Piper's POV:

Hold the phone.

Did I just hear that correctly?

So my dad and some random woman had a hand in my mother's death? No. I don't believe it. I refuse to believe it. But what if it is true? If so, then why-

My thoughts were cut off by the sound of my dad sniffling. "Bye Anne." He mumbled before rattling the door knob. "Run." James urged but I didn't need to be told twice, as the two of us practically sprinted back into my room.

"You heard that too, right?" James asked, as I nodded slightly. "But if he really did do that, then why'd he blame me for her death?" I asked quietly. "I don't know, Pipes." He answered, just as quietly.

It was just shocking to find out something like this. There were so many questions running through my mind like why'd he do it? Who's Anne? Why'd he blame me if he knew that I had nothing to do with it? Do Ethan and Daniel know?

"Maybe if we ask him more about mum's death, he'll slip up." I suggested, looking at James who shrugged before nodding. "Okay, let's go then." He said as we silently went downstairs to see my dad laughing with my other brothers.

"Hey guys." James said with fake smile as he nudged me slightly. I quickly realised that I was scowling at my dad, so I put on a believable smile, happy that they didn't seem to notice.

I sat awkwardly as everyone else talked and laughed with each other; I just wasn't used to spending time with any of them apart from James. James on the other hand was cracking jokes and acting somewhat normal around the others but sent me sympathetic smiles once in a while.

Eventually, my brothers left the house for basketball practice, leaving James and I with our dad. "So, dad. Do you ever miss mum?" James asked as soon as my brothers left the house. I subtly kicked him in the shins at his bluntness; he could've eased into it a bit better!

He glared at me as he rubbed his shin before turning back to my dad with a smile. "Um, yeah. It really was a shock to hear that she passed away from so much blood loss during your birth." Dad replied, glancing at me whilst stirring the pasta sauce on the stove, as I clenched my fists, forcing my smile to stay on my face.

Again with the unnecessary shade. He actually has the audacity to keep blaming me for mum's death even after we just heard him confess that I had nothing to do with it.

"Yeah dad, I'm sure you loved her very much. I bet you'd do anything for her." I stated with an edge to my voice, luckily for me, he didn't notice but James did, as he nudged me slightly.

"Yeah I did. You have to understand that I do love you Piper but it was really hard on me and your brothers when we found out what happened." My dad responded, as I discreetly rolled my eyes and gestured for James to say something.

"Yeah, it was a tragedy. I still can't believe that the doctors made that mistake during the c-section." James added, as he sighed solemnly, my dad nodding along, barely even listening to what James had just said.

"Yeah, I can't believe it either." He muttered as James and I looked at each other briefly. "I thought you just said that she died from blood loss, not from a surgery mistake." I said, giving my dad a pointed look.

"Well, I-I meant that the doctors made a mistake during your birth causing her to pass away from blood loss. That was what I meant." He explained as I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Well, you kids better go on upstairs while I finish dinner." He added with a forced smile as James and I smiled tersely and walked upstairs. "Yup, he's definitely lying. That was way too suspicious." James stated as I nodded in agreement.

"Well now what do we do?" I asked, feeling exasperated. Who even is this guy? Would he ever try too hurt any one of us?

"I don't know but I think that we should try and figure out who Anne is and try and find out what really happened." James replied as I nodded.

"You know, you're really not as stupid as you seem." I said teasingly as he ruffled my hair, much to my annoyance, and laughed.

Dad eventually finished dinner and James and I decided to eat it in my room. After checking that the food wasn't poisoned, we sat in silence thinking about who this 'Anne' woman is.

"Maybe she's a coworker." James suggested, as I shrugged. "But what vendetta would dad's coworker have against mum?" I asked as he shrugged.

James told me that dad had never mentioned an Anne from his workplace, he mentioned a Catherine, a Celeste, a Diane but never any Annes, so he thought that it wasn't anyone from his job.

But if it's no one from work, then who could it be?

"Anne, Anne, Anne." I repeated softly as I pondered to myself. I seriously have no idea who-

Then it hit me.

"James! I think I might know who Anne is." I exclaimed as I tapped him repeatedly on the shoulder. "Who?" He asked as I looked off into the distance.

I could be wrong but what if I'm not?

"Listen, I might be completely wrong but what if there is no Anne." I started off as he looked at me in confusion.

"What if Anne is a nickname for something like Angie for example. If so, then what if Angie is a nickname for..." I trailed off as James looked at me in shock before he finally realised where I was going with it.

"Angela."