“The child born of the true line must be hidden,” Megan read aloud, her voice shaking.

“She must be given to Claire to protect the deed from the creditors.”

Megan stopped, looking up at Rose with confusion.

“I don’t understand,” Megan said. “Claire is my mother. She adopted me after our parents died.”

“Claire is your aunt,” Rose said gently. “But she is not the woman who gave birth to you.”

The room went completely silent.

“I am your mother, Megan,” Rose said.

Megan took a step back, her shoulder hitting the wall.

“No,” Megan said, shaking her head. “That’s a lie. Claire told me—”

“Claire lied to you your entire life,” Rose said.

She pointed a finger at the paper on the table.

“They needed an heir to keep Waverly Lane within the legal bounds of the family trust,” Rose said.

“But I was the rightful owner, and I wanted to sell it to pay off the family debts.”

“So they took you from me,” Rose whispered. “They used your adoption to cover up an illegal land transfer.”