NovelFastChapter 878
Even though Hayes had tried to brace himself on the way over, he was still stunned when he finally saw the old
photo-before the weight gain, Margot had looked exactly like Teresa.
The shock hit him hard, mingled with a deep ache in his chest.
He couldn't help but feel for Teresa. In his eyes, she had always cared about her looks, and yet she'd endured so
much suffering from being overweight for so long. Whatever the reason, he refused to believe Teresa would have
let herself becunrecognizable without good cause.
His small trembling hands clutched the photo, his eyes reddening as tears threatened to fall. But he quickly
ducked his head, not wanting his little sister to see him cry.
"I... | always suspected you were my Teresa," he choked out, voice trembling. "I just knew it was you..."
Teresa reached over and squeezed Hayes's little hand, then hopped down from the couch so she could sit right
beside him.
Their hands clasped tightly together, Teresa's free hand gently wiped away the tear trailing down Hayes's cheek.
Her voice, soft and quivering, still carried a note of comfort.
"Don't cry, okay? I'm back now, aren't I? No more tears, Hayes. Be brave for me, alright?"
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She wanted to cry too, but everything she'd been through these past six months had made her stronger than
she ever thought possible.
Swallowing her own pain and sadness, Teresa forced herself to smile, determined to lift Hayes's spirits.
Hayes took a deep, steadying breath and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. Slowly, his emotions calmed.
He turned to her, eyes still red and puffy, and met her gaze.
"What really happened?" he pressed. "When you and Dad disappeared, the news back hsaid Dad... they
said he shot you. Grandma and Nana were so worried aboutseeing it, they got all the reports taken down."
He hesitated, voice barely above a whisper. "But | saw them anyway. Teresa, Dad would never shoot you, would
he?"
Teresa knelt on the couch, sitting up straight and glancing around to make sure there was no one else nearby.
Only then did she sit back down, her face clouded with sorrow.
"It wasn't Dad who shot me," she said softly. "It was Maurice."
At those words, Hayes's little hands clenched into tight fists. Unbelievable!
Absolutely unforgivable!
He'd suspected Maurice ever since he realized he used Dad's date of death as a password. That was when it first
occurred to him that Maurice might be involved in what happened to Dad and Teresa.
But to have it confirmed like this...
Teresa had lived with them for three whole years! How could Maurice turn on her like that?
Furious, Hayes slammed his fist on the table.
"Teresa, | promise I'll find a way to make him pay for what he did to you!"
Teresa quickly reached for his hand, concern in her eyes as she gently massaged his reddened knuckles.
"Don't go picking a fight with him. You're not even half his size,” she scolded, trying to lighten the mood "If
strength won't work, then we'll outsmart him. But I'm not letting him get away with it either!" Hayes puffed up,
still fuming. "So how did you and Dad survive?"
"We both got shot," Teresa began, her voice steady but distant. "After they took
out the bullets, Dad and | were put in the shospital room.
When | woke
im manup, | saw Maurice and
sman | didn't recognize implanting a chip-skind. wafer-into Dad's brain. They said they were planning
to put one in me, too. sw
I didn't know what those chips were for, but | was sure it couldn't be anything good. So | pretended not to
understand what was going on and played dumb.
Not long after Maurice and that man left, a doctor and a nurse cin. They said they wanted to helpand
Dad escape.
With their help, we got away. We never drowned like the rumors said-Dad and | paid someone to spread that fake
story.
Dad woke up during our escape, but he'd lost all his memories. | knew right away it had to be because of that
chip.
Once we were safe, | tried to get in touch with you.
I almost told Mom the truth a while back, but Maurice found out and started
threatening me. That's why | couldn't tell anyone."
"So you and Dad changed your names to protect yourselves? Did you pick Dad's
new name? Did you ever tell him anything about his old life?"
Dad's new name...
Hayes's question made guilt flash across Teresa's face.
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