Chapter 9: The Sister Who Wanted My Life
Victoria walked around the church like she owned it.
Maybe she believed she did.
Maybe, in her mind, everything belonged to her.
The money.
The family.
The children.
My life.
I looked at my father.
“You knew about her.””
He looked ashamed.
“Yes.””
“And you never told me.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
I almost laughed.
Everyone had the same excuse.
Protection.
A beautiful word people used when they wanted to justify hurting you.
Victoria noticed my expression.
“You hate that word, don’t you?””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“Protect.””
She smiled.
“They all used it.””
She pointed at my father.
“He protected you.””
Then at Mark.
“His family protected themselves.””
Then at Sarah.
“She protected a child that wasn’t hers.””
Her eyes returned to me.
“Everyone had a reason.””
“And you?””
I asked.
“What was your reason?””
Her smile disappeared.
“My reason was survival.””
The church became silent.
Victoria stepped closer.
“You grew up with everything.””
I stared at her.
“I didn’t even know you existed.””
“Exactly.””
Her voice became bitter.
“You had a mother. A father. A home. Love.””
She laughed.
“I had nothing.””
My father looked hurt.
“That’s not true.””
Victoria turned toward him.
“You abandoned me.””
The words shocked me.
My father lowered his head.
“I was young.””
“So was I.””
I looked between them.
“What happened?””
Victoria’s expression changed.
For the first time, she looked human.
“My mother died when I was little.””
I listened.
“Your father was supposed to take responsibility.””
My father whispered:
“I was nineteen.””
“But you left.””
Silence.
I looked at my father.
“Is that true?””
He didn’t answer.
And somehow, that was an answer.
Victoria continued.
“You got the life I should have had.””
I shook my head.
“I didn’t know.””
“No.””
She smiled sadly.
“You never knew.””
Her eyes became cold.
“That’s what made it easy.””
I felt a chill.
“What made what easy?””
She looked at Lily and Emma.
“Taking what mattered to you.””
My heart stopped.
“You did this?””
Victoria smiled.
“I helped.””
Mark stepped forward.
“You were involved?””
She looked at him.
“Your father was useful.””
Mark’s face turned red with anger.
“You ruined my family.””
She laughed.
“No.””
She looked around.
“I exposed what was already broken.””
I wanted to hate her.
But behind the cruelty, I saw something else.
Pain.
A lifetime of it.
That didn’t excuse what she did.
But it explained the darkness.
“Where is Richard?”” Mark asked.
Victoria smiled.
“Still running.””
“Running from what?””
She looked at me.
“The truth.””
My phone suddenly buzzed.
A message.
From Richard.
I opened it.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Lily and Emma standing outside the church.
Taken only minutes earlier.
My blood froze.
“He’s watching us.””
Victoria’s expression changed.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
“He knows.””
My father looked at her.
“What did you do?””
She whispered:
“I thought I had more time.””
The ground seemed to shift beneath me.
“What does that mean?””
Victoria looked at me.
“Richard isn’t trying to hide anymore.””
Another message arrived.
This time, only four words.
“Bring me my daughter.””
I stared at the screen.
My heart pounded.
“What daughter?””
Nobody answered.
Then Victoria whispered:
“Lily.””
I felt every muscle in my body freeze.
“No.””
Victoria looked terrified.
“He was never after the money.””
My voice shook.
“Then what does he want?””
She looked at Lily.
“He wants the child he believes belongs to him.””
Lily stepped backward.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Mom…”
I moved in front of her.
“No one is taking my daughter.””
But deep inside, I knew.
This was no longer about secrets.
It was a war.
And my family was standing in the middle of it.
May you like
Because the person who destroyed our lives wasn’t finished.
Not even close.
Related Stories
