Chapter 8: The Truth Daniel Buried
The next morning, Lily refused to let me drive.
“I need to do this.””
I looked at her.
“You’re sure?””
She nodded.
For the first time in weeks, she looked like the confident girl I remembered.
Not because she had everything figured out.
Because she finally knew she deserved answers.
Daniel’s office was downtown.
A glass building with expensive furniture and people wearing expensive clothes.
The kind of place where everything looked perfect.
Just like Daniel’s stories.
When we walked inside, the receptionist smiled.
“Can I help you?””
Lily stepped forward.
“I’m here to see Daniel.””
The receptionist glanced at her computer.
“Do you have an appointment?””
“No.””
The woman hesitated.
“Can I tell him who is here?””
Lily looked at me.
Then back.
“Tell him his daughter is here.””
Five minutes later, Daniel appeared.
The confidence on his face disappeared when he saw the folder in Lily’s hands.
“Where did you get those?””
Lily stared at him.
“Does it matter?””
His expression changed.
“Lily.””
“No.””
Her voice was calm.
And that seemed to scare him more.
“I have questions.””
He looked at me.
“This was your idea?””
I answered.
“No.””
Lily stepped between us.
“Stop blaming her.””
Daniel blinked.
“What?””
“For once, stop making her the problem.””
The room became silent.
I had never heard Lily speak to him like that.
Not once.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Sweetheart, you don’t understand what you found.””
“Then explain.””
He looked away.
“Your mother wasn’t stable.””
“Claire said she was.””
Daniel’s face tightened.
“Who?””
“Everyone.””
That word landed.
Because suddenly he wasn’t controlling the conversation.
Lily placed the photograph on his desk.
“Why are you in this picture?””
Daniel stared at it.
No answer.
“Why are you smiling?””
Still nothing.
“Why did you tell me she abandoned me?””
His jaw tightened.
“I was protecting you.””
“No.””
Lily shook her head.
“You were protecting yourself.””
His eyes hardened.
“You’re being influenced.””
“I’m being informed.””
“By people who don’t know the whole story.””
Lily laughed sadly.
“Neither did I.””
Daniel stood.
“Lily, listen to me.””
“No. You listen.””
Her voice broke.
“I spent eighteen years thinking my own mother didn’t want me.””
Daniel said nothing.
“I spent years wondering what was wrong with me.””
A tear fell.
“And the whole time, she was writing letters.””
His expression softened slightly.
But it wasn’t enough.
“I was trying to keep you safe.””
“From what?””
He didn’t answer.
“From love?””
Silence.
I watched Daniel carefully.
Because I knew him.
He always had an answer.
Always.
Except now.
Now he was cornered.
Finally, he whispered:
“She wanted to take you.””
Lily stared.
“She was your mother.””
“She wanted to remove you from my life.””
“You mean she wanted to be in mine.””
His face changed.
And I saw it.
The fear.
The truth hiding underneath.
“What happened at this address?”” Lily asked.
Daniel looked at the paper.
“What?””
“You know exactly what.””
He didn’t speak.
Lily stepped closer.
“Why did Rebecca write this?””
Daniel’s silence became an answer.
I felt something shift.
Then he said:
“She came here.””
My breath stopped.
“When?””
“Years ago.””
Lily’s eyes widened.
“She came to see me.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked at the floor.
“She wanted to tell you the truth.””
“And?””
He swallowed.
“I told her no.””
The room felt smaller.
“You told her no?””
“I said you had a family.””
Lily laughed.
A broken sound.
“She was my family.””
Daniel looked at her.
“I was trying to give you stability.””
“No.””
Her voice became stronger.
“You were trying to erase her.””
Daniel looked away.
And then Lily asked the question that changed everything.
“Where is she?””
No answer.
“Dad.””
Still nothing.
“Where is my mother?””
Daniel finally looked up.
And for the first time, he looked afraid.
“I don’t know.””
Lily studied him.
“You’re lying.””
“I’m not.””
“You always do this.””
“What?””
“You answer questions around the truth.””
Daniel’s phone suddenly rang.
He ignored it.
Then it rang again.
And again.
Finally, he looked at the screen.
His face went pale.
Lily noticed.
“Who is calling?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
I saw the name.
Rebecca.
My heart stopped.
Lily saw it too.
Her entire body froze.
“Dad…”
Daniel quickly turned the phone away.
But it was too late.
Lily whispered:
“She’s alive.””
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Then the phone rang again.
May you like
And this time…
Daniel answered.
