Chapter 61 - THE LAST FILE
My father wouldn't look at me.
My mother was crying silently.
My grandfather sat motionless in the corner.
Julian stood beside me.
For once, none of them had an explanation ready.
I looked at my father.
“You said my mother isn't the woman I thought she was.”
He swallowed.
“She raised you.”
“That isn't what I asked.”
He nodded.
“No. She isn't your biological mother.”
I turned toward the woman who had raised me.
“Mom?”
She covered her face.
“I wanted to tell you.”
“When?”
“Every year.”
“Then why didn't you?”
“Because your biological mother was alive.”
My heart stopped.
“Who is she?”
My father reached for the black folder.
Before he could open it, my grandfather stood.
“Michael.”
My father looked at him.
“You promised.”
“I promised to protect her.”
“You can't protect her with another lie.”
My father slowly opened the folder.
Inside was a photograph.
A young woman.
Dark hair.
A small scar beneath her eye.
She was holding a newborn baby.
Me.
I stared at the photograph.
“Who is she?”
My father whispered:
“Her name was Elena.”
I looked at my mother.
She nodded through tears.
“Your real mother.”
Then my father turned the photograph over.
There was another name written underneath.
Elena Reed — deceased.
I stared.
“You said she was alive.”
My father shook his head.
“She was.”
“Then what happened?”
May you like
He closed his eyes.
“She disappeared three days after you were born.”
