“Your sister?” I echoed, the words trembling like a dying flame.
“Yes,” he affirmed. “The hospital concealed her identity to protect the donor chain. Damon manipulated the records to hide her involvement and keep the foundation’s reputation intact.”
Elena stepped forward, voice low. “He also siphoned funds from the foundation into the clinic’s research wing, using the fake paternity as a cover.”
A wave of nausea washed over me; the foundation I’d nurtured was a pawn in his scheme.
“And the baby,” Detective Morales said, glancing at Tessa’s trembling arms, “is actually your nephew, the son of Lily Hart.”
The realization crashed—a gut punch of grief, love, and betrayal intertwined.
“He stole my sister’s child,” I whispered, feeling the weight of each syllable.
The detective placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We’ll ensure Damon faces charges for fraud, embezzlement, and falsifying medical records.”
As officers escorted Elena and the file away, I stared at the infant, his soft sigh a reminder of Lily’s lingering presence.
In that moment, the past and present collided, and the truth settled like cold steel in my veins.
