Chapter 11 - My mother's unforgivable choice
My mother admitted it.
I couldn't speak to her for days.
She had discovered Walter's connection to Whitmore shortly after I married Elmer.
When my fertility problems began, she contacted Price.
He told her Adrian's stored sample could create a Whitmore heir.
She agreed.
Without telling me.
Without telling Adrian.
Without telling Elmer.
She called it protection.
I called it violation.
“You used my body.”
She sobbed.
“I thought I was giving you the baby you desperately wanted.”
“You stole my choice.”
Nothing she said repaired that.
For once, the villain wasn't conveniently someone I already hated.
My mother loved me.
And still committed something unforgivable.
That truth hurt differently.
Adrian was furious too.
His biological material had been used without consent.
Elmer discovered the child he'd raised resulted from deception surrounding all three adults.
And Louisa?
Louisa wanted strawberry cereal and asked when her hair would grow back.
Her innocence made our adult secrets look disgusting.
I decided something.
Nobody would tell Louisa the entire truth until professionals helped us determine what was appropriate for her age.
No dramatic ownership battle.
No rich biological father appearing as “Daddy.”
No grandparents buying forgiveness.
She needed stability.
Then Walter was released pending further investigation.
That night, he called me.
“You think you've won?”
“This isn't a game.”
“It became one when you opened that camera.”
I recorded everything.
Walter laughed.
“Ask Adrian why he came to Columbus so quickly.”
I froze.
“He was already coming before you called him.”
“What?”
Walter hung up.
I checked Adrian's travel records through my attorney.
Walter was right.
May you like
Adrian had purchased his flight twelve hours before our first conversation.
He already knew something was about to happen.
