He was her half-brother.
Years earlier, David’s father had been involved with Grace’s mother. Grace was born from that relationship and raised in secrecy. Her mother died two years before David’s diagnosis, leaving a letter that led him to Grace.
For one moment, I felt relief. David had not betrayed our marriage with another woman.
Then Grace revealed that he had known about her before he married me.
For fifteen years, David had carried the secret while building a life with me. He claimed he was protecting his mother, who never knew about her husband’s betrayal. Even after both parents died, he remained silent.
The letters showed that David had supported Grace’s mother for years. After her death, he arranged Grace’s care, paid for school, and opened an account for her.
When he learned he was dying, he panicked at the thought of leaving her alone. Instead of telling me everything, he waited until he was too weak for an argument and asked me to adopt her.
“He used me,” I said.
Grace insisted he loved me and believed I was the only person kind enough to give her a home.
That made me angrier.
He had controlled when I would learn the truth and left me to handle the consequences after his death. He knew I would not refuse a dying man.
Grief hardened me.
I packed Grace’s clothes and placed her backpack by the door.
