Chapter 10 - The Woman Who Stole Another Mother’s Child
The voice outside the door was calm.
That was what frightened me most.
Doreen was not angry.
She was not panicking.
She was not afraid that we discovered her secret.
She sounded like someone who had already prepared for this moment.
“You were never supposed to find out.”
The words echoed through the dark hallway.
Nathan stepped forward.
“Mom.”
Silence.
Then Doreen answered.
“I am disappointed in you.”
Nathan’s face changed.
Not because she threatened him.
Because even now, after everything, a part of him still wanted her approval.
“You lied to me.”
Doreen sighed.
“As usual, you are being emotional.”
I almost laughed.
The irony was unbearable.
She had spent weeks trying to convince everyone I was unstable.
Yet she was the one manipulating everyone around her.
Mae moved closer to the door.
“Do not open it.”
Nathan looked at me.
“I need to talk to her.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“You have talked to her your entire life.”
“Now she needs to answer to us.”
The door opened slightly.
Security officers stood outside.
Behind them was Doreen.
Perfect hair.
Perfect clothing.
Perfect expression.
Like this was a normal family conversation.
“Leah.”
She smiled.
“I am glad you are finally calm.”
My stomach turned.
“Calm?”
“You have been hiding from hospital staff.”
“You have been refusing medical evaluation.”
“You have been influenced by strangers.”
Her eyes moved toward Mae and Simone.
She was building her story.
Again.
“She is manipulating everyone.”
Doreen pointed at Mae.
“She has become emotionally attached to the patient.”
Mae’s face hardened.
“That is a lie.”
Doreen ignored her.
Then she looked at Nathan.
“Come home.”
Nathan stared at her.
“No.”
The hallway became silent.
Doreen blinked.
A tiny moment of surprise.
Because she was not used to hearing that word from him.
“No?”
Nathan shook his head.
“No.”
“You told me Leah was dangerous.”
“You told me she could not raise our son.”
“You told me you were protecting our family.”
His voice broke.
“But you were protecting yourself.”
Doreen’s smile disappeared.
“You do not understand what you are saying.”
“No.”
Nathan stepped closer.
“For the first time in my life, I do.”
Then Doreen said something unexpected.
Something that changed the entire situation.
“Ask him.”
Everyone froze.
Nathan frowned.
“Ask who?”
Doreen looked at the letter in his hand.
“Ask Ethan.”
My breath caught.
Nathan stared at her.
“You know where he is?”
Doreen smiled.
A cold, terrifying smile.
“I know everything.”
The security officers looked confused.
Mae whispered:
“She is not afraid.”
I understood why.
Doreen still had control.
She always had.
Then she leaned closer.
“Ethan was never the problem.”
“His mother was.”
I felt a chill.
“His mother?”
Doreen looked at me.
“Yes.”
“You think I stole a child?”
Her smile widened.
“You have no idea what really happened.”
Then she turned away.
Before leaving, she said:
“Ask your husband why his family has always been built on lies.”
The doors closed.
Nathan stood frozen.
I looked at him.
“What did she mean?”
He looked terrified.
“I don’t know.”
May you like
But I knew something.
Doreen had just revealed the truth was even darker than we imagined.
