Chapter 19 - The Point of No Return
Diane called Claire at midnight.
“Come to the old house.”
Claire knew which house.
The abandoned Hale estate on Sheridan Road.
Evelyn’s childhood home.
Claire notified Naomi and the investigators.
Then she went.
Diane was waiting in the conservatory.
Dust covered the furniture.
Moonlight spilled through cracked windows.
An envelope lay on the table.
Claire stopped several feet away.
“Where are the maternity records?”
“Safe.”
“What do you want?”
Diane looked older than she had three days earlier.
“I wanted you to hear the truth from me.”
Claire almost laughed.
“You had forty years.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Claire stepped closer.
“You do not get to become honest because you finally ran out of lies.”
Diane looked at the envelope.
“The hospital made a mistake the night you were born.”
“I know.”
“Not the mistake you think.”
Claire’s pulse quickened.
Diane opened the envelope.
Inside was an old DNA report.
“Evelyn became suspicious after the bracelet error.”
“About what?”
“Whether the baby returned to her was actually hers.”
Claire stared.
“She had testing done?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
Diane handed her the document.
Claire did not take it.
“Tell me.”
Diane’s voice shook.
“The test confirmed Evelyn was your mother.”
Claire exhaled.
“Then why steal it?”
“Because of the second result.”
Claire frowned.
Diane continued.
“Evelyn tested Paige too.”
“Why?”
“She believed Laura’s child had also been mishandled.”
Claire felt the trap tightening.
“And?”
“Paige was Laura’s biological daughter.”
Claire shook her head.
“So nothing changed.”
“Yes, it did.”
Diane’s eyes filled.
“The paternity marker matched.”
Claire went still.
“Matched whom?”
Diane whispered, “Richard Mercer.”
Claire stared at her.
Richard was Claire’s biological father.
Now Diane was saying he was Paige’s father too.
Paige and Claire really were half-sisters.
The one relationship Claire believed had become fake was, biologically, real after all.
Diane continued.
“Richard had affairs with both Evelyn and Laura.”
Claire felt sick.
“Did they know?”
“Laura knew about Evelyn.”
“And Evelyn?”
“She discovered Laura’s relationship the day of the crash.”
Claire finally understood why both women had been in the car.
“They were together.”
“Yes.”
“Where were they going?”
“To confront Richard.”
“And you drugged Evelyn.”
Diane closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
The confession hung in the room.
“Why?”
“I wanted them to stop.”
“So you drugged a woman who planned to drive.”
“I put medication in her tea.”
“You knew she was leaving.”
“I thought Laura would drive.”
“But Evelyn did.”
“Yes.”
“And Laura died.”
Diane began sobbing.
“I never meant for that.”
Claire felt no comfort for her.
“You still covered it up.”
“Yes.”
“You took both babies.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about Paige’s age.”
“Yes.”
“You told Evelyn I was better off without her.”
Diane’s voice broke.
“Yes.”
Claire stepped closer.
“And when Evelyn started remembering?”
“I moved her.”
“And when I turned forty?”
“I panicked.”
“You recruited my husband.”
“He came to me first.”
Claire froze.
“When?”
“Seven years ago.”
Diane wiped her face.
“He found Richard’s files.”
“So Julian proposed the plan.”
“He wanted access to the trust.”
“And you agreed.”
“I thought I could keep everything stable.”
Claire laughed without humor.
“There is that word again.”
Stable.
It had justified every betrayal.
Diane pushed the DNA report toward her.
“I did love you.”
Claire looked at her.
“I believe you.”
Diane’s face changed with surprise.
Claire continued.
“That is what makes you terrifying.”
Footsteps sounded outside.
Investigators had arrived.
Diane looked toward the door.
She did not run.
Claire picked up the DNA report.
Then Diane whispered, “There is one more thing.”
Claire stopped.
“Richard knew about the crash.”
“What?”
“He knew what I did.”
“And said nothing?”
Diane nodded.
“In exchange, I agreed never to reveal that both girls were his.”
Claire thought of Richard’s confession.
Even his attempt at redemption had been incomplete.
Another man protecting himself.
Another adult choosing silence.
Claire opened the conservatory door.
Investigators entered.
Diane looked at Claire one final time.
“Will you ever forgive me?”
Claire considered the question.
“No.”
Diane’s face crumpled.
Claire continued.
May you like
“But I will stop carrying you.”
Then she stepped aside and let them take Diane away.
