Chapter 82

STELLA I took a few strands of Hannah’s hair when I met her at the hospital. I wanted to have a DNA test done using it. I knew it was a reckless idea, bordering on madness. But perhaps it was because I liked Hannah too much, or because a part of me desperately hoped she was connected to our family. The resemblance was undeniable—especially to my children, Noah and Madison. The similarities were too striking to ignore, and once the thought took root, it refused to leave my mind. Henry scolded me several times when he learned about my plan. He tried to stop me outright, saying that I was already well into my senior years, yet my mind was still foggy and impulsive. He said I always acted on a whim, without thinking through the consequences. My husband and I had argued countless times over the years—practically our entire marriage. Although Henry was a prominent and influential figure in the United States, I had never once felt inferior to him. I had my own mind, my own pride, and my own s