Rachel sat down.
"What happened to Sarah?"
Margaret looked toward the locked upstairs room.
"We thought she was dead."
Rachel followed her gaze.
"Thought?"
Margaret nodded.
"Until three weeks ago."
Rachel's heart stopped.
"She's alive?"
Margaret didn't answer.
Rachel stood.
"Where?"
Margaret whispered.
"We received a letter."
"From her?"
Margaret nodded.
"What did it say?"
May you like
Margaret looked at Rachel.
"It said she wanted her daughter back."
