Chapter 4: The Sister I Never Knew
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Agent Rebecca Collins held the envelope between her fingers while I stared at the name written across the first page.
Celeste Morgan.
The woman who had arrived at my baby shower wearing a diamond bracelet purchased with stolen money.
The woman who had stood beside my husband and announced she was carrying his child.
The woman who had watched me fall and smiled.
My sister.
"No," I whispered.
Agent Collins placed the letter on my blanket.
"Sarah, I need you to understand that we're still verifying the family records. But the documents strongly suggest that Celeste is your biological half-sister.""
I shook my head.
"My father never mentioned another daughter.""
"According to the records, she was born eleven months before you.""
"Then why did my mother never tell me?""
Agent Collins opened the envelope.
Inside were several photographs, a birth certificate, and a handwritten letter.
The first photograph showed my father holding a newborn baby.
On the back, he'd written:
My little girl. I promise I'll find a way to bring you home.
My hands began shaking.
"Who was her mother?""
Agent Collins looked down at the paperwork.
"A woman named Evelyn Morgan. She worked at the same investment firm as your father.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Was my father married to her?""
"No. But he apparently supported the child financially for several years.""
I swallowed.
"And Celeste?""
"She was raised by her mother. We haven't established how much she knew about your father's identity.""
I looked at the letter.
"Can I read it?""
Agent Collins nodded.
I unfolded the yellowed pages.
Sarah,
If you're reading this, then something happened that I couldn't prevent.
There are things about the Ashford family that your mother doesn't know. Victor has spent years building his fortune using accounts that don't belong to him. I discovered the transfers when I worked for his company.
I also discovered that he had been using my daughters' identities.
I refused to cooperate.
He told me that my family would pay for my honesty.
My eyes blurred.
I continued.
I made mistakes. I trusted the wrong people, and I thought I could fix everything before you were old enough to understand.
If you ever meet Celeste, remember that she is not responsible for the choices made by the adults around her.
But don't trust Victor.
He will use anyone.
At the bottom was another sentence.
The truth about your mother's accident is in the blue ledger.
I stopped.
My mother's accident.
My mother had died in a car crash when I was sixteen.
The police had said she lost control on a wet road.
I looked up.
"What's the blue ledger?""
Agent Collins closed her folder.
"We haven't located it yet.""
"What accident is he talking about?""
"Your father's letter suggests your mother may have been involved in something connected to the original investigation.""
I felt sick.
"Are you saying Victor killed my parents?""
"We're not making that conclusion. We need evidence.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My father holding a baby.
My father smiling.
A man I'd spent years remembering as gentle and ordinary.
And now I was learning he'd been fighting the Ashfords long before I ever met Daniel.
The hospital door opened.
Emily walked in carrying a bottle of water.
"Sarah, the doctor says you can have something to eat.""
She stopped when she saw my expression.
"What's wrong?""
I handed her the photograph.
She studied it.
"Who's the baby?""
I swallowed.
"Celeste.""
Emily frowned.
"What?""
"She's my father's daughter.""
Emily looked at Agent Collins.
"Are you serious?""
"We're investigating the family connection.""
Emily lowered herself into the chair.
"That woman has been trying to destroy Sarah's life.""
I looked down.
"Maybe she thinks she has a reason.""
Emily shook her head.
"She knew you were pregnant. She knew Daniel was married. She still came into that room and humiliated you.""
"I know.""
"And she let him push you into a table.""
I closed my eyes.
"I know.""
Agent Collins stood.
"We need to speak with Celeste again. There's a chance she has information about the missing ledger.""
"Where is she?""
"She left the Ashford estate after the operation began. We believe she's at the hospital's parking garage.""
Emily immediately stood.
"Then go get her.""
Agent Collins nodded.
"We're already looking.""
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I opened the message.
*You shouldn't have opened Dad's letter.*
My blood ran cold.
Another message arrived.
*He lied to you about everything.*
I looked at Agent Collins.
"Can you trace this?""
She took my phone.
"Don't respond.""
Then another message appeared.
*Ask Rebecca who really paid for your father's funeral.*
I slowly raised my eyes.
Agent Collins had gone pale.
And for the first time since she'd entered my room, she looked genuinely frightened.
May you like
"Sarah," she said quietly.
"There's something I haven't told you about your father.""
