Chapter 3 - THE FAMILY SECRETVanessa looked around the room.
Everyone was watching her.
She suddenly pointed at Lily.
“She changed this family.”
I held Lily tighter.
“What does that mean?”
Vanessa's voice cracked.
“She was never supposed to be here.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Stop.”
“No.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“You've spent seven years pretending everything is perfect.”
Grandma's expression hardened.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
Vanessa laughed.
“You know exactly what I'm talking about, Eleanor.”
Daniel looked at his mother.
“Mom?”
Grandma didn't answer.
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What is she talking about?”
Grandma finally looked at me.
“There are things about Lily's birth that you were never told.”
Daniel immediately stepped between us.
“Mom, not here.”
I stared at my husband.
“You knew?”
He looked away.
That hurt more than Vanessa's accusation.
“You knew?”
Daniel swallowed.
“I knew there were questions.”
“What questions?”
Before he could answer, Vanessa interrupted.
“Ask him who Lily's biological father is.”
The room exploded into whispers.
Lily looked confused.
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
Daniel grabbed Vanessa's arm.
“Enough!”
She pulled free.
“You've protected him for seven years.”
Grandma stood.
“You're leaving.”
Vanessa smiled.
“You think throwing me out will change the truth?”
She leaned toward me.
“Ask your husband what happened seven years ago.”
Then she walked toward the door.
May you like
But before she left, she whispered:
“Lily isn't the child you think she is.”
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