“Eighteen years ago, we left you with someone we trusted completely—our nanny—while we traveled abroad for a month. When we came back…the house was empty. No child. No nanny. Nothing.” Her husband’s jaw tightened. “We searched everywhere. Hired investigators, begged the authorities, spent everything we had chasing shadows.
We thought she’d kidnapped you, fled the country. But no matter how far we looked, you were gone.” His voice cracked on the last word. Emily staggered back a step, her hand flying to her mouth. Her eyes brimmed, confusion and pain swirling all at once. “I…I need a second,” she whispered hoarsely, before rushing out the front door.