Chapter 4 - THE SISTER HE NEVER KNEWClaire opened the door.
She was older than Michael had expected.
But the eyes were familiar.
His father's eyes.
Behind her stood a young woman.
She was twenty-four.
Michael stared at her.
Claire whispered:
“This is Lily.”
The young woman looked at him.
“Are you Michael?”
He nodded.
Lily stared for a moment.
Then asked:
“Are you my brother?”
Michael could not answer.
Claire began crying.
“Yes.”
The word seemed to echo through the room.
Michael sat down.
His father had another child.
A daughter.
A sister.
And he had known nothing.
Lily looked angry.
“You had everything.”
Michael looked at her.
“What?”
“A father.”
Michael's chest tightened.
“I didn't know.”
“But you had him.”
Michael shook his head.
“I thought I did.”
The conversation was painful.
Claire told him everything.
She had met Michael's father before he married Margaret.
They had been in love.
She had become pregnant.
But Margaret had discovered the relationship.
She had threatened Claire.
Then she had convinced Michael's father that Claire only wanted money.
He believed her.
Or perhaps he had been too weak to fight.
When Lily was born, Margaret made sure the relationship ended.
But Michael's father never completely abandoned Claire.
He secretly sent money.
Secretly wrote letters.
Secretly visited.
Until Margaret discovered everything.
Then she stopped the letters.
Just as she had stopped Michael's.
The pattern was clear.
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Margaret did not merely hide letters.
She erased people.
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