When Love Breaks by jack

Cheryl's demeanor stiffened, "Who told you that?"

"Auntie, please don't hide it from me."

I pressed my lips together, "I had to be sure before I came to you. I already know that I belong to the Myers family of Vista Town."

"Myers? Your biological father is a Myers?"

Cheryl became visibly tense. Despite her frail voice, she bombarded me with questions, driven by her emotions, "Did they come for you? What happened? Have they treated you poorly?"

Her reaction confirmed my suspicions. Cheryl knew something about the past.

I pressed on, "How did I end up with the Websters in the first place?"

"Back then..." Cheryl pondered for a moment, then looked at me with pity, *Your parents lost their beloved daughter, and the doctor said your mother couldn't have any more children. Later, they went to Vista Town for business and, by a strange twist of fate, ended up bringing you back."

*And then? The Myers family has been saying I was kidnapped all these years. Was I really kidnapped?"

*Indeed, you were."

Her tone grew grave, "At the time, your parents were entertaining in Vista Town. Your dad went to the car to fetch some wine and found you sneaking into the vehicle, pleading for help... You were covered in bruises, and knowing your dad's kind heart, he couldn't just leave you there."

"He decided to rescue you right then and there. But people were searching for you everywhere, so he had to lock you in the car. He acted as if nothing happened and returned to the restaurant."

"You were smart, staying quiet and hidden under the backseat with a blanket over you, avoiding detection."

"Those men even searched the restaurant later. Your parents overheard them mentioning a name... Susan..."

17:40

"Susan?"

My heart tightened.

Even the 'kidnapping' and 'loss' were orchestrated by Mrs. Myers... my mother?

"Yes, but for years... we thought the Myers were your biological parents' enemies."

Cheryl nodded, "Those people were cautious, not revealing much before they continued their search elsewhere. Fearing for your safety, your parents took you back to River City that very night to heal. Initially, they planned to send you to an orphanage, but they couldn't bear to let you go. Fearing those people would trace you, they erased all records of 'Jane's' death, moved houses, and had you assume her identity."

"So that's what happened..."

My thoughts were a jumble as I fingered the pendant, "And this pendant... was it on me at that time?"Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

"Yes."

Cheryl looked puzzled, "Your dad did some digging. In all of Vista Town, there's only one Myers family, but among so many Myers, none bore the surname Taylor."

"Taylor? What does that have to do with anything?"

"Your pendant..." She looked at me, replying, "There's an inscription on the bottom, a 'Taylor'. Your dad found it by accident and needed a magnifying glass to see it clearly."

"Taylor?"

I immediately looked down, touching the bottom of the pendant

I had thought this was a Myers family heirloom... but it seems I was wrong.

Doubts swirled in my mind.

Cheryl sighed, "Beyond that, I don't know."

17:40

I calmed my emotions, saying, "Auntie, thank you for telling me all nk you for this

This only deepened my suspicions.

Susan... was likely not my biological mother after all.

Cheryl shook her head, tucking the pendant back under my shirt, "Babe, if you can forgive me, that's all I need. I didn't mean to hide your origins. Your parents, before they passed, made me promise countless times, fearing the truth would endanger you. Including this pendant, I wouldn't have revealed it if I weren't already so ill."