Chapter 2 — Everything She Left Behind
Chapter 2 — Everything She Left Behind
Two days later...
Rain covered the small cemetery outside the city.
Daniel stood silently before Emma Lawson's grave.
A simple white stone.
No expensive flowers.
No visitors.
Only one worn teddy bear.
Oliver knelt beside the grave and carefully replaced fresh daisies.
"They were her favorite."
Daniel stared at the dates.
Emma had died only eight months earlier.
Cancer.
She had hidden it from almost everyone.
Including her own son.
"Did she ever tell you why she left?" Daniel asked quietly.
Oliver nodded.
"Grandpa came."
Daniel froze.
"What grandfather?"
"The man in the black car."
Oliver reached into his backpack and removed an old envelope.
"He said he was your father."
Daniel's heartbeat quickened.
Inside the envelope...
A check.
One million dollars.
Never deposited.
Beside it lay another letter.
Emma's handwriting.
Daniel unfolded it carefully.
If you're reading this...
our son finally found you.
Your father offered me money to disappear.
He said your family would never allow a nurse to become your wife.
I tore up the agreement.
But he still made sure you could never find us.
I chose to leave because I refused to become the reason your life was destroyed.
Please don't hate him.
He only loved his family the wrong way.
Love Oliver enough for both of us.
Daniel lowered the letter.
His tears finally fell.
Not because Emma had left.
But because she never stopped protecting him.
Even after he unknowingly failed to protect her.
He turned toward Oliver.
"I'm so sorry."
The boy quietly shook his head.
"Mom said if I ever met you..."
Daniel looked up.
"...not to let you spend forever saying sorry."
"What did she want me to do?"
Oliver smiled through wet eyes.
"Be my dad."
May you like
Daniel wrapped both arms around his son.
Neither of them let go.
