Chapter 5 - THE MOTHER WHO WASN'T MY MOTHER
I stared at the photograph until the room blurred.
“That’s me.”
Adrian looked at the baby.
“Probably.”
“Caroline raised me.”
“That doesn’t mean the note is true.”
I turned the picture over again.
LILA HART IS NOT CAROLINE’S DAUGHTER.
Roman searched the apartment.
No intruder remained.
Adrian looked at me.
“Do you know who your father was?”
“No.”
“Did Caroline ever mention adoption?”
“No.”
“Hospital records?”
“I never looked.”
He nodded.
“We look now.”
We went to one of Adrian’s private offices.
Within an hour, Roman found my birth certificate.
Mother: Caroline Hart.
Father: blank.
But the hospital where I was supposedly born had burned down nineteen years ago.
Adrian leaned against the desk.
“That’s convenient.”
“For who?”
“Anyone creating a false identity.”
I laughed once.
“So apparently my entire life is a clerical crime scene.”
Adrian looked at me.
“Lila.”
“What?”
“You’re allowed to be angry.”
“I am.”
“You’re joking.”
“That’s how I stay out of prison.”
His mouth moved slightly.
Then Roman entered.
“We found Kenzie.”
My pulse jumped.
“Where?”
“Hotel near O’Hare.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Bring her.”
Kenzie arrived two hours later.
She looked terrible.
Dark circles.
No makeup.
Terrified.
The moment she saw me, she started crying.
“Lila.”
I stood.
“You stole our rent.”
“I know.”
“You lied to me.”
“I know.”
“You set me up.”
“I was trying to help.”
I laughed.
“Fantastic job.”
Adrian stayed near the wall.
Kenzie looked at him and immediately became more frightened.
I noticed.
“Who paid you?”
“Damian Vale.”
Adrian’s expression turned cold.
“How much?”
“Ten thousand.”
“For what?”
“To get Lila to Black Orchid.”
“Why?”
“He said someone would protect her there.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Me.”
Kenzie nodded.
“Yes.”
That changed everything slightly.
“Why would Damian want me protected?” I asked.
“He said Evelyn was coming back.”
Adrian stiffened.
Kenzie continued.
“And when she did, people would start looking for you.”
“Why?”
Kenzie reached into her bag.
A small flash drive.
“Because of your real mother.”
My heartbeat slowed.
“Who is she?”
Kenzie looked at Adrian.
Then at me.
“Evelyn Vale.”
The room went silent.
I stared.
“No.”
Adrian did not move.
Kenzie whispered:
“You were born twenty-five years ago.”
“That’s impossible. Evelyn was…”
Adrian spoke.
“She was sixteen.”
I looked at him.
His face had changed.
“Evelyn had a child before she met me?”
Kenzie nodded.
“Yes.”
I could barely breathe.
“Who was the father?”
Kenzie hesitated.
Adrian noticed.
“Say it.”
She whispered:
“Victor Vale.”
Adrian went completely still.
His father.
My stomach twisted.
“No.”
Kenzie was crying now.
“Caroline took you because Evelyn was terrified Victor would keep the baby.”
I backed away.
“No.”
Adrian’s voice was quiet.
“Lila.”
“Don’t.”
He stopped immediately.
I pressed both hands against my face.
If it was true, Evelyn was my mother.
Victor Vale was my father.
And Adrian—
I looked at him.
Not related to me.
But married to my mother.
The absurdity almost made me laugh again.
Then Kenzie said:
“There’s more.”
I looked at her.
“Of course there is.”
She swallowed.
“Victor didn’t die from cancer.”
Adrian’s expression sharpened.
May you like
“How?”
“Evelyn killed him.”
