Harper is the biological daughter of William Harper.”
No one spoke.
My heart was beating so hard I could feel it in my throat.
For eighteen years, I had imagined this moment.
I had imagined I would be exonerated.
I had imagined Vivian’s face.
I had imagined Alyssa finally realizing that she had made a mistake.
But I never imagined the truth would be greater than that.
Because it wasn’t simply about me being daddy’s girl.
It was Alyssa who wasn’t.
Alyssa pushed her chair back.
“You made a mistake.”
Mr. Bennett shook his head.
“Two independent laboratories processed the samples.”
“So they both made a mistake!”
“Alyssa,” Vivian murmured.
” No ! “
Alyssa turned against her.
“Don’t say my name like that!”
His voice broke.
“You told me she wasn’t Daddy’s girl.”
Vivian lowered her eyes.
“I told you what I believed.”
” No. “
Alyssa’s eyes filled with tears.
“You told me.”
She pointed at me.
“You told me she was a daughter Mom had before Dad married her. You told me Dad felt sorry for her. You told me she was never really part of that family.”
My mouth became dry.
I looked at Vivian.
