Miley’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion. She was a year younger than Marguerite, so how could she possibly remember the events surrounding Marguerite’s birth?


    Instead of answering Robert right away, Miley hollered toward the foyer,


    “Mom! Can youe here for a sec? We need to ask you something!”


    Harriet scurried into the room, concern etched on her face. “What’s up, honey?”


    Miley swiftly retrieved the photo from its hiddenpartment and echoed Robert’s inquiry with urgency.


    Harriet scrutinized the photo, her eyes narrowing with recognition at the sight of the nket, and after a moment’s reflection, it clicked. “This nket was Marguerite’s from the day she was born. Laverne used to say she wouldn’t go anywhere without it, clung to it like a security nket. She finally stopped using it around three, and Laverne kept it safe ever since. I remember her joking that she’d save it for Marguerite’s wedding day, to gift her husband-to-be with a piece of her childhood. I’m not sure if she ever did gift it, but I -am certain Laverne considered this nket a cherished keepsake for Marguerite.”


    “Did Yuna have a simr nket when she was born?” Robert interjected.


    Harriet shook her head, a definitive no. “Never saw one like it with Yuna.”


    As Miley watched the back-and-forth between her mother and Robert, she felt lost in the shuffle, unable to piece together the significance of their words.


    She squinted at Robert, perplexed. “Okay, slow down. What’s the big deal about the nket?”


    Robert’s expression was solemn as he pulled out another photo from his wallet.


    It was a newborn picture of his sister, a little bundle swaddled in a butter-yellow nket. He held up the photo next to the one of Laverne cradling Marguerite, and asked, “Don’t these nkets look almost identical?”


    Miley looked at them closely, and suddenly the penny dropped.


    Still, she frowned. “But matching nkets don’t necessarily mean anything, right? Maybe the Abletts just ended up using Marguerite’s nket for Yuna when they took her home?”


    Robert sank into contemtion, considering Miley’s suggestion.


    Memories of his father’s actions at the hospital and Zoe’s words echoed in his mind,


    “Because Yuna was the Fitzgerald’s daughter, we spared no effort in treating her as our own. Our affection for her even surpassed what we felt for Marguerite, which led everyone to believe that Yuna was our biological child and Marguerite was the adopted


    one.”


    08:35 m


    With that revtion, Robert shook his head, “Zoe said they doted on Yuna out of guilt. If that’s true, why would they give something meant for Yuna to Marguerite?”


    In a sh of insight, Miley’s eyes widened as she turned to lock gazes with Robert.


    Her throat dry with anticipation, she blurted out, “The most likely exnation is that this nket was always Marguerite’s to begin with!”


    08:35