Chapter 127 : Truth

Chapter 127 : Truth
The drive to the penthouse was silent. Lily sat in the back seat, staring out the window, trying to take in what had happened.

Rowan kept checking her in the rearview mirror. The bruise on her cheek was getting dark. She was going to need ice. And food. And sleep. And therapy. 

“Emma’s going to be so happy to meet you,” Rowan said, finally breaking the silence.

“What if she doesn’t like me?” 

“She already does. She’s been waiting for weeks.” 

When they pulled up to the penthouse, Emma was waiting by the door.

“Is she okay? Is she hurt? Can I see her?” 

“Emma, slow down. Give her some space.” 

The elevator doors opened. Lily stepped out, small and fragile and overwhelmed.

Emma froze. All the things she’d rehearsed in her head vanished.

“Hi,” she said simply. 

“Hi,” Lily said back. 

“I made you something.” Emma held out a small wrapped package. “A welcome gift.” 

Lily took it carefully. “Thank you.” 

“I’m Emma. But you probably know that.” 

“I do. Rowan talks about you a lot.” 

“Good things?” 

“Mostly.” 

Emma grinned. “I’ll take mostly.” 

Mrs. Williams came in with warm milk and sandwiches. Rowan took Lily to the guest room. 

“This is really mine?” Lily asked. 

“Really yours.” 

“It’s bigger than my room at the foster home.”

“Is that okay?” 

“I think so. It’s just—a lot.” 

Emma popped back into the room with Oliver on her hip. “Sorry. He woke up and was dying to meet the new person.”

Oliver gurgled, reaching for Lily. 

“That’s Oliver,” Emma said. “He’s basically harmless.” 

“Can I hold him?” 

Emma passed Oliver into Lily’s arms. He stared at her for a moment before smiling.

“He likes you,” Emma said. “Oliver only smiles at people he likes.” 

Lily laughed. A real laugh, startled out of her. 

Later, after Lily was settled and Emma was finally asleep, Rowan sat out on the terrace with Asher in her arms.

“That was the scariest night of my life,” Rowan said.

“Mine too.” 

Her phone buzzed. Patricia had sent her a text. 

Call me. Urgent. Something just came up in Marcus's background check.

Rowan’s stomach dropped. She set Asher down and called. 

“What is it?” 

“Marcus Webb is not Lily’s biological father.” 

“What?” 

“The DNA is not a match. He had a paternity test done years ago when he was trying to establish parental rights through the courts. It came back negative.” 

“Then why did he—” 

“He was obsessed with you. He told himself he was the father even after the test proved he wasn’t. He’s been stalking you for over a decade, Rowan.”

“If he isn’t the father then who is?”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Then: “That’s what we need to find out.” 

Rowan leaned back against the wall, mind spinning. Another ghost. Another secret. 

“Does Lily know?” 

“No. I wanted to tell you first.” 

“We have to tell her. She deserves to know.” 

“Are you sure? It’s a lot for her on top of everything else.”

“She’s been living a lie her whole life. At least this is the truth.” 

Rowan hung up and went to find Asher.

“Marcus isn’t Lily’s father. The DNA test doesn’t match.” 

“Then who is?” 

“I don’t know. Someone else. I can’t remember.” 

“Do we tell Lily?” 

“We have to. But not tonight. She’s had a lot to deal with.” 

The next day, Lily cautiously crept out of her room, like she was waiting for someone to burst in and tell her it was all a mistake.

“Morning,” Rowan said. “Are you hungry?” 

“A little.” 

Emma was already at the table, arranging plates. “I made you a welcome breakfast. Well. Mrs. Williams made it. But I supervised.” 

“That’s very kind of you.” 

They ate together. Conversation stilted, but genuine. Oliver banged his spoon on his high chair. Emma narrated everything. Lily watched and took it all in. 

After breakfast, Sandra came to the apartment for the required home visit.

“How was the first night?” she asked Lily in private.

“Good. Different. Everyone’s really nice.” 

“Do you feel safe here?” 

“I think so. It’s weird having siblings. But good weird.” 

Sandra stayed for an hour, going through paperwork, asking questions, documenting everything. Checking in with Lily, making sure she was safe, stable, and that she wanted to be there.

“The emergency placement will last up to thirty days while the adoption paperwork is processed,” she told Rowan. “But given what we know about Marcus, I don’t expect we’ll have any issues.”

“What about Marcus? What’s going to happen to him?” 

“He’s being held without bail. Kidnapping. Assault. Stalking. He’s not getting out.” 

After Sandra left, Rowan knew there was no more avoiding it. They had to talk. 

She found Lily in her room, unpacking the few things she had from her foster home.

“Can we talk?” 

Lily’s face clouded. “Am I going back?” 

“No. No, of course not. But there’s something you should know about Marcus.”

They sat down on the bed together. 

“The police did a DNA test. Marcus isn’t your biological father.” 

Lily blinked. “What?” 

“He thought he was. Convinced himself he was. The test proved he was wrong.” 

“So he kidnapped me. And now I’m not even his daughter?” 

“He was obsessed with me. With the idea of us being a family. The reality didn’t match the fantasy in his head.”

Lily took a moment to let it all sink in. “Then who is my father? My real father?” 

“I don’t know. I don’t remember that time. But we’ll find out. If you want to know.” 

Rowan hesitated. “Do you want to know?” 

“I do. But you don’t. You wanted him to be the one. Then when it wasn’t you just—put me here.”

“No, Lily. That’s not fair. And not true. I know what you told us on the drive here. I know you’re worried you’ll be a burden. I know you’re afraid no one wants you. But I do. I really do. I have so much capacity to love you.”

Lily rolled her eyes. “God, can you shut off the Hallmark channel?”

“Stop it. I love you. And you are not a burden. I’m not with Emma and Oliver because there was no room for you. I had room. I chose to stay empty. Because I was broken. And now I’m putting the pieces back together. With you. You’re part of that.” 

“Part of it.” 

“Yes. My family.” 

“But you didn’t choose to have me. Not really. I just—appeared.” 

“I choose you now. Every day. That’s what matters. You know what Emma said to me on the drive over? I’m not supposed to have used words like that. You appeared too. Oliver was planned. Yes. But all three of you. You’re my children. Equally. Completely.” 

“Even though you don’t remember giving birth to me?”

“Even though. Memory doesn’t make family. Choice does.” 

Lily leaned against her and Rowan gathered her in her arms. This girl she had carried, birthed, surrendered, and now found again.

“We’ll find out who your father is,” Rowan said. “But whoever he is, he doesn’t change this. You’re mine. I’m keeping you.” 

“Promise?” 

“Promise.” 

Outside, thunder rolled. The storm was coming. But inside, they were safe. 

For now. That was enough for now.