If you are reading this, then I was not able to explain everything myself. I need you to begin with one truth: I never wanted our daughter involved in this.
Years before Emma was born, another child used her name.
She was placed on scholarship documents as Emma Carter because her real identity had to be protected. I helped her mother leave a dangerous situation. Westbridge and the Seven Branches Society promised confidentiality.
Later, I discovered they continued using the false identity to claim funds long after the girl was gone.
When our Emma was born, someone connected the records.
I believed I could correct it quietly.
I was wrong.
Do not assume everyone at Westbridge is your enemy. Someone there protected the records because they believed the truth would someday matter.
Find the girl in the photograph.
She knows why our daughter was chosen.
The letter ended there.
No name.
No address.
Only Claire’s signature.
I looked at Thomas.
“Who was the girl?”
“I knew her only as Lily.”
“Where is she now?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who was her mother?”
Thomas hesitated.
Then he pointed toward the woman in the photograph.
“She worked at Westbridge.”
