Chapter 8: The Invitation From My Sister
We returned to Adrian's mansion just before midnight.
Security had doubled.
Every entrance was guarded, every window monitored, and two armed men stood outside my bedroom.
I had spent ten years sleeping wherever I could find shelter.
Now I couldn't even walk down a hallway without someone asking whether I needed protection.
The strangest part was that I didn't feel safe.
I felt watched.
Adrian was in his study, speaking to three lawyers and two investigators.
I stood outside the open door.
"Mr. Kane," one lawyer said, "if the original trust is valid, Isabella's claim to the inheritance could undermine Vincent's control of Kane Holdings.""
Adrian leaned against his desk.
"How long to establish the authenticity of the documents?""
"At least several days.""
"Then make it happen in forty-eight hours.""
The lawyer hesitated.
"There's another complication.""
Adrian looked up.
"What?""
"Victoria Kane has already filed a petition claiming to be the sole surviving beneficiary.""
I stepped into the room.
"She can't do that. She knows I'm alive.""
The lawyer looked uncomfortable.
"Unfortunately, the petition was filed before your identity was confirmed.""
Adrian closed the folder.
"Then we'll confirm it.""
I looked at him.
"How?""
"A DNA test.""
I nodded.
For the first time, I was almost eager to have someone examine my blood.
I wanted proof.
Not for the money.
Not for the company.
I wanted to know whether the little girl in the yellow dress had really been my sister.
A housekeeper appeared in the doorway.
"Miss Wren, there's a delivery for you.""
She handed me a small black box.
No return address.
Only my name.
Adrian immediately stood.
"Don't open it.""
Marco inspected the box before placing it on the desk.
After checking it, he nodded.
"It's safe.""
I lifted the lid.
Inside was a silver bracelet.
Two tiny crescent moons were engraved beside each other.
Beneath it lay a folded note.
Dear Isabella,
I wondered how long it would take you to find me.
I remember the nursery. I remember the fire. I remember you crying when they carried me away.
I also remember promising that we'd never be separated.
Come to the Blackthorn Hotel tomorrow at eight. Come alone.
If you want to know what really happened to our mother, I'll tell you.
Your sister, Victoria.
I read the note twice.
Adrian took it from my hand.
"Absolutely not.""
"She's my sister.""
"She's also the daughter of a man who tried to kill me.""
"Maybe she wants to help.""
Adrian looked at me.
"Wren, she knew you were homeless. She knew where you were sleeping. She had every opportunity to help you.""
I lowered my eyes.
He was right.
But something about the bracelet bothered me.
I picked it up.
On the inside was a tiny inscription.
Bella and Vicky. Together forever.
A memory surfaced.
Two little girls sitting beneath a blanket fort.
One of them was crying.
The other was whispering, "Don't worry. If they take one of us, the other will come back.""
I looked at Adrian.
"I need to meet her.""
He shook his head.
"Then I'll come with you.""
"She specifically said alone.""
"That should tell you everything.""
I almost smiled.
"You sound like an overprotective brother.""
He looked away.
"I've had ten years to regret not protecting you.""
His words silenced me.
I reached for his hand.
"You didn't know I was alive.""
He nodded, but I could see the guilt in his eyes.
The following morning, I sat in a private medical laboratory while a technician collected DNA samples.
Adrian waited outside.
When I emerged, he was standing beside Marco.
"Results in twenty-four hours," he said.
I nodded.
Then Marco's phone rang.
He listened, frowned, and handed it to Adrian.
"Sir, we have footage from the hotel.""
Adrian played the recording.
Victoria appeared in the lobby, speaking to a man near the elevators.
Dominic Vale.
He handed her a small envelope.
She opened it.
Inside were several photographs.
I recognized myself in every one.
One showed me outside the restaurant.
Another showed me sleeping beneath the subway stairs.
The third showed me entering Adrian's mansion.
Victoria stared at the photographs.
Then she said something that made Adrian stop the recording.
"She's finally home. Now we can finish the plan.""
I felt sick.
"She never intended to help me.""
Adrian shook his head.
"Not necessarily.""
He replayed the final seconds.
This time, I noticed something in Victoria's expression.
She wasn't smiling.
She looked terrified.
And just before the recording ended, she slipped a small piece of paper into her handbag.
Marco enlarged the image.
Three words were visible.
*SAVE OUR MOTHER.*
I looked at Adrian.
"She's trying to tell us something.""
He studied the footage.
Then he picked up his phone.
"Marco, arrange security around the Blackthorn Hotel. We're going tomorrow.""
"But sir, you said—"
"I know what I said.""
He looked at me.
"We're going to find out what Victoria knows.""
That evening, I received another message.
It came from an unknown number.
There was no greeting.
Only one sentence.
*Don't trust Adrian. He doesn't know what happened to your father.*
I stared at the screen.
Then a second message arrived.
It contained a photograph of a man standing beside Elena.
He was holding a baby.
May you like
On the back of the photograph, someone had written:
Your father is not dead.
