Chapter 3: The Woman Behind The Lie
The darkness lasted only six seconds.
But six seconds was enough time for Emma to remember every nightmare she had lived through.
The hospital hallway.
The empty bassinet.
The locked doors.
The unanswered questions.
The feeling of reaching for something that was supposed to be hers and finding nothing.
Then the emergency lights flickered on.
A low red glow filled the restaurant.
People whispered nervously.
Chairs scraped against the floor.
Someone laughed awkwardly, pretending the sudden blackout was nothing more than an inconvenience.
But Emma knew better.
She looked at Adrian.
He wasn't looking at the lights.
He wasn't looking at the staff.
He was looking at the entrance.
Waiting.
Watching.
Like he expected someone to walk through those doors.
"Who was on the phone?"" Emma asked.
Adrian didn't answer.
"Who was it?""
His eyes stayed fixed ahead.
"Not here.""
Emma felt anger rise again.
"That's your answer for everything?""
His jaw tightened.
"Emma.""
"No.""
Her voice cut through the room.
"You don't get to tell me to stay calm anymore. You don't get to decide what I know and what I don't know.""
People nearby turned.
She didn't care.
"My son has been alive for five years.""
Her voice cracked.
"And I spent every single day thinking he was gone.""
Adrian lowered his voice.
"Keep your voice down.""
"Why?""
"Because if the person who called is watching—"
"Watching what?""
Emma stepped closer.
"Watching me finally find out the truth?""
Adrian looked at her.
And for the first time, she saw something that made her stop.
He wasn't hiding information because he didn't trust her.
He was hiding it because he was terrified.
"Someone has been looking for Leo," he said quietly.
Emma frowned.
"Someone?""
"Someone who knows things they shouldn't know.""
"Like what?""
Adrian glanced toward the corner of the room.
"The fact that you're here.""
Emma followed his eyes.
Nothing.
Just customers.
Just employees.
Just strangers.
But suddenly every person looked suspicious.
A man checking his phone.
A woman drinking coffee.
A couple sitting near the window.
Anyone could be watching.
"Who are they?"" Emma asked.
Adrian hesitated.
Then he said:
"My mother.""
The words landed strangely.
Emma stared.
"Your mother?""
Adrian nodded.
"The woman who told you Leo was gone.""
The air disappeared from Emma's lungs.
"No.""
"Emma—"
"No.""
She shook her head.
"Your mother?""
Adrian's expression hardened.
"Victoria Vale.""
The name felt familiar.
Not because Emma knew her.
Because she had heard it before.
A nurse.
A whispered conversation.
A name attached to a woman who walked through hospital corridors like she owned them.
Emma's fingers tightened around the envelope.
"Why would your mother do that?""
Adrian looked away.
"Because she thought she was protecting the Vale family.""
Emma almost laughed.
"Protecting?""
The bitterness in her voice surprised even herself.
"She stole my child.""
Adrian didn't argue.
Because he knew.
"Tell me everything.""
He looked at her.
"Now.""
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Adrian nodded.
"Five years ago, I found out I was going to be a father.""
Emma froze.
The words sounded impossible.
"You knew?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Three weeks before Leo was born.""
Emma searched his face.
"How?""
Adrian looked down.
"You told me.""
A strange ache moved through her.
"I told you?""
"Yes.""
"No.""
"You did.""
Emma shook her head.
"I would remember.""
Adrian's expression softened.
"You would remember if you were awake.""
Her eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?""
He looked toward the restaurant doors.
Then back at her.
"Before Leo was born, you were in a car accident.""
The memory came suddenly.
A flash.
Rain.
Headlights.
A hospital bed.
A doctor saying something about stress.
Emma pressed her fingers to her temple.
"I...""
"You lost pieces of your memory.""
The room seemed to tilt.
"How long?""
"Months.""
She stared.
"Months?""
Adrian nodded.
"You remembered your name. Your family. Your pregnancy.""
"But not you?""
"No.""
Emma looked at him.
"Why?""
His expression became painful.
"Because I wasn't there when you woke up.""
"Why not?""
Adrian looked away.
"Because my mother made sure I wasn't.""
The pieces started moving.
Slowly.
Terribly.
Emma remembered being told she had no reason to trust anyone.
She remembered waking up confused.
She remembered a woman sitting beside her hospital bed.
Elegant.
Perfectly dressed.
Speaking softly.
A woman who claimed she was there to help.
"What did she tell me?""
Adrian's face tightened.
"That I was dangerous.""
Emma went still.
"What?""
"She told you I didn't want the baby.""
The words felt like a knife.
"She told you I was trying to take Leo away.""
Emma shook her head.
"No.""
"She showed you fake documents.""
"No.""
"She told you I was only interested in the inheritance.""
Emma stepped backward.
The restaurant disappeared around her.
Because suddenly, there was something she remembered.
A voice.
A woman's voice.
"You need to protect yourself.""
Emma whispered:
"She said I would hurt Leo.""
Adrian nodded.
"Yes.""
The memory came back stronger.
A woman holding her hand.
A woman pretending to comfort her.
A woman lying.
Victoria Vale.
Emma covered her mouth.
"I trusted her.""
Adrian's voice softened.
"I know.""
"No.""
Her eyes filled.
"I trusted her.""
The pain wasn't just about losing Leo.
It was about realizing someone had stood beside her while destroying her life.
Someone had watched her cry.
Someone had watched her search.
Someone had known the truth.
And still said nothing.
"Where is she now?""
Adrian didn't answer.
Emma looked up.
"Where is your mother?""
"She disappeared after Leo turned three.""
"Disappeared?""
"She left the country.""
"Why?""
Adrian's face became unreadable.
"Because she found out I was investigating what happened.""
Emma stared.
"You were investigating?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you find me?""
The question was quiet.
But it hurt more than anger.
Adrian looked at her.
"I tried.""
"When?""
"Every year.""
"Where?""
He reached into his jacket and pulled out another photograph.
This one was different.
It showed a young woman.
Emma.
Standing outside an apartment building.
She recognized it.
Her old apartment.
Her old life.
"You were there?""
Adrian nodded.
"I went to find you.""
"When?""
"Three months after Leo was born.""
Emma's heart pounded.
"And?""
His silence answered first.
Then:
"You were gone.""
"What?""
"The apartment was empty.""
"I lived there.""
"Not anymore.""
Emma frowned.
"I never moved.""
Adrian looked at her carefully.
"Someone moved you.""
The words sent a chill through her.
"Who?""
Adrian didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at Leo.
The boy was now standing near the entrance, holding his toy car.
Watching them.
Emma noticed something.
The same tiny red car.
The same one he had been playing with before.
"Where did he get that?""
Adrian followed her gaze.
"What?""
"The car.""
His expression changed.
"He always had it.""
Emma's breath caught.
"Always?""
"Since the day I found him.""
Her heart started racing.
"I gave him that.""
Adrian stared.
"What?""
"I bought it before he was born.""
She stepped closer.
"That was supposed to be his first toy.""
Adrian looked at the car.
Then at her.
And something clicked.
"Wait.""
He moved toward Leo.
"Leo.""
The boy looked up.
"Yes, Dad?""
"Where did you get this?""
Leo looked confused.
"You gave it to me.""
Adrian froze.
"I did?""
The boy nodded.
"Grandma told me you found it with my baby things.""
Emma felt cold.
"Grandma.""
Adrian slowly turned toward her.
"Victoria.""
Neither of them spoke.
Because they both understood the same thing.
The toy hadn't been lost.
It had been kept.
Someone had saved a piece of Emma's past.
Someone who knew exactly what it meant.
Suddenly, Adrian's phone buzzed again.
This time, he looked at the screen immediately.
A message.
One sentence.
His face changed.
Emma saw the fear return.
"What does it say?""
Adrian didn't answer.
"Adrian.""
Slowly, he turned the phone around.
Emma read the message.
May you like
And her blood went cold.
*You found the mother. Now let's see if she survives losing him again.*
