His expression darkened as though everything had suddenly fallen into place. “Kelsey… you’re Dr. Chelsea’s real daughter,” he confessed, disbelief laced in his tone.
Time seemed to freeze. My mind struggled to grasp the weight of his words. “That’s not possible.”
“You’re her biological child,” Calvin continued, his voice tinged with guilt. “Kristie… she was adopted. She was never supposed to be in your place.” He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I was the one who switched you two at birth. It was the only way to keep you safe.”
My entire world tilted as I tried to comprehend the revelation. “Why? Why would you do that?!”
Calvin’s expression was haunted, regret flashing in his eyes. “Because I had to. If your real father ever discovered your identity, he would’ve used you. He would’ve destroyed everything. The only way to protect you was to make sure you never existed in his world.”
His words felt like a crushing weight, suffocating and inescapable. My whole life—every truth I thought I knew—was a lie.
Before I could speak, shouting erupted in the distance. Calvin’s gaze snapped toward the looming mansion up ahead, his face darkening.