Chapter 2: The Secret Hidden for Twenty-Seven Years
Emily quickly covered her exposed shoulder, tears burning in her eyes from humiliation.
Daniel gently pulled his mother back.
"Mother... you've gone too far."
But Margaret wasn't listening.
She slowly stepped closer again, this time with trembling hands instead of anger.
Her eyes remained fixed on the butterfly-shaped birthmark.
"I've seen this before..."
Emily looked at her in confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
Margaret's lips quivered.
"Twenty-seven years ago, I gave birth to a little girl."
The guests exchanged puzzled glances.
"Hours after she was born... she disappeared from the hospital."
No one spoke.
"The police searched for years."
"My husband spent millions hiring investigators."
"We never found her."
A tear rolled down Margaret's cheek.
"My daughter had the exact same birthmark."
Emily instinctively touched the old silver necklace hidden beneath the torn neckline of her dress.
The necklace slipped into view.
Margaret gasped.
Her knees nearly gave out.
"That necklace..."
Emily looked down.
"My adoptive parents said I was wearing it when they brought me home."
Margaret reached into her purse with shaking fingers and pulled out an old, faded photograph.
In the picture, a newborn baby lay wrapped in a pink blanket with the exact same silver necklace resting beside her.
Margaret slowly placed the photograph next to Emily's necklace.
They matched perfectly.
She burst into tears.
"My God..."
"Emily..."
"You're my daughter."
Emily stood frozen.
May you like
Her entire world collapsed in a single sentence.
