Chapter 6: The Daughter Nobody Told Me About
I held the photograph so tightly that the edges bent beneath my fingers.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
Not because of the woman in the picture.
Not because of the baby.
Because of the words written on the back.
*For my daughter, Kerensa.*
I looked at my child.
My four-year-old daughter.
The little girl who had spent the last year asking me why some families had grandparents nearby and ours didn't.
The little girl who had once asked if babies came from wishes because she had seen a shooting star.
The little girl who had trusted me with everything.
And now she was standing in front of me holding a secret that was bigger than her entire world.
"Kerensa," I whispered.
She looked down.
"I wasn't supposed to keep it.""
My heart broke.
Not because she had hidden something.
Because she thought she was responsible for hiding it.
"Who gave you this?""
Her fingers twisted together.
"The lady.""
"What lady?""
She glanced toward the hallway.
Toward Meliora.
My wife stood at the bottom of the stairs.
Frozen.
She looked like she already knew the answer.
"Kerensa," I said gently.
"Who gave you this picture?""
The little girl swallowed.
"She said her name was Elara.""
The room went silent.
Meliora took a step backward.
"No.""
The word came out like a breath.
I turned.
"What?""
She shook her head.
"No, that's not possible.""
Kerensa looked at her.
"She said you would say that.""
I stared at Meliora.
"You know about this?""
"No.""
The answer came too fast.
I held up the photo.
"Then why does your dead sister know my daughter's name?""
Meliora looked at Kerensa.
Then at the picture.
Then away.
"I don't understand.""
"Neither do I.""
My voice was louder than I intended.
Kerensa flinched.
Immediately, I lowered myself.
"Sorry, sweetheart.""
She nodded.
But I saw it.
That tiny reaction.
That automatic fear.
A child expecting anger even when none was coming.
I hated that.
I hated that I had let her learn it.
I sat beside her on the bed.
"Tell me everything.""
She looked nervous.
"Am I in trouble?""
"No.""
"Promise?""
"I promise.""
She looked at the picture.
"The lady came here.""
"When?""
"Before.""
"Before what?""
"Before you came home today.""
My stomach dropped.
"Today?""
She nodded.
I felt a chill run through me.
Someone had been inside my house.
Someone had talked to my daughter.
Someone who knew things nobody should know.
"What did she say?""
Kerensa hugged her stuffed rabbit.
"She said she was my aunt.""
"Your aunt?""
"She said she loved me.""
I glanced at Meliora.
Her face was pale.
"Then she gave me the picture.""
"Did she say anything else?""
Kerensa hesitated.
"She said I was supposed to know the truth someday.""
"What truth?""
The little girl looked at me.
And the innocence in her eyes made the next words hurt even more.
"That Meliora isn't my real mommy.""
I couldn't move.
The sentence landed like a physical blow.
I slowly looked at my wife.
She didn't deny it.
Not immediately.
And that was enough.
"What did she mean?""
Meliora finally spoke.
"Don't listen to her.""
My head snapped toward her.
"Who?""
"Elara.""
"Why?""
"Because she's trying to destroy us.""
"By telling me the truth?""
Meliora's eyes filled.
"You don't know what you're dealing with.""
"Then tell me.""
"I can't.""
I stood.
"No more.""
The words surprised even me.
"No more secrets.""
Meliora looked at me.
"I was going to tell you.""
"When?""
She didn't answer.
"After five years?""
Silence.
"After ten?""
"Stop.""
"No.""
I pointed at the photo.
"You let me raise a child without knowing the truth about where she came from.""
Her expression changed.
Not anger.
Pain.
"I raised her.""
"I know.""
"I loved her.""
"I know.""
"She is my daughter.""
I looked at Kerensa.
Then back at her.
"Is she?""
The question broke something.
Meliora looked like I had slapped her.
But I needed the answer.
Not the comfortable answer.
The real one.
She sat down slowly.
"I adopted her.""
The room went quiet.
Even though part of me already knew.
Hearing it still changed everything.
"Adopted?""
Meliora nodded.
"Kerensa's mother was my sister.""
I looked at the photo.
"The woman in this picture?""
"Yes.""
"Elara.""
She nodded.
"Then why did you tell me she was dead?""
Meliora closed her eyes.
"Because she was supposed to be.""
I stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
"She disappeared.""
"When?""
"After Kerensa was born.""
My mind struggled to catch up.
"Wait.""
I held up my hand.
"Start from the beginning.""
Meliora looked at Kerensa.
Then lowered her voice.
"Elara had a daughter.""
"Kerensa.""
"Yes.""
"With who?""
"I don't know.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean you don't know?""
"Elara never told anyone.""
"Anyone?""
"She hid the pregnancy.""
I looked at the picture.
"Then how did you know?""
"Because I found her.""
"Found her?""
Meliora nodded.
"She came to me when she was pregnant.""
"Why?""
"Because she was scared.""
"Of what?""
Her voice became smaller.
"Of herself.""
That didn't make sense.
"Explain.""
Meliora looked at the floor.
"Elara had problems.""
I felt anger rise.
"Careful.""
She looked up.
"I'm not insulting her.""
"Then what?""
"She was struggling. She was sick. She knew she couldn't take care of a baby.""
"So she asked you?""
"Yes.""
"For help?""
"Yes.""
I looked at Kerensa.
"And you adopted her.""
"Yes.""
"Then why is she alive?""
Meliora didn't answer.
"Meliora.""
"Because she changed her mind.""
The words came slowly.
"After the adoption papers were signed, Elara wanted Kerensa back.""
I looked at the little girl.
"Did she try?""
"Yes.""
"What happened?""
Meliora's eyes filled.
"She came to take her.""
"Take her?""
"She wasn't stable.""
"And you stopped her?""
"Yes.""
"How?""
Silence.
That silence was unbearable.
"What did you do?""
Meliora looked away.
"I told people she was dangerous.""
My chest tightened.
"Was she?""
"I don't know.""
The honesty was terrifying.
"You don't know?""
"I knew she was struggling. I knew she was desperate. I didn't know what she would do.""
"So you made sure she couldn't see her daughter.""
"Yes.""
I shook my head.
"This whole time...""
I couldn't finish.
Because I didn't know what to feel.
Anger at Meliora.
Fear of Elara.
Confusion about Kerensa.
My daughter looked between us.
"Daddy?""
I turned.
"Yeah?""
"Am I still yours?""
The question destroyed me.
I immediately walked over and held her.
"Yes.""
"But I'm not your real daughter.""
I pulled back.
"Listen to me.""
Her eyes were wet.
"There are different ways someone becomes family.""
I touched her cheek.
"You are my daughter because I love you. Because I choose you. Because I have been your father every day I've known you.""
She sniffed.
"Even if I'm not from you?""
"Especially then.""
She hugged me.
I held her tightly.
Behind us, Meliora cried quietly.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then my phone buzzed.
Another message.
I looked down.
This time, it wasn't just text.
There was a video.
The sender had attached a file.
The title was:
*THE NIGHT KERENSA DISAPPEARED.*
I looked at Meliora.
Her face changed instantly.
"You can't watch that.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Why?""
She stood.
"Because it isn't what you think.""
"Then what is it?""
She didn't answer.
I pressed play.
The video was dark.
Security footage.
A hospital hallway.
A woman walking quickly while carrying a baby.
The timestamp showed a date.
Four years earlier.
The day Kerensa was born.
The woman turned toward the camera.
Even through the poor quality, I recognized her.
Elara.
Alive.
Holding a newborn.
Then another person entered the frame.
A person I knew.
A person I trusted.
A person who had told me she saved a child.
Meliora.
I watched as Elara handed her the baby.
Then something happened.
Something that made my blood run cold.
Because Meliora didn't take the baby gently.
She grabbed Kerensa.
And when Elara reached for her back...
Meliora screamed.
The video cut off.
The final frame showed Elara on the floor.
Crying.
And Meliora walking away with the baby.
My phone buzzed again.
May you like
One final message appeared.
*"Now ask Meliora what happened after this camera stopped recording.""*
