My throat went dry. “My fraternal twin. You left both of us.”
Her hands started shaking. “No,” she said slowly. “Lesley, you don’t have any twin.”
My head spun. “What are you talking about?”
She shook her head hard, tears falling. “I only gave birth to one child. You. There was no sister. No twin. Whoever that girl is, she’s not your family.”
The room felt like it tilted.
I whispered, “Grandma said we were twins.”
She broke down. “I left you with Grandma alone. I swear. I never had another child.”
My chest felt hollow. Like something had been rotten for years and I was only just smelling it.
“I worked abroad to send money home,” she cried. “I had an accident. I lost my memory. I only remembered last year. I searched everywhere for you. I never stopped being your mother.”
I wanted to believe her. I really did. But my whole life felt fake.
“Let me think,” I whispered. “I need time.”
She nodded like she expected it. She kissed my forehead softly. “Call me when you’re ready.” She left her number and walked away.
I barely had time to breathe before footsteps filled the yard.
Five men burst through the back gate.
Fredrinn’s men.