Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN SARAH HAD BEEN ASHAMED OFMargaret couldn't stop crying.
“She chose me?”
Howard nodded.
“She knew you were struggling, but she also knew you were kind. Catherine arranged for the baby to be left where you would find her.”
Sarah stared at Margaret.
“All these years…”
Margaret whispered:
“I thought I had rescued you.”
Sarah stepped forward.
“You did.”
“No.”
Margaret shook her head.
“Your mother trusted me to.”
Sarah finally broke.
She ran into Margaret's arms.
The same arms she had rejected minutes earlier.
“I’m sorry.”
Margaret held her tightly.
“You were scared.”
“I lied about you.”
“I know.”
“I was ashamed of you.”
“I know.”
“I told people you were dead.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“That hurt.”
Sarah sobbed.
“I know.”
Margaret touched her hair.
“But you are still my daughter.”
Across the room, David stood motionless.
His wedding guests were watching.
His parents were fighting.
The perfect wedding was collapsing.
Then Eleanor approached Margaret.
“I owe you an apology.”
Margaret looked at her.
“You owe Sarah more.”
Eleanor nodded.
“I know.”
She turned toward Sarah.
“I spent twenty-eight years believing I had failed my sister.”
“You did.”
Eleanor accepted the words.
“Yes.”
Then she revealed another secret.
“Catherine didn't just leave you a letter.”
Sarah frowned.
“What else?”
Eleanor took out her phone.
“There is a video.”
Sarah's heart stopped.
“A video?”
“Catherine recorded it before she died.”
Richard shouted:
“Eleanor!”
She ignored him.
“I kept it hidden because Richard threatened me.”
She pressed play.
A woman's face appeared on the screen.
Pale.
Weak.
But smiling.
Sarah immediately knew.
“Mom.”
The room fell silent.
Catherine looked into the camera.
“If my daughter is watching this one day, I want her to know one thing.”
She smiled through tears.
“You were loved.”
Sarah covered her mouth.
Catherine continued:
“And Margaret Ellis is the woman I trust to raise you.”
Margaret began sobbing.
Then Catherine said something that changed everything.
“But there is another reason I chose Margaret.”
The video paused for a second.
Catherine's expression became serious.
“If Richard ever tries to reclaim my daughter, tell her to look inside the blue box.”
Sarah stared at the velvet box.
Margaret looked down.
“What?”
May you like
Catherine continued:
“The sapphire contains the key.”
