Novels by Sharon Michael

Chapter 93Zara’s POVFew weeks on, the moving truck arrived on a crisp Saturday morning. Not that I had much to move. A year of living in Green’s apartment hadn’t accumulated much beyond Phoenix’s toys and my clothes. Everything fit into a dozen boxes.“Are you sure about this?” Green asked, watching the movers load the last box. “You’re always welcome to stay here, you know. For as long as you need.”“I know. And I love you for that.” I adjusted Phoenix on my hip. He was fascinated by the moving truck, pointing and babbling excitedly. “But it’s time. Time to build something stable for Phoenix. Time to really start over.”“With your mom.”“With my mom,” I repeated, still getting used to saying it. “She has that huge mansion with more rooms than she knows what to do with. And she wants us there. She wants to be part of Phoenix’s life. Part of my life.”Green hugged me carefully, mindful of Phoenix between us. “I’m going to miss having you down the hall.”“I’m not disappearing. I’ll vi

Chapter 92Zara’s POVThe week after Josephine’s big reveal to me felt like living in a dream. I kept looking at the check, at the company documents, at my bank account that now had numbers I’d never imagined seeing. It didn’t feel real.But there was something else weighing on my mind. Something I needed to do.The money from Josh’s assets. Ten million dollars sitting untouched in an account because I’d never been able to bring myself to use it. It had felt like blood money, like profiting from loss, like accepting payment for pain.Now, with Josephine’s gift securing Phoenix’s future and mine, I finally knew what to do with it.I spent two days researching charities. Organizations that helped abuse survivors. Shelters for women escaping domestic violence. Programs that provided therapy for trauma victims. Legal aid funds for people trapped in abusive situations.I divided the ten million among fifteen different charities, carefully calculating how much each one would receive. Then I

Chapter 91Zara’s POVI called everyone the next morning. Green, Ovee, Maya, and even Emma. I needed them all to hear this in person, to share in what felt like the most surreal moment of my life.“Emergency meeting at my place,” I’d said. “Eleven o’clock. I have news.”Now they were all crowded into Green’s living room, which I was still calling home until I figured out what to do next. Phoenix was playing with his blocks in the corner while everyone looked at me expectantly.“So what’s the big news, is she your mother?” Green asked, practically bouncing in her seat. “You sounded so excited on the phone.”I took a deep breath. “I found my biological mother.”Silence.Then everyone started talking at once.“What?”“Are you serious?”I held up my hands, laughing. “Let me tell you everything.I told them everything. About the DNA test. About the results confirming she was my mother. About spending yesterday at her mansion hearing her story and telling her mine.“Oh my God, Zara,” Maya s

Chapter 90Zara’s POVThe inside of the mansion was even more impressive than the outside. High ceilings with crystal chandeliers, marble floors that gleamed under the afternoon light, artwork that looked like it belonged in museums. Everything was elegant and tasteful, speaking to wealth I’d only ever seen in magazines.“Please, sit,” Josephine said, leading me into a spacious living room with plush cream-colored sofas and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens. “Make yourself comfortable. Can I get you anything? Water? Tea? Coffee?”“I’m okay, thank you.”“Actually, you know what? Let me have something prepared for you. Have you eaten lunch?”Before I could answer, Josephine walked to the doorway and called out, “Daniella!”A woman in her sixties appeared, wearing a simple uniform. “Yes, Mrs. Adams?”“Daniella, this is my daughter, Zara.” Josephine’s voice broke slightly on the word ‘daughter,’ like she still couldn’t quite believe it was real.Daniella’s eyes widened. “Yo

Chapter 89Zara’s POVWe met at Riverside Medical Center three days later. Josephine had already arranged everything, calling ahead to schedule the DNA test and handling all the paperwork.I arrived early, my stomach in knots. Phoenix was with Green again, and I was grateful for that. I needed to do this alone, without distractions.Josephine was already in the waiting room when I walked in. She stood immediately, her face brightening with hope and nervousness.“Zara. Thank you for coming.”“Of course.”We stood there awkwardly for a moment, two strangers who might be mother and daughter, neither of us knowing quite what to say.“They said it should be quick,” Josephine said finally. “Just a cheek swab for both of us. The results will take about a week.”“A week,” I repeated. Seven days of uncertainty.“I know it seems like a long time. But it’s worth it to know for sure.”A nurse called us back, and we followed her into a small examination room. The process was simple, painless. A co

Chapter 88 Zara’s POV I sat in the diner for another twenty minutes after Josephine left, staring at the photograph and the business card. My sandwich remained untouched, going cold on the plate. The waitress refilled my coffee twice without saying a word, probably sensing I needed space. My therapy appointment came and went. I couldn’t make myself move from the booth. Couldn’t make myself process what had just happened. A woman claiming to be my biological mother. A birthmark that matched perfectly. A birthday that aligned. A story that explained how I’d ended up abandoned on a roadside. It was too much. Too overwhelming. Finally, I forced myself to leave. I paid for the uneaten food and walked out into the afternoon sunlight, feeling disoriented and unsteady. I needed to talk to someone. Someone who would tell me I wasn’t crazy for even considering this woman’s claims. I pulled out my phone and called Green. She answered on the first ring. “Hey! How was therapy?” “I didn’t