Chapter 6: The Price of a Daughter’s Dream
My father read the note three times.
Like he was hoping the words would change.
They didn’t.
I watched his face slowly lose all emotion.
“Dad?””
He closed the notebook.
“Where did you find this?””
Ryan looked at his mother.
“In her closet.””
My stepmother moved forward.
“Ryan, you don’t understand what you’re doing.””
For once, Ryan didn’t look at her.
“I understand enough.””
My father opened the notebook again.
“What does this mean?””
My stepmother stayed silent.
My father held up the page.
“Answer me.””
She looked away.
“Fine.””
Her voice changed.
No more fake kindness.
No more pretending.
“You want the truth?””
Everyone remained still.
She laughed softly.
“I realized something years ago.””
My father stared at her.
“What?””
“That Lily was going to leave.””
I frowned.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“You were smart.””
Her words sounded almost like an insult.
“Teachers loved you. You had dreams. You talked about college.””
I didn’t understand.
“And?””
“And I knew once you became successful, you wouldn’t need this family anymore.””
My stomach turned.
“So you ruined my education?””
She shrugged.
“I protected my son.””
My father’s expression became furious.
“You destroyed a child’s future to protect another child?””
She shook her head.
“You don’t understand.””
“No,” he said.
“I understand perfectly.””
She walked toward the table.
“Ryan is my son.””
“And Lily is my daughter.””
“She isn’t yours by blood.””
The room became silent.
I felt like the air disappeared.
My father stared at her.
“What did you say?””
My stepmother looked at me.
“You always wondered why I treated you differently.””
My heart started pounding.
“No.””
My father stepped forward.
“What are you implying?””
She smiled.
“I’m saying maybe you should ask yourself why you worked so hard for a child who wasn’t even yours.””
I froze.
My father looked at me.
Then back at her.
“What are you talking about?””
She didn’t answer.
She didn’t need to.
The damage was already done.
A terrible silence filled the room.
Then my father spoke.
“Lily.””
I looked at him.
His face was pale.
“Come with me.””
We walked outside.
The garden was quiet.
The same garden where he found me days ago.
But everything had changed.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
“Do you know what she means?””
I shook my head quickly.
“No.””
He closed his eyes.
“Your mother…”
He couldn’t finish.
I stepped closer.
“Dad, I don’t care what she says.””
He looked at me.
“I do.””
His voice broke.
“Because if someone told me this years ago…”
He stopped.
I grabbed his hand.
“I’m your daughter.””
Those words came from somewhere deeper than fear.
“I don’t need a blood test to know that.””
My father looked at me.
And tears filled his eyes.
“You know something?””
“What?””
“The day you were born, I held you before I even held your mother’s hand.””
I smiled through tears.
“You told me that before.””
“Because it was the happiest day of my life.””
He squeezed my hand.
“No person can take that away.””
Behind us, the front door opened.
My stepmother walked outside.
She looked different now.
Not confident.
Not powerful.
Desperate.
“You really believe her?””
My father turned.
“I believe my daughter.””
She laughed bitterly.
“You don’t even know if she’s yours.””
My father walked toward her.
“Enough.””
But she pulled out another envelope.
“Then maybe you should see this.””
My father stopped.
“What is that?””
She held it out.
“A test result.””
My heart stopped.
My father slowly took the envelope.
His hands trembled as he opened it.
I watched him read.
The garden became silent.
Then his eyes lifted.
And the first words out of his mouth were not anger.
Not confusion.
Not fear.
They were heartbreak.
“Lily…”
I stepped forward.
“What does it say?””
He looked at the paper.
Then at me.
May you like
And whispered:
“You’re not the only person she lied to.””