Chapter 13: The Woman Who Stole My Name
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The woman standing in my doorway looked like a nightmare created from pieces of my own life.
My coat.
My bag.
My ring.
My face.
But she wasn't me.
I knew that instantly.
Not because of her appearance.
Because of her eyes.
My eyes had spent the last two days watching my entire world collapse.
Hers looked satisfied.
Like she had been waiting for this moment.
Brandon stepped back.
"No.""
The woman looked at him.
"Hello, Brandon.""
His face changed.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
"You.""
My stomach tightened.
"You know her.""
The woman smiled.
"Of course he does.""
She walked into the house slowly.
"My name is Olivia.""
I stared at her.
"Why are you pretending to be me?""
She laughed softly.
"That's not the right question.""
I narrowed my eyes.
"Then what is?""
She stopped in the middle of the room.
"Why did everyone believe I could be you?""
Nobody answered.
Because the answer was obvious.
Brandon had made sure nobody truly knew me.
He had spent years building a version of me that was easier to replace.
The quiet wife.
The busy wife.
The woman who was always traveling.
The woman who trusted too much.
Olivia looked at Brandon.
"You were supposed to handle this.""
Brandon's voice was low.
"I didn't know you were taking it this far.""
She smiled.
"That's funny coming from you.""
I looked between them.
"You two know each other.""
Olivia nodded.
"Very well.""
Brandon looked uncomfortable.
"Emily, listen to me.""
I laughed.
"Now you want me to listen?""
He stepped closer.
"She is dangerous.""
I stared at him.
"That is the one thing you finally got right.""
Olivia ignored him.
"Brandon always had a weakness.""
I crossed my arms.
"What weakness?""
She looked at him.
"He thinks he is the smartest person in every room.""
Brandon's jaw tightened.
"And you?""
She smiled.
"I know I'm smarter.""
Rachel moved beside me.
"Who are you really?""
Olivia looked at her.
"Someone who understood Brandon's plan before any of you did.""
My eyes narrowed.
"Then why help him?""
She walked toward the table.
"Because I wasn't helping him.""
She tapped the phone containing the messages.
"I was using him.""
The room became silent.
Brandon looked furious.
"What?""
Olivia laughed.
"You thought you were creating a fake wife.""
She pointed at herself.
"I was creating a fake life.""
I felt a chill.
"What does that mean?""
She looked directly at me.
"It means Brandon wasn't the mastermind.""
Everyone froze.
I looked at Brandon.
He looked genuinely confused.
Olivia continued.
"He found me because he needed someone who could pass as you.""
"Why?""
"Because he needed access to your inheritance.""
I already knew that.
But something was different.
There was more.
Olivia smiled.
"But I discovered something better.""
"What?""
She looked around the house.
"The Carter family trust wasn't the biggest secret.""
Rachel stepped forward.
"Then what was?""
Olivia's smile faded slightly.
"The person who controlled the trust.""
My heart stopped.
"What are you talking about?""
She looked at me.
"Your grandfather didn't create that trust to protect money.""
"Then why?""
"To protect you.""
I frowned.
"From what?""
Olivia reached into my bag.
My bag.
The one she stole.
She pulled out an envelope.
I recognized it immediately.
My grandfather's handwriting.
But I had never seen it before.
"Where did you get that?""
Olivia smiled.
"I was looking for it.""
She handed it to me.
"Because this is why everyone has been fighting over your life.""
I opened it.
Inside was a letter.
The first line made my heart stop.
*Emily, if you are reading this, someone has already tried to control you.*
I looked up.
Everyone was silent.
I kept reading.
*Your father believes he protected you. Brandon believes he can own you. Others believe they can replace you.*
My hands trembled.
*But the truth is simple. The greatest danger is not losing what belongs to you.*
I turned the page.
The final sentence was underlined.
*It is discovering who has been pretending to love you.*
I looked at Brandon.
Then Olivia.
Then Linda.
A lifetime of lies.
A lifetime of people deciding what was best for me.
I lowered the letter.
"Why are you showing me this?""
Olivia's expression changed.
For the first time, she looked serious.
"Because I need your help.""
I almost laughed.
"You stole my identity.""
"Yes.""
"You helped destroy my marriage.""
"Yes.""
"You expect me to help you?""
She nodded.
"Because the person who hired me is still out there.""
My heart stopped.
"What?""
Olivia looked toward the window.
"The person who started this plan.""
Rachel whispered:
"Brandon?""
Olivia shook her head.
"No.""
She looked directly at me.
"Someone who has been watching Emily Carter for years.""
My phone rang.
Detective Harris.
I answered.
His voice was urgent.
"Mrs. Carter, we found the person connected to Olivia.""
"Who?""
A pause.
Then:
"Someone who officially died five years ago.""
I felt the room spin.
"Who?""
May you like
The detective answered:
"Your mother.""
