Lost Identity
Emily paced the room, her heart hammering against her ribs as she tried to process the words ringing in her ears.
Her father had been found. But he was already claimed, by another family.
Detective Harris, the officer who had been on their case since the day their father disappeared, stood before them, his expression grim.
"Your father was picked up by a family in Los Angeles. They claim he's their father."
Emily's breath hitched. "What?"
Harris sighed. "We investigated, and... well, he looks exactly like their father. We need to figure this out because right now, it's complicated."
Damian, her brother, narrowed his eyes. "What are you saying? That Dad has another family?"
Harris hesitated. "It's not that simple. The man they call their father… he accepts them too."
Emily froze. "That's impossible."
"He truly believes they're his children," Harris continued, his voice low. "And here's the part that makes it worse. They're around your age."
A cold shiver ran down Emily's spine.
Damian clenched his fists. "No. There has to be a mistake."
"There's only one way to know for sure." Harris met their eyes. "You need to see for yourselves."
With heavy hearts, Emily and Damian grabbed their family albums, birth certificates, and whatever photos they had of their father. They needed proof, something solid to fight this absurdly
As soon as they arrived, a strange unease settled over Emily.
The house was eerily similar to theirs, same structure, same kind of flowers lining the walkway. Even the mailbox had the same dent on the side, as if fate was playing a cruel trick on them.
Inside, two people a young woman and a man in their early twenties, stood waiting. Their eyes held no warmth.
Emily's hands curled into fists. "Where's my father?"
The girl, Anna, stepped forward. "Your father?" She let out a hollow laugh. "You must be joking. This is our father."
Damian's face darkened. "That's a lie."
Tension crackled between them, thick and suffocating.
Then, slow footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Emily turned toward the sound, her heart slamming against her chest.
And then, he appeared.
Mr. Jackson.
Her breath caught. It was him.
But something was wrong.
His posture was too stiff, his eyes distant. He didn't rush to embrace them. Didn't show the relief they had longed for.
Instead, he smiled warmly at Anna and Daniel.
"My children," he said.
Emily's breath hitched. No… No, no, no.
She stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Dad?"
He turned to her, his brows furrowed in confusion.
"Do I… know you?"
It felt like a knife to the chest.
Tears burned in Emily's eyes as she rushed forward. "Dad, it's me! Emily. And Damian. Your children."
Anna stepped between them, her stance protective. "Enough of this," she snapped. "He's already accepted us. He's our father."
Emily clenched her jaw. "That's impossible. My father disappeared. And now you expect me to believe he's been your father all along?"
Harris stepped between them. "We need answers, and we won't get them if we start arguing."
Anna wiped away a tear and held up a small, worn-out box. "This was a gift from him on my eighteenth birthday," she said, opening it to reveal a delicate gold bracelet.
Daniel pulled out a watch. "This was my brother's gift when he turned twenty."
Damian stiffened. "That doesn't prove anything."
Daniel's voice broke. "Our mother went missing years ago. We searched for her but never found a trace. Our father raised us alone. He's all we have left. And now, strangers like you want to take him away."
Emily shook her head, pain surging through her chest. "That's exactly what happened to us!"
Harris exhaled sharply. "The only way to settle this is with a DNA test."
Daniel's expression hardened. "We agree. But our father has diabetes and leukemia. Any stress could be dangerous."
Emily's body turned to ice. "What?"
Anna nodded. "His health is fragile. Any unnecessary strain could be fatal."
Emily turned to Damian, who looked as shell-shocked as she felt.
"That can't be right," Damian whispered. "Dad was fine before he went missing. He had no health issues. Just… memory loss after everything he went through."
Harris frowned. "Are you sure?"
Emily nodded furiously. "We have medical records. We'll prove it."
Then—
Mr. Jackson staggered.
His eyes flickered between Emily and Anna, confusion clouding his face. His lips parted.
And then, he collapsed.
A gasp rippled through the room. Anna and Daniel rushed to him, panic in their eyes.
Harris cursed under his breath. "Call an ambulance!"
Emily dropped to her knees beside him, gripping his hand. "Dad, hold on!"
His fingers twitched. Then, barely above a whisper, he muttered something.
A name.
Not Anna. Not Daniel.
Not even Emily or Damian.
A name none of them recognized.
Emily's stomach dropped.
Anna and Daniel exchanged a look.
Harris's jaw tightened.
But then, something even stranger happened.
A woman rushed down the stairs, her eyes wide with panic.
Emily barely had time to process before Anna turned sharply and hissed, "Stay out of this!"
The woman hesitated, her gaze locking onto Mr. Jackson's unconscious form.
And then, her lips trembled as she whispered, "That your father Emily"
Silence.
Cold. Heavy. Unbearable.
Emily's pulse roared in her ears. "What did you just say?"
The woman's hands shook as she took a step back, fear bleeding into her expression.
Anna whirled around, her voice sharp. "I told you to stay out of this!"
But the woman ignored her, looking straight at Emily.
"They hypnotized him," she whispered.
Emily's world tilted.
What?
Harris's expression darkened. "What the hell is going on here?"
Anna's face twisted in fury. "You talk too much."
And before anyone could react—
Anna picked up a gun, before she gave it a shot. Detective Harris gave her a big punch that sent her black out
The woman gasped, clutching her side as she crumpled to the floor.
Emily's scream tore through the house.
Daniel turned to them slowly
His voice was eerily cal
m.
"You should have stayed away."
"I need to interrogate you both, the truth ought to be clear". Detective Harris said boldly. But first let's go get your Dad to the hospital".