Chapter 10
The trial became a storm.
Elaine hired the best lawyers money could buy.
Julian tried to separate himself from her.
Victoria sold exclusive interviews about betrayal, pretending she had not laughed at me in front of a ballroom.
I ignored all of them.
My world became Noah and Lila.
Lila came to Dallas for the hearings.
She stayed in my guest room because she said hotels made her feel hunted.
The first morning, she found Noah making pancakes.
Burning pancakes.
He looked guilty.
“I wanted to make breakfast.”
Lila stared at the smoking pan.
“Is this revenge against breakfast?”
He smiled.
She smiled back.
I leaned in the doorway, watching something fragile form.
Not instant family.
Not magic.
Something slower.
Choice.
Samuel uncovered more.
Elaine had paid the nurse.
Forged Anna’s signature.
Falsified a death notice for the baby.
Then pressured Julian to leave town until “the girl stopped making noise.”
Anna spent years trying to prove Lila was alive.
She filed police reports.
No one helped.
She wrote letters to Julian.
Elaine intercepted them.
One letter survived.
Lila read it at my kitchen table.
My baby, if you ever find this, know I wanted you every day.
Lila pressed the paper to her chest.
Noah took her hand.
She let him.
Later, she asked me, “Did Julian love Noah?”
I looked toward my son’s room.
“In his own selfish way, maybe.”
“That sounds like no.”
“It wasn’t enough to protect him.”
May you like
She nodded.
“That’s the only answer that matters.”
