Lila's heart felt heavy as she lay in bed, her mind replaying Damon's words over and over. She had to find out the truth, no matter how painful it might be. But confronting her parents seemed impossible. They'd always been loving and supportive, and the idea that they were hiding something from her felt like a betrayal.
The next morning, Lila mustered all her courage and decided she couldn't put it off any longer. She needed answers, and the only way to get them was to confront her parents. She found them in the living room, her father reading the newspaper and her mother knitting by the fire.
"Mom, Dad, can we talk?" Lila asked, her voice shaking.
Her parents looked up, their expressions curious but concerned. "Of course, sweetheart. What's on your mind?" her father asked.
Lila took a deep breath. "It's about Damon…"
Her mother's eyes darkened, and her father put down the newspaper. "What did Damon say to you, Lila?"
Lila's heart raced. "He said… he said there's something you've been hiding from me. Something about my past."
Her mother's face paled, and her father's jaw tightened. "Lila, we've told you everything. Damon's just trying to cause trouble."
Lila's voice trembled. "But he says… he says I'm not who I think I am. That you're not my real parents."
Her mother gasped, her hands trembling. "Lila, that's not true. We love you. You're our daughter, and that's all that matters."
Lila's eyes filled with tears. "But why would Damon say that? Is there something you're not telling me?"
Her father's eyes were hard. "Lila, please. Just forget what Damon said. He's trying to manipulate you. We've always been honest with you."
Lila's voice broke. "But what if he's right? What if there's something you're not telling me?"
Her mother's eyes were filled with pain. "Lila, please. Just drop this. We don't have to talk about it."
Lila's heart ached. "But I need to know the truth. How can I marry Aiden if I don't even know who I am?"
Her mother's face crumpled. "Lila, I can't… I can't talk about this right now. Please, just let it go."
Lila's voice was pleading. "But I deserve to know, Mom. I have a right to know who I am."
Her mother stood, her face a mask of anger and pain. "Lila, don't push me on this. Just forget about Damon and focus on Aiden. That's all that matters."
Lila's heart broke. "But what if it's not, Mom? What if there's something I need to know?"
Her mother's eyes were hard. "Lila, this is not the time. Just drop it."
Lila's heart was heavy. "But I can't. I need to know the truth."
Her mother's voice was sharp. "Then go ask Damon. But don't come to me with this nonsense again."
With that, her mother stormed out of the room, leaving Lila standing there, tears streaming down her face. Her father sighed and looked away. "Lila, your mother's right. This isn't the time or place for this."
Lila's heart was heavy with fear and confusion. "But I need to know, Dad. Please, just tell me the truth."
Her father's eyes were filled with sadness. "Lila, there are some things… some things we can't talk about. Just know that we love you, and that's all that matters."
Lila's heart sank. "But I can't live a lie, Dad. I need to know who I am."
Her father's eyes were pained. "Lila, some things are better left unknown. Just let this go."
Lila's heart was heavy with the weight of unanswered questions. She felt lost and alone, her world crumbling around her. She didn't want to believe what Damon had said, but the fear that it might be true was overwhelming.
Lila left the room, her heart heavy with confusion. She couldn't just forget about Damon's words. She had to find out the truth, no matter how painful it might be. But how could she confront her parents again without destroying everything?
That night, Lila lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind a whirlwind of fear and doubt. She needed answers, but how could she get them? And what if Damon was right? What if her entire life with Aiden was a lie?