There was another envelope as well. “For Nancy,” it read.
Alongside it sat a notarized declaration from nearly four decades ago, officially naming me as his daughter and sole heir. My fingers trembled so violently I nearly let it slip.
Richie found me beneath the apple tree, knees stained with mud, tears carving tracks down my cheeks. He dropped beside me, concern etched deep across his face.
“Tan… what happened? Are you hurt?”
Without speaking, I handed him the letter and the photograph.
He skimmed them quickly, confusion flickering as his eyes moved over the lines.
Then he looked at me gently. “Baby, you… he was your father?”
I nodded, unable to force out a single word.
Richie pulled me into his arms as I broke down.
“We’ll sort this out. We’ll talk to your mom. We’ll get the truth.”
I pulled away, wiping my cheeks with the back of my hand. “He lived right next door to me. All these years. And I never knew.”
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