CHAPTER 2: THE TRUTH INSIDE THE PENTHOUSE
CHAPTER 2: THE TRUTH INSIDE THE PENTHOUSE
Sophia opened the door before Emma could knock.
As if she had been expecting her.
For several seconds neither woman spoke.
They simply stared.
Mirror images.
Different hair colors.
Different lives.
But undeniably related.
Sophia's eyes filled with tears.
"Emma."
Emma's voice was cold.
"Take off the necklace."
Sophia touched the emerald pendant.
Her expression changed.
Pain.
Not guilt.
Pain.
"It was Mom's favorite."
Emma froze.
Mom.
Not Margaret.
Mom.
Sophia stepped aside.
"Come in."
The penthouse was filled with photographs.
Hundreds of them.
Margaret.
Sophia.
Birthdays.
Graduations.
Christmas mornings.
Family vacations.
A secret life.
Emma's knees nearly gave out.
"My mother abandoned me."
Sophia's eyes widened.
"What?"
"You got everything."
"She left me with nothing."
Sophia stared at her.
Then quietly walked to a cabinet.
She removed a wooden box.
Inside were dozens of letters.
All addressed to Emma.
Every year.
Every birthday.
Every Christmas.
Every graduation.
Emma's hands trembled.
"What is this?"
Sophia whispered,
"Mom never stopped writing to you."
Emma looked up.
"What?"
Tears rolled down Sophia's cheeks.
"The man who claimed custody of me..."
Her voice broke.
"...was our father."
Emma felt the room spin.
"He hated Mom."
"He threatened her."
"He said if she contacted me again, he'd take everything."
Sophia swallowed hard.
"So she protected us the only way she could."
Emma opened one of the letters.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Her mother's.
The first line shattered her heart.
My dearest Emma,
If you're reading this one day, it means I finally found a way back to you.
Emma burst into tears.
Years of anger collapsed in an instant.
Then another question surfaced.
The one that mattered.
"Michael."
Sophia's expression darkened.
Immediately.
May you like
And Emma knew.
Something was terribly wrong.
