The silence that followed Mrs. Hayes's declaration was deafening. I stood frozen, her words replaying in my mind like a broken record.
Beatrice Hayes... my biological mother?
The chronically ill woman I'd cared for all these years—the only person who'd shown me kindness in that household—was actually my real mother?
"What nonsense is this?" Genevieve's theatrical moaning stopped abruptly as she scrambled to her feet. "Beatrice, you're confused. The medication must be—"
"I'm not confused," Mrs. Hayes cut her off, her voice surprisingly strong despite her frail appearance. "I've been silent for too long."
Before anyone could respond, another figure pushed through the crowd—Officer Bianca Pierce, holding up her badge.
"Mrs. Dubois is correct," Bianca announced, her authoritative voice silencing the murmurs. "And I have the evidence to prove it."
