CHAPTER 1 — The Secret Behind the Twins
The room stayed silent after Emily whispered those words.
“Your wife didn’t do this because she was angry.”
“She did this because she was afraid I would tell you the truth about your children.”
For several seconds, I couldn’t breathe.
The only sound in the nursery was the soft breathing of my twins.
My children.
My entire world.
I looked at Emily.
Then at the torn sheets around her wrists.
Then at the babies sleeping peacefully against her chest.
“What truth?” I asked.
My voice was barely a whisper.
Emily looked away.
Fear crossed her face.
Not fear of Victoria.
Fear of what would happen if she finally spoke.
“Mr. Cole… I don’t want to destroy your family.”
I stepped closer.
“Emily, my wife tied you to a bed.”
“She hurt you.”
“She used my children as a weapon.”
My jaw tightened.
“You don’t protect someone who does that.”
Emily closed her eyes.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“Three weeks ago, I found something strange.”
My heartbeat slowed.
“What?”
She swallowed.
“When I was organizing the twins’ medical records, I noticed something.”
“Their hospital documents had been changed.”
I froze.
“What are you talking about?”
Emily carefully looked at the babies.
“Their original birth records were different.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
“Different how?”
Emily hesitated.
Then she whispered:
“The twins’ blood type doesn’t match yours.”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
Emily continued.
“I thought it was a mistake.”
“So I checked again.”
“Then I found another document hidden inside Victoria’s private office.”
She looked directly at me.
“A paternity report.”
I stared at her.
“No.”
The word came out automatically.
“No, that’s impossible.”
Emily’s voice softened.
“I wish it was.”
Before I could respond, a sound came from the hallway.
A slow clap.
Everyone turned.
Victoria stood in the doorway.
Still wearing her elegant dress.
Still holding her wine glass.
But her expression was different.
The mask was gone.
“You really are a disappointment, Emily.”
My blood ran cold.
Victoria smiled.
“You should have stayed quiet.”
I stepped between her and Emily.
“Victoria…”
She looked at me.
And for the first time in our marriage…
I saw fear in her eyes.
“Listen to me carefully, Daniel.”
“If you believe her…”
“You will lose everything.”
I stared at my wife.
Then at the woman she had tortured.
And I realized something terrifying.
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Victoria wasn’t angry because Emily had lied.
Victoria was terrified because Emily was telling the truth.
