บททั้งหมดของ Stolen by my Dad best friend : บทที่ 21 - บทที่ 30

Tessa's POVMy heart stopped. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe.I simply stared through the window at the woman standing outside Daven's house.My mother. Monalisa. Alive.After twenty-one years of believing she had abandoned me, she was standing only a few feet away.My fingers trembled. "Mom..." The word barely left my lips.Daven turned toward me. "Tessa, stay here."But I was already moving. I rushed toward the front door. Daven caught my wrist."Wait.""That's my mother.""I know.""She's outside.""I know.""Then let me go."His grip loosened. I pulled my hand free and opened the door. Cold air rushed over my face.Monalisa stood at the gate.For a few seconds, neither of us moved. She looked older than the woman in the photographs, but her eyes were the same. My eyes.Her lips trembled. "Tessa."Hearing my name in her voice broke something inside me. I stepped forward. She took one step toward me, then stopped."I've wanted to do this for twenty-one years."Tears filled her

Tessa's POVI couldn't take my eyes off the birth certificate.The name printed beneath mine seemed to burn into my mind. I had never seen it before. Yet Victor and Daven both recognized it. That scared me more than anything."Who is he?" I asked again.Victor didn't answer. Daven didn't either. The silence between us felt unbearable."Why won't either of you tell me?"Victor finally stepped closer. "Tessa, we need to get back inside.""No." I held the certificate tighter. "Not until someone tells me the truth."Daven looked at Victor. "We can't do this here."Victor nodded. "We need to protect the original."I frowned. "The original?"Before either man could explain, headlights appeared at the end of the street. A car was approaching. Daven immediately moved in front of me. Victor turned toward the vehicle.The car slowed, then stopped. For a second, nobody moved. The driver's door opened, and a young woman stepped out with a suitcase in one hand, looking exhausted from traveling. Th

Tessa's POVFor several seconds, nobody moved. I stared at Victor, then at Daven, then back at Victor."The man she believed was my real father?" My voice barely came out.Victor looked away."Who was he?"He didn't answer."Dad."Still nothing.I stepped closer. "Who was my mother looking for that night?"Victor's jaw tightened. "I don't know."A bitter laugh escaped me. "That's what everyone says." I shook my head. "Nobody knows anything. Daven doesn't know. You don't know. Adrian doesn't know."Daven's eyes met mine. "I never said I didn't know anything.""You've been hiding things from me since I met you.""I was trying to protect you.""Everyone keeps saying that." My voice cracked. "But I'm not asking you to protect me anymore."Daven took a step toward me. "Tessa—""No." I wiped the tears from my face. "Rose is missing. Someone is threatening her. They're demanding my birth certificate. And you're still standing here telling me half-truths."Daven's expression hardened. "Becaus

Tessa's POVVictor had gone completely silent. I stared at him. "The truth is underneath." The words from the message seemed to echo through the room."What does that mean?"Victor didn't answer."Dad?"His eyes remained fixed on the phone in my hand.Daven stepped closer to him. "You know."Victor finally looked at him. "I know what they want us to believe.""That's not what I asked."Victor's jaw tightened.Daven's voice hardened. "What is underneath the house?"Victor looked at me. "Tessa, you shouldn't go looking for it."My heart sank. "Then there really is something."He didn't deny it. I felt betrayed all over again."You knew?""I suspected.""You suspected?" My voice rose. "How long?"Victor looked away. "Years."I laughed bitterly. "Of course."Daven reached for my hand. I let him take it, his thumb brushing against my fingers. The simple touch steadied me."We'll find it," he said.Victor looked at him. "You don't understand what you're risking."Daven's eyes hardened. "I'v

Tessa's POVThe name on the screen wouldn't leave my mind.DAREN.Who was he?And why had the person behind all of this used his name as if I was supposed to recognize it?Daven was still standing in front of me.His hands had dropped from my shoulders, but their warmth lingered."You said you don't know what they want me to believe," I said quietly.Daven nodded."But you know something."His eyes shifted away."Daven."He looked at me again."I know that twenty-one years ago, there were things happening that I didn't understand.""Then help me understand them now."Before he could answer, Rose spoke."Who's Daren?"Everyone turned toward her.Victor's expression changed instantly.That scared me more than anything."You know that name," I said.Victor shook his head."No."Rose stared at him."You're lying again.""I've never heard of him."Daven suddenly walked toward the screen.He examined the message."There's something wrong.""What?"He pointed to the bottom corner.A tiny sym