Living with Violet in my mother-in-law’s home quickly became unbearable. Steve grew resentful, and Chloe made Violet feel invisible. I knew we had to leave. We found a small place of our own, and as Violet slowly opened up, I saw in her a spark of life returning. I made the choice my heart had been urging: I adopted her. And the moment I did, the lawyer called with unexpected news—because I chose love over inheritance, I’d unlocked the true terms of my mother’s will.
We moved into her old home together, a place now echoing with Violet’s laughter. But the story didn’t end there. As I unpacked, the photo slipped out again, pointing me toward unanswered questions. That led us to an abandoned house and a stranger who recognized the man in the picture—Victor, Violet’s father. The truth about my mother’s past and Violet’s origins was waiting. I wasn’t just fulfilling my mother’s wish. I was stepping into a mystery far deeper than I ever imagined.