Chapter 8: The Sister I Never Knew Was My Greatest Enemy
I stood there holding the phone long after my father hung up.
My sister.
The word felt strange.
Because I didn’t have a sister.
Not that I knew of.
My parents had always told me I was an only child.
One daughter.
One family.
One perfect little world.
Another lie.
Apparently, my entire life was a collection of missing pages.
“What did he say?”” Mark asked.
I looked at him.
“He said I have a sister.””
Nobody spoke.
Lily slowly sat down.
“Mom…”
“I know.””
I felt exhausted.
“How many more people are connected to this?””
Nobody answered.
Because everyone was thinking the same thing.
We were surrounded by secrets.
That afternoon, my father sent a location.
He agreed to meet.
But only if I came alone.
This time, I ignored the request again.
I brought Mark.
I brought Lily.
And I brought Emma.
Because I was finished letting people separate my family.
We met in an abandoned church outside town.
My father looked older.
Smaller.
Like the weight of his secrets had finally crushed him.
When he saw Emma, his eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry.””
Emma stared at him.
“You knew.””
He nodded.
“I knew.””
“And you did nothing?””
His face broke.
“I tried.””
Emma laughed sadly.
“Everyone says they tried.””
My father looked at me.
“I should have told you.””
“Yes.””
My voice was cold.
“You should have.””
He nodded.
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
He looked at Mark.
“Of Richard.””
Mark stepped forward.
“My father?””
My father nodded.
“Richard was not the man everyone thought he was.””
“Then tell me.””
My father took a deep breath.
“Sixteen years ago, your life was about to change.””
He looked at me.
“You were pregnant with twins.””
I swallowed.
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
His voice cracked.
“You gave birth early. There were complications.””
I frowned.
“What complications?””
“You almost died.””
The memory was blurry.
I remembered the hospital.
The pain.
The fear.
But I remembered holding Lily.
Only Lily.
My father continued.
“After you woke up, the doctors told you one baby survived.””
My heart stopped.
“Because Richard paid them to lie.””
Silence.
I felt dizzy.
“No.””
“He wanted control over the trust fund.””
My father looked at Emma.
“He took the second baby.””
Emma’s eyes filled with tears.
“And you let him?””
My father closed his eyes.
“I tried to get her back.””
“But you failed.””
“Yes.””
His honesty hurt more than excuses.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Richard threatened Lily.””
I froze.
“What?””
“He said if I exposed him, he would take Lily too.””
My father looked at my daughter.
“He had people watching your family.””
Lily covered her mouth.
I pulled her close.
“You should have told me.””
“I know.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“You should have trusted me.””
My father looked away.
And I knew.
That was the real tragedy.
Everyone had decided they needed to protect me.
Everyone had forgotten I was strong enough to fight.
A car door slammed outside.
Everyone turned.
A woman walked into the church.
She was elegant.
Confident.
And strangely familiar.
My father went pale.
“No.””
The woman smiled.
“Hello, Robert.””
My father whispered:
“Victoria.””
I stared.
The woman looked at me.
“Hello, sister.””
My blood froze.
My sister.
The woman who had existed my entire life without me knowing.
She smiled.
“You finally found the truth.””
I stepped forward.
“Who are you?””
She laughed softly.
“Your older sister.””
My father shook his head.
“You were never supposed to find her.””
Victoria looked at him.
“You mean you were never supposed to tell her.””
I felt anger rising.
“What did you do?””
She looked at me.
“I took back what was always mine.””
“What?””
May you like
She smiled.
“Everything.””
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