Chapter 3: The Woman Who Stole a Daughter
The investigation uncovered everything.
Cassandra had created an entire story.
She convinced everyone that Lily was abandoned.
She bribed hospital employees.
She changed records.
She paid people to erase Ava Carter from existence.
But the biggest question remained:
Why?
Why would someone go that far?
The answer came from an old hospital employee.
A nurse named Maria.
She arrived at the mansion carrying a small envelope.
When she saw me, tears filled her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
I froze.
“You know me?”
Maria nodded.
“I was there the night Lily was born.”
My hands began shaking.
“What happened?”
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
A newborn baby.
My baby.
“My daughter…”
Maria nodded.
“She was alive.”
The room disappeared.
Everything went silent.
“She was never dead?”
“No.”
Maria wiped her tears.
“She was healthy. Beautiful. But Cassandra wanted a child desperately.”
My blood turned cold.
“She stole her.”
Maria nodded.
“She paid people to make it look like you didn’t survive.”
I covered my mouth.
Three years.
Three years believing my daughter was gone.
Three years mourning a child who was sleeping in another woman’s house.
Then Lily walked into the room.
She looked at the photograph.
And whispered:
“That’s me.”
May you like
Everyone froze.
Because she recognized herself.
