Chapter 2 - THE ENVELOPEBrandon stared at the yellowed envelope.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Madeline smiled faintly.
That smile told me everything.
She had expected his reaction.
She had prepared for it.
“Brandon,” I whispered.
He didn't look at me.
My chest tightened.
“What is inside that envelope?”
Madeline slowly extended it toward him.
“Something you should have seen four years ago.”
Brandon's hands curled into fists.
“Leave.”
“You still don't understand.”
“I said leave.”
“You married her without knowing the truth.”
My heart began pounding.
“What truth?”
Madeline finally looked at me.
“You are not Luke's biological mother.”
The words struck me so violently that I almost laughed.
Almost.
Because the alternative was screaming.
“What?”
Madeline opened the folder.
Inside were documents.
Medical records.
Laboratory reports.
Photographs.
And a DNA test.
My name was printed at the top.
So was Luke's.
I stared at the document.
The result appeared in bold letters.
EXCLUDED.
My hands went cold.
Brandon grabbed the paper.
“Where did you get this?”
Madeline's expression remained calm.
“From the hospital.”
“That is impossible.”
“Is it?”
Brandon looked at me.
For the first time since Luke had collapsed, I saw something worse than fear in his eyes.
Guilt.
I stepped backward.
“Brandon.”
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Madeline watched us.
Then whispered:
“I told you this day would come.”
I looked at my husband.
“You knew?”
May you like
He closed his eyes.
And that was answer enough.
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