“You separated them for money,” I said.
“I didn’t separate anyone.”
“You intercepted their letters.”
“I redirected business correspondence.”
“Birthday cards are not business correspondence.”
Eric rose.
“This is ridiculous. Whatever I did, I did to prevent a stranger from taking what belonged to you.”
Mia stood too.
“I am not a stranger. I am Vivian’s daughter.”
“So is Rachel.”
“Exactly. Vivian wanted us to share it.”
Eric looked at me.
“You would have lost half the property.”
“I would have gained a sister.”
His expression told me he couldn’t understand why that mattered more.
Why Chloe’s Name Appeared
One question remained.
Why was Chloe named in an adoption file?
Mia removed the final collection of documents.
The first was a hospital record from 25 years earlier—the year Chloe was born.
I remembered that pregnancy clearly.
The nursery with pale yellow walls.
Eric assembling the crib incorrectly three times.
