Chapter 19 — The Price of Betraying Your Mother
Emily stared at the message.
Linda noticed.
"What is it?"
Emily showed her.
Linda's expression immediately changed.
She recognized the number.
"Robert."
He answered on the first ring.
"Don't respond."
"Who is it?"
"We're investigating."
"Is Rachel behind this?"
"No."
Emily looked at Linda.
"Then who?"
Robert was silent.
Finally he said:
"Your mother's former business partner."
"Rachel?"
"No."
Emily frowned.
"Who else was there?"
Robert sighed.
"Someone your mother trusted."
Linda closed her eyes.
"Marcus."
Emily had never heard the name.
"Who is Marcus?"
"My father's brother."
Linda nodded.
"Your uncle."
Emily stared.
"I have an uncle too?"
"Yes."
"Where is he?"
"Dead."
Robert interrupted.
"That's what we believed."
Another silence.
Emily looked at her mother.
"How many secrets are there?"
Linda almost smiled.
"Too many."
The phone vibrated again.
Another message.
This time there was an attachment.
A photograph.
It showed Linda twenty-three years earlier.
Standing beside Marcus.
Emily looked closer.
There was a document in his hand.
A birth certificate.
Emily zoomed in.
Her heart stopped.
The name on the certificate wasn't Emily Morgan.
It was another name.
She looked at Linda.
"Mom..."
Linda stared at the photograph.
Her face became pale.
"Where did you get that?"
Emily whispered:
"Why isn't my name on my original birth certificate?"
Linda didn't answer.
Emily's voice trembled.
"Who am I?"
Linda closed her eyes.
For twenty-three years, she had protected her daughter from one truth.
Now that truth had found them.
Linda finally whispered:
May you like
"Emily..."
She opened her eyes.
