Chapter 2 - Unraveling the LieSitting in the hospital room holding two sleeping babies, my hands trembled as I read the rest of Rachel’s letter.
For my entire life, my mother had painted our father, Arthur Sullivan, as a heartless monster who walked out on a penniless wife and two small daughters. We grew up on anger and pity, taking pride in surviving without him.
Rachel’s letter painted a horrific alternative truth. Three days before our mother passed away, while delirious from medication, she confessed to Rachel that she had forged restraining orders, changed our names, and fled across state lines to cut Arthur out of our lives after a petty marital dispute. Arthur had spent his entire life savings searching for us through private investigators, but our mother had hidden us well.
I didn't steal that money from Mom's envelope to abandon you, Emma, Rachel wrote. I used it to find Dad. But when I finally tracked down his old address, I was ambushed by Mom’s old attorney, Thomas Sterling. He threatened that if I revealed the truth, he would destroy our family's reputation and make sure I ended up in prison for theft. I fled out of terror, trying to find a way to fix it safely without dragging you into court.
Mark leaned over my shoulder, reading the crisp handwriting. "Emma... if this attorney suppressed Arthur's attempts to find you, he committed serious fraud."
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I looked down at Noah and Oliver. Rachel had spent fifteen years living in fear and secrecy, hiding from a corrupt lawyer while trying to protect me.
"We need to find Arthur Sullivan," I whispered, determination replacing my fear.
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