Chapter 7: My Sister's Impossible Confession
I had spent eleven years believing Charlotte was the person who had betrayed me.
Now she stood outside my father's house, calling him Dad.
I stared at Thomas.
He looked older than he had five minutes the person who had betrayed me.
Now she stood outside my father's house, calling him Dad.
I stared at Thomas.
He looked older than he had five minutes earlier. His shoulders sagged, and his lips moved soundlessly, earlier. His shoulders sagged, and his lips moved soundlessly, as though he were trying to form an apology he had rehearsed a thousand times.
"Open as though he were trying to form an apology he had rehearsed a thousand times.
"Open the door," I whispered.
"No.""
"She's my sister.""
"That's exactly why you need to listen the door," I whispered.
"No.""
"She's my sister.""
"That's exactly why you need to listen to me.""
A sharp knock shook the frame.
"Thomas!"" Charlotte shouted.
"I know she's there. I can see her car to me.""
A sharp knock shook the frame.
"Thomas!"" Charlotte shouted.
"I know she's there. I can see her car.""
My father moved toward the kitchen drawer.
I caught his wrist.
"Don't even.""
My father moved toward the kitchen drawer.
I caught his wrist.
"Don't even think about it.""
He stared at me.
"I have to protect you.""
"You've spent eleven years protecting me by lying think about it.""
He stared at me.
"I have to protect you.""
"You've spent eleven years protecting me by lying to me. Look how well that worked.""
His hand fell away.
I crossed the room and opened the door.
Charlotte to me. Look how well that worked.""
His hand fell away.
I crossed the room and opened the door.
Charlotte stood on the porch wearing a black coat, her hair plastered against her cheeks by the rain. Behind her stood on the porch wearing a black coat, her hair plastered against her cheeks by the rain. Behind her, Daniel leaned against a dark sedan with his arms folded.
My stomach tightened.
"You brought, Daniel leaned against a dark sedan with his arms folded.
My stomach tightened.
"You brought him?""
Charlotte looked past me toward the house.
"I didn't have a choice.""
Daniel straight him?""
Charlotte looked past me toward the house.
"I didn't have a choice.""
Daniel straightened.
"Good evening, Eleanor.""
"Get off the property.""
He smiled without humor.
"Your father doesn't own this property.""
Thomas appeared behind me.
"That'sened.
"Good evening, Eleanor.""
"Get off the property.""
He smiled without humor.
"Your father doesn't own this property.""
Thomas appeared behind me.
"That's enough, Daniel.""
For a moment, the two men stared at each other.
Then Daniel said, "You should have stayed dead.""
My father looked exhausted.
"I tried.""
Charlotte stepped inside and closed the door.
She glanced at me, then at Thomas.
"I need the enough, Daniel.""
For a moment, the two men stared at each other.
Then Daniel said, "You should have stayed dead.""
My father looked exhausted.
"I tried.""
Charlotte stepped inside and closed the door.
She glanced at me, then at Thomas.
"I need the photograph.""
"No," I photograph.""
"No," I said.
"Please, Eleanor.""
"You've got to be kidding me.""
She flinched.
"Listen to me. The photograph is the only thing that can prove what happened that night.""
"Then tell said.
"Please, Eleanor.""
"You've got to be kidding me.""
She flinched.
"Listen to me. The photograph is the only thing that can prove what happened that night.""
"Then tell me what happened.""
Charlotte looked toward Daniel.
He gave her a small nod.
That was when I understood.
She wasn't afraid of him in me what happened.""
Charlotte looked toward Daniel.
He gave her a small nod.
That was when I understood.
She wasn't afraid of him in the way I had imagined.
She was waiting for his permission.
The realization filled me with disgust.
"Charlotte," I said slowly the way I had imagined.
She was waiting for his permission.
The realization filled me with disgust.
"Charlotte," I said slowly, "why are you marrying him?""
She looked down at her hands.
"Because I owe him.""
"For what?""
Daniel answered.
"For keeping, "why are you marrying him?""
She looked down at her hands.
"Because I owe him.""
"For what?""
Daniel answered.
"For keeping her alive.""
I turned toward him.
"What does that mean?""
He removed a folded document her alive.""
I turned toward him.
"What does that mean?""
He removed a folded document from his jacket and placed it on the kitchen table.
It was a hospital record.
The name at from his jacket and placed it on the kitchen table.
It was a hospital record.
The name at the top belonged to Charlotte.
The date was eleven years earlier.
I looked at my sister.
"You were in the top belonged to Charlotte.
The date was eleven years earlier.
I looked at my sister.
"You were in the hospital?""
She nodded.
"After you left, I had a nervous breakdown. Mom took me to a private clinic.""
the hospital?""
She nodded.
"After you left, I had a nervous breakdown. Mom took me to a private clinic.""
"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"Because I asked them not to.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
Charlotte sat down.
"Because I was pregnant.""
The"Why didn't anyone tell me?""
"Because I asked them not to.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
Charlotte sat down.
"Because I was pregnant.""
The room went silent.
I heard the rain against the windows, the ticking clock, and my own heartbeat.
Preg room went silent.
I heard the rain against the windows, the ticking clock, and my own heartbeat.
Pregnant.
Eleven years ago, Charlotte had been twenty-three.
She had been wearing my engagement ring.
And Daniel had been the man Inant.
Eleven years ago, Charlotte had been twenty-three.
She had been wearing my engagement ring.
And Daniel had been the man I was supposed to marry.
I looked at him.
"Was the baby yours?""
"No," he said.
Charlotte shook her was supposed to marry.
I looked at him.
"Was the baby yours?""
"No," he said.
Charlotte shook her head.
"No.""
I felt as though the floor had dropped beneath me.
"Then whose was it?""
She covered her face.
"My father's head.
"No.""
I felt as though the floor had dropped beneath me.
"Then whose was it?""
She covered her face.
"My father's.""
I couldn't move.
For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood her.
Then she lifted her head.
"Thomas was not my biological father.""
.""
I couldn't move.
For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood her.
Then she lifted her head.
"Thomas was not my biological father.""
My father stood motionless beside the counter.
He didn't deny it.
CharlotteMy father stood motionless beside the counter.
He didn't deny it.
Charlotte's voice broke.
"Robert Ashford was.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
I stared at my sister.
Our family's voice broke.
"Robert Ashford was.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
I stared at my sister.
Our family had been built on secrets so grotesque that each new revelation made the last one seem almost ordinary.
My mother had been involved had been built on secrets so grotesque that each new revelation made the last one seem almost ordinary.
My mother had been involved with Robert.
My father had helped hide him.
Charlotte had carried his child.
And somehow, Daniel had known.
with Robert.
My father had helped hide him.
Charlotte had carried his child.
And somehow, Daniel had known.
"What happened to the baby?"" I whispered.
Charlotte's face crumpled.
"He died.""
She pressed a hand against her stomach"What happened to the baby?"" I whispered.
Charlotte's face crumpled.
"He died.""
She pressed a hand against her stomach, as though she could still feel the weight of a child she had lost.
"He was born too early. The doctors, as though she could still feel the weight of a child she had lost.
"He was born too early. The doctors tried everything, but he lived for less than an hour.""
I sat down.
Charlotte continued, her voice barely audible.
"Mom tried everything, but he lived for less than an hour.""
I sat down.
Charlotte continued, her voice barely audible.
"Mom told everyone I'd suffered a miscarriage. She said the truth would destroy the family. Daniel found told everyone I'd suffered a miscarriage.
She said the truth would destroy the family. Daniel found out because he was the one who drove me to the clinic.""
I looked at Daniel.
"You knew?""
He nodded.
"Robert out because he was the one who drove me to the clinic.""
I looked at Daniel.
"You knew?""
He nodded.
"Robert had been using the company to pay for Charlotte's care. When he died—or when we had been using the company to pay for Charlotte's care. When he died—or when we believed he had died—the payments stopped.
Charlotte was left with medical bills, and your mother couldn't believed he had died—the payments stopped. Charlotte was left with medical bills, and your mother couldn't pay them without exposing the accounts.""
"So Daniel offered to marry her.""
"Yes," Charlotte said.
"He pay them without exposing the accounts.""
"So Daniel offered to marry her.""
"Yes," Charlotte said.
"He said he'd cover the debt if I agreed to become his wife.""
I looked at the diamond ring in said he'd cover the debt if I agreed to become his wife.""
I looked at the diamond ring in her coat pocket.
"That's not love.""
"No," she whispered.
"It was her coat pocket.
"That's not love.""
"No," she whispered.
"It was never love.""
Daniel pulled out a chair.
"Charlotte was vulnerable never love.""
Daniel pulled out a chair.
"Charlotte was vulnerable. I had the means to help her.""
"You had the means to control her.""
His jaw tightened.
"You don't know what she was going through.""
"I know what you did to me.""
He leaned. I had the means to help her.""
"You had the means to control her.""
His jaw tightened.
"You don't know what she was going through.""
"I know what you did to me.""
He leaned forward.
"You want to know what happened to your engagement? Your mother begged me to end it. She told me Robert forward.
"You want to know what happened to your engagement? Your mother begged me to end it. She told me Robert was planning to come after you. She believed the only way to keep you safe was to remove you from the family.""
"And was planning to come after you. She believed the only way to keep you safe was to remove you from the family.""
"And you agreed because you wanted to find your father.""
"Yes.""
I looked at Charlotte.
"And you agreed because you were you agreed because you wanted to find your father.""
"Yes.""
I looked at Charlotte.
"And you agreed because you were pregnant with Robert's child.""
She nodded.
"I thought if I did what Mom asked, she'd pregnant with Robert's child.""
She nodded.
"I thought if I did what Mom asked, she'd tell me where Robert was. She promised me she would.""
"Did she?""
"No.""
Charlotte wiped her cheeks.
tell me where Robert was. She promised me she would.""
"Did she?""
"No.""
Charlotte wiped her cheeks.
"She kept moving the goalposts. First, she said I had to help make you leave. Then she said I had to stop asking questions. Then she"She kept moving the goalposts.
First, she said I had to help make you leave. Then she said I had to stop asking questions. Then she said I had to marry Daniel.""
"And you never once thought to tell me?""
Charlotte looked directly at me.
"I tried said I had to marry Daniel.""
"And you never once thought to tell me?""
Charlotte looked directly at me.
"I tried.""
"When?""
"The night before your wedding.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"I wasn't supposed to be in the garden house with Daniel. Mom told me to meet him there because she wanted him.""
"When?""
"The night before your wedding.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"I wasn't supposed to be in the garden house with Daniel. Mom told me to meet him there because she wanted him to give me the engagement ring.""
I stared at her.
"Why would she give you my ring?""
"Because she wanted you to see to give me the engagement ring.""
I stared at her.
"Why would she give you my ring?""
"Because she wanted you to see it on my finger.""
Charlotte's voice trembled.
"But before you arrived, I told it on my finger.""
Charlotte's voice trembled.
"But before you arrived, I told Daniel I wouldn't do it. I said I would tell you everything.""
"What happened?""
"Mom came in. She said Daniel I wouldn't do it. I said I would tell you everything.""
"What happened?""
"Mom came in. She said if I told you, she'd make sure you never saw me again. Then if I told you, she'd make sure you never saw me again. Then she told Daniel to hold me still while she put the ring on my finger.""
I felt sick.
"Why didn't you tell me afterward?""
"Because I was afraid she'd hurt the she told Daniel to hold me still while she put the ring on my finger.""
I felt sick.
"Why didn't you tell me afterward?""
"Because I was afraid she'd hurt the baby.""
I looked at her.
"You were pregnant then?""
Charlotte nodded.
"I found out a week before the wedding.""
The room seemed to tilt.
My mother baby.""
I looked at her.
"You were pregnant then?""
Charlotte nodded.
"I found out a week before the wedding.""
The room seemed to tilt.
My mother had used my engagement to force me out of the house, while my sister was carrying the child of the man who had supposedly had used my engagement to force me out of the house, while my sister was carrying the child of the man who had supposedly died years earlier.
And Daniel had agreed to play the villain.
I turned toward my father.
"Did you know?""
He nodded once died years earlier.
And Daniel had agreed to play the villain.
I turned toward my father.
"Did you know?""
He nodded once.
I stepped backward.
"All of you knew.""
"Eleanor—"
"All of you sat at the same table with me. All of you watched me plan a wedding. All of you watched me fall apart..
I stepped backward.
"All of you knew.""
"Eleanor—"
"All of you sat at the same table with me. All of you watched me plan a wedding. All of you watched me fall apart. And nobody thought I deserved to know why.""
Nobody answered.
Daniel rose.
And nobody thought I deserved to know why.""
Nobody answered.
Daniel rose.
"We didn't have a choice.""
I looked at him.
"There's always a choice.""
He stared at me for a moment,"We didn't have a choice.""
I looked at him.
"There's always a choice.""
He stared at me for a moment, then reached into his jacket and placed a second photograph on the table.
It showed a woman standing outside the then reached into his jacket and placed a second photograph on the table.
It showed a woman standing outside the garden house.
My mother.
She was holding a small bundle wrapped in a white blanket.
The photograph was dated eleven years earlier.
garden house.
My mother.
She was holding a small bundle wrapped in a white blanket.
The photograph was dated eleven years earlier.
I looked up.
"Where did you get this?""
"From Robert's private files.""
I looked up.
"Where did you get this?""
"From Robert's private files.""
"That's impossible. Robert was supposed to be dead.""
Daniel's face hardened.
"He wasn't the only one who survived that"That's impossible. Robert was supposed to be dead.""
Daniel's face hardened.
"He wasn't the only one who survived that night.""
Charlotte began to cry again.
My father gripped the counter.
I picked up the photograph.
The woman holding the night.""
Charlotte began to cry again.
My father gripped the counter.
I picked up the photograph.
The woman holding the blanket wasn't looking at the camera.
She was looking at someone standing just beyond the frame.
On the back, in blanket wasn't looking at the camera.
She was looking at someone standing just beyond the frame.
On the back, in my mother's handwriting, were five words.
The child must never be found.
I stared at the sentence my mother's handwriting, were five words.
The child must never be found.
I stared at the sentence.
Then I looked at Charlotte.
"Your baby died at the clinic.""
She nodded.
"That's what they.
Then I looked at Charlotte.
"Your baby died at the clinic.""
She nodded.
"That's what they told me.""
I turned the photograph toward her.
"Then why was Mom carrying a baby outside the garden house three days after the fire?""
Charlotte went completely still.
Daniel looked away told me.""
I turned the photograph toward her.
"Then why was Mom carrying a baby outside the garden house three days after the fire?""
Charlotte went completely still.
Daniel looked away.
My father whispered, "Because the baby wasn't yours.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
He looked at Charlotte, then at me.
"Robert.
My father whispered, "Because the baby wasn't yours.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
He looked at Charlotte, then at me.
"Robert had another child. A child he kept hidden from everyone.""
"Who?""
My father opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, Charlotte seized the photograph from my hand had another child. A child he kept hidden from everyone.""
"Who?""
My father opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, Charlotte seized the photograph from my hand.
She stared at the image, her lips moving silently.
Then she looked at Daniel.
"You knew.""
He didn't.
She stared at the image, her lips moving silently.
Then she looked at Daniel.
"You knew.""
He didn't respond.
Charlotte's face changed.
"You knew who the child was.""
Daniel finally met her eyes.
" respond.
Charlotte's face changed.
"You knew who the child was.""
Daniel finally met her eyes.
"Yes.""
"Who is it?""
He looked at me.
And the next words he spoke made the room feelYes.""
"Who is it?""
He looked at me.
And the next words he spoke made the room feel suddenly airless.
"The child is alive.""
He pointed at Charlotte.
"And she's been living in suddenly airless.
"The child is alive.""
May you like
He pointed at Charlotte.
"And she's been living in this house with you for eleven years.""
