Chapter 182: Chapter 182 The Truth Unravels
Author
That afternoon at the office, Elara caught Nancy flying out the door with her bag, looking like she’d seen a ghost.
"Whoa, what’s the emergency?"
"I have to leave right now." Nancy’s hands were shaking so badly she nearly dropped her keys twice. "Family emergency."
"Sure thing." Elara grabbed her jacket. "Where are we going? I’m driving."
"My dad’s in the ER. Car wreck." Nancy’s voice cracked on the last word.
"Say no more." Elara was already heading for the elevator. "You’re not driving anywhere in this state."
They hit the hospital twenty minutes later. Elara ran three red lights. Nancy bolted from the car before it even came to a full stop.
"Mom! How bad is it?"
"Honey, he’s lost a lot of blood." Carol’s eyes were swollen from crying. Her mascara had run down her face in dark streaks.
Nancy didn’t hesitate. "Where do I sign up?"
Carol rushed her to the blood bank. Nancy came back out looking drained but determined.
That’s when it hit her. She’d taken first aid training for her job. Basic stuff. But she remembered one thing clearly: direct family members couldn’t donate blood to each other. Something about antibodies and rejection risks.
"Excuse me," Nancy called to the tech. Her heart was pounding. "Are you sure this is safe? I mean, he’s my biological father..."
The tech double-checked her chart. "Oh, your mom explained the situation. Since you’re adopted, there’s no issue."
Nancy’s world tilted sideways. "I’m sorry, what?"
"Your adoptive parents, right?" The tech looked confused. "Your mom filled out all the paperwork. She’s coming back now if you want to—"
Nancy turned. Carol was walking down the hallway, avoiding eye contact.
Nancy stepped forward. Her legs moved before her brain could catch up.
"Mom." Her voice came out steady, but her hands were shaking. "Did you tell the nurse I’m adopted?"
Carol stopped walking. Her face went pale.
"Nancy, this isn’t the time."
"Answer me."
Carol looked away. "Your father is in surgery right now. Can we please focus on that?"
Nancy stared at her. She wanted to push harder. She wanted to demand answers. But her mom looked broken. Dark circles under her eyes. Her voice barely holding together.
So Nancy swallowed it down.
"Fine." Her voice was cold. "But we’re talking about this later."
Carol’s eyes filled with tears. "Honey, I know you’re angry—"
"I’m not angry." Nancy turned toward the waiting room. "I just need to know who I am."
She sat down in the hard plastic chair across from the OR. Her dad was in there fighting for his life. And somewhere in that room, the truth about her entire existence was waiting too.
She folded her hands in her lap and stared at the doors.
Adopted or not, that man in there was still her father. She loved him. She wasn’t going anywhere.
But when he woke up, she was getting answers.
--
Seven years ago, Nancy was in a bad car accident.
The head trauma wiped out most of her memories. When she woke up, her parents were right there by her bedside.
To help her recover, she moved to Boston. She found a job she loved. Met Ben. Started dating. Things got serious. They talked about marriage. They came home to make plans.
Everything had been smooth. The missing pieces of her past never really bothered her.
Until now.
The parents she’d always believed were hers by blood just told her she was adopted.
So where were her real parents? Were they alive? Did they want her? Did they give her up, or was she taken away?
Nancy had a thousand questions stuck in her throat. But watching her adoptive mother fall apart, she swallowed every single one of them.
The surgery lasted four brutal hours. When it was over, her father was still unconscious.
Carol had only recently gotten out of the hospital herself. Nancy could see how exhausted she looked. "Mom, go home and rest. I’ll stay here. If anything changes, I’ll call you tonight."
Carol looked at her with worried eyes. Like she was afraid Nancy would disappear now that she knew the truth. "Nancy, your father and I have always loved you like our own. Please don’t overthink this. Wait until your dad wakes up. We’ll talk then."
Nancy nodded, but her mind was somewhere else. "I know, Mom. Go home. I’ve got this."
She couldn’t sleep anyway. Her whole life suddenly felt like a lie.
