The Forgotten Heiress novel Chapter 19

Even though Jessica had imagined and even claimed as much, it still hurt. It hurt a lot more then she'd thought possible. In her chest she felt her heart shatter in to a thousand little pieces.

Lauren saw the pain in her eyes and rushed to explain. "It was easy for me to give you up because I knew that to keep you would mean to kill you. Layla saved you that night, not me!" Lauren pressed a hand against her chest, the admission left a bitter taste in her mouth and she added in a whisper. "I stood there like a statue."

"So you asked her to take me because you didn't want me to die?" Lauren nodded. "Not because I'm some kind of freak?"

Lauren debated for a second whether to answer her truthfully or not and in the end the truth won out. "Maybe it was my main fear during pregnancy but not as much when you were born. I'm not going to lie, I'm terrified of the creatures those people can become and maybe a bit to know that you might be like them." Jessica started to shake her head and Lauren she rushed to finish explaining. "But it doesn't matter."

Jessica raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"Really, it doesn't matter because you are my daughter."

Jessica shook her head again, not in disbelief of her mother's words but because even though she could do some weird things, shifting wasn't one of them and she told her so.

Lauren walked to the bookshelf, pulled a book out; she opened it to the first page and retrieved the note that she'd kept for almost eighteen years.

"This note was inside the small box your father told me to take."

Jessica took the old piece of paper from her mom and read it.

Lauren, if you are reading this it means that I am no longer with you and that I haven't told you everything about me. I hope you forgive my lack of courage but I was scared to tell to you. I am a shape shifter Lauren, and our child will be too. You don't know you are pregnant yet but I noticed it the moment it happened.

My cowardice kept me from telling you. Now it is too late. If I am no longer by your side it could only mean one thing. Only death could keep me away from you. Away from you and our unborn child. Along with this note you will find a small vial, the liquid inside is for our child. It will hide her from those who wish her harm.

You will know when it is time to use it.I'm sorry I'm not around to protect you both. I'm sorry I can't tell you more but it's for your safety. I hope you never forget how much I love you and that you tell our baby that I love him too. Love always, Cade.

Jessica finished reading the note and with tears in her eyes looked at her mom. "So I'm a shape shifter?"

Jessica took a second to calculate the risks before deciding against another dose. "No more serum," she told them. They both tried to argue but Jessica stood up and spoke over them. "No, maybe it was your choice to run and hide, but not mine. What about Dani, where does she come in?"

Lauren and James shared a worried looked.

"What about her?" James asked her.

Jessica eyed their nervous reaction and shrugged, "call it another hunch. At first, our similarities are striking but after thinking about it, no way could you have another child so soon after me."

"You're right," her mother admitted, "we couldn't think of a way to explain your disappearance to our families. For the first few years of our marriage, we lived back east with everyone thinking Dani was you. After our parents passed away, we slowly drew away. Here, we have two daughters and one son."

"How will you explain my absence and sudden reappearance, does Dani know?"