Chapter 12: The Sister I Lost
I drove through the rain without speaking.
Marcus sat beside me.
My father followed in another vehicle.
Nobody trusted anyone anymore.
Not after everything.
Not after all the lies.
The location Clara sent was an old family property.
The house where we grew up.
The place I hadn’t visited since I was twenty years old.
When I arrived, the front door was already open.
I walked inside.
The smell hit me immediately.
Old wood.
Dust.
Memories.
Then I heard a voice.
“You still remember this place.””
I turned.
Clara stood at the end of the hallway.
My sister.
Alive.
Holding the pieces of my past.
“You took Lily.””
She looked hurt.
“Is that all you see?””
“Yes.””
Her expression hardened.
“I spent ten years hidden.””
“And my daughter?””
“I needed you to listen.””
“You could have called.””
“You would have ignored me.””
I stepped closer.
“You don’t know that.””
She laughed softly.
“You think you do.””
Behind her, Lily sat on a chair.
She was awake.
The moment she saw me, she stood.
“Daddy!””
I moved forward.
Clara blocked me.
“Not yet.””
My anger exploded.
“Move.””
“Listen first.””
“No.””
I stared at her.
“You lost the right to ask me for anything.””
Her face changed.
Pain.
Real pain.
“I didn’t choose this.””
“Then explain.””
Clara looked toward the old family photos on the wall.
“Our father found out Victor was stealing money.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
She shook her head.
“He didn’t just steal.””
She looked at me.
“He planned to destroy the entire family.””
I said nothing.
“Victor convinced Dad that you were the better successor.””
“That sounds impossible.””
“It was manipulation.””
She stepped closer.
“He knew you were loyal.””
I frowned.
“And you weren’t?””
Her eyes lowered.
“I was angry.””
The answer surprised me.
She continued.
“I thought Dad chose you because he loved you more.””
The room became quiet.
“But then I discovered the truth.””
“What truth?””
“That Dad never chose between us.””
She pointed at the old documents.
“He created a plan where we would both control the company.””
I froze.
“Then why hide it?””
“Because Victor found out.””
She looked at me.
“And he made sure nobody could ever trust each other again.””
I looked at Lily.
“Why involve her?””
Clara’s expression changed.
“I never wanted to hurt her.””
“Then why take her?””
“Because someone else was coming.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Clara looked toward the window.
“He knows where you are.””
“Who?””
Her face became serious.
“The person who started all of this.””
My phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A voice spoke.
Calm.
Cold.
Familiar.
“You found Clara.””
I froze.
Because I knew that voice.
It wasn’t Victor.
It wasn’t Vanessa.
It wasn’t my father.
It was someone I had trusted more than anyone.
The voice continued:
“Now you finally understand.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Who are you?””
A pause.
Then:
“The person who has been protecting your family from the beginning.””
The call ended.
Clara looked at me.
Her face had lost all color.
“Who was it?””
I slowly lowered the phone.
Because the name that appeared on the screen…
May you like
was the one person I thought had been on my side.
Marcus.
