Chapter 16 - What Vanessa KnewVanessa survived surgery.
The police questioned her.
She refused to speak.
Then I entered the room.
She looked at me.
“You came.”
“Where is my daughter?”
Vanessa's eyes hardened.
“You still think that's what this is about.”
“What else?”
“Your father.”
“He did this.”
“No.”
She swallowed.
“He wasn't the mastermind.”
My heart sank.
“Then who?”
Vanessa stared at the door.
“Mom.”
I couldn't believe it.
“My mother?”
“She started the first transfer.”
“Why?”
“She thought she was saving children.”
“From what?”
“From families like ours.”
I stared.
Vanessa continued.
“Your grandmother discovered that your father was selling identities.”
“Why would Mom help?”
“She thought she could control him.”
“And you?”
“I thought I could fix it.”
“You stole my daughter.”
“I thought I was protecting her.”
“You lied.”
“Yes.”
“You let me suffer.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vanessa finally broke down.
“Because Emma wasn't supposed to be yours.”
The words struck me.
“What?”
“Your pregnancy was never accidental.”
I stared.
“What are you saying?”
“Your father arranged it.”
“For what?”
“To produce a child who could be used as a replacement.”
“A replacement for who?”
Vanessa looked at me.
“For Lily.”
I felt cold.
“Lily was dead.”
“No.”
She whispered:
“Lily was dying.”
I turned toward Lily.
She stood outside the room.
Vanessa continued.
“They needed someone genetically compatible.”
My stomach dropped.
“Emma.”
Vanessa nodded.
“Emma was born to replace Lily.”
I couldn't speak.
The plan had been designed years before.
My pregnancy.
My daughter.
The records.
The cameras.
Everything.
Then Vanessa added:
“But there was a problem.”
“What?”
“Emma was born with a birthmark.”
I frowned.
“What does that matter?”
“Lily had the same mark.”
My heart stopped.
It wasn't coincidence.
It was identification.
Emma wasn't merely being watched.
She had been selected.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“Your father never intended to let Emma grow up.”
I stepped closer.
“What did he intend?”
“He wanted her removed after Lily's death.”
I felt sick.
“When?”
“The night of the skillet.”
Silence.
The room blurred.
“The skillet wasn't meant to hurt Emma.”
“What?”
“It was meant to kill her.”
I couldn't breathe.
Vanessa looked at me.
“I missed.”
“You threw it anyway.”
“I panicked.”
“Then why blame the chair?”
“Because Mom told me you would believe I lost control.”
“And my daughter?”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“She's still in danger.”
I looked toward Lily.
“She knows where.”
Lily nodded.
“What are you talking about?”
She whispered:
“The original house.”
“The house from 742?”
“No.”
“The apartment?”
“No.”
“Then where?”
May you like
Lily looked at the hospital window.
“Where you were born.”
