Chapter 9: The Sister I Never Knew
Everyone in the library froze.
The woman standing in the doorway looked to be in her late fifties.
Her dark hair showed streaks of gray.
Her expression was calm.
Almost too calm.
My father stared at her like he had seen a ghost.
“No.””
The woman tilted her head.
“Yes, Richard.””
My father stepped back.
“Who are you?””
She smiled sadly.
“You know exactly who I am.””
I looked between them.
“Dad?””
He didn’t answer.
The woman walked into the room.
“My name is Rebecca Williams.””
My heart stopped.
Williams.
She carried my family name.
My father’s face had gone completely pale.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
Rebecca laughed softly.
“That’s what you said thirty years ago.””
I looked at my father.
“Who is she?””
He remained silent.
Rebecca answered for him.
“I’m your father’s sister.””
The room became completely still.
“My aunt?””
She looked at me.
“Yes.””
I turned to my father.
“You had a sister?””
He looked away.
“Emily…”
“No.””
My voice shook.
“How many secrets are there?””
He didn’t respond.
Rebecca walked closer.
“Your father isn’t the only one who hid things.””
I looked at her.
“Why are you here?””
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small envelope.
“Because Claire Carter trusted me.””
My father immediately stepped forward.
“What did Claire tell you?””
Rebecca looked at him.
“The truth.””
“What truth?””
She smiled.
“The truth about who destroyed both our families.””
My father’s expression hardened.
“Rebecca, don’t do this.””
“Why?””
She looked at him.
“Because you’re afraid she’ll learn what you did?””
I felt the room shift.
I stared at my father.
“What is she talking about?””
He looked at me.
“I made mistakes.””
Rebecca laughed.
“Mistakes?””
She shook her head.
“You always called them mistakes.””
I looked at Rebecca.
“Tell me.””
My father’s voice became urgent.
“Emily, don’t listen to her.””
Rebecca turned toward him.
“That’s exactly what you said to Claire.””
My heart pounded.
“What happened between you and Claire?””
Rebecca opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
She placed it on the table.
The picture showed three people.
My grandfather.
Claire Carter.
And my father.
But there was something else.
A baby.
A newborn.
I looked closer.
The baby wore a small bracelet.
A bracelet with a name engraved on it.
Rebecca.
My mind raced.
“You were there.””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“The night Claire discovered the betrayal.””
My father closed his eyes.
Rebecca continued.
“She came to me because she trusted me.””
“Trusted you with what?””
“The evidence.””
“What evidence?””
She looked at me.
“Proof that someone had stolen billions from both families.””
I swallowed.
“Who?””
Rebecca looked directly at my father.
“Your grandfather’s partner.””
My father’s expression changed.
“That’s not possible.””
“It is.””
“No.””
Rebecca’s voice hardened.
“Because you know who helped him.””
Silence.
I turned to my father.
“Dad?””
He looked broken.
“I didn’t know at the time.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“You knew enough.””
The accusation hung between them.
I felt tears forming.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
My father looked at me.
“Because I was trying to protect you.””
I almost laughed.
“From what?””
Rebecca answered quietly.
“From the same person who is still trying to destroy you.””
I looked at her.
“Who?””
She took out another document.
“This was found in Claire’s private records.””
I read the name at the top.
My hands started shaking.
Because I recognized it.
Everyone recognized it.
The person who had access to Brandon’s company.
The person who had been moving money.
The person who had been controlling everything.
Daniel Carter.
But below his name was another signature.
A signature from someone I knew.
Someone I trusted.
Someone who had been in my life since childhood.
Rebecca whispered:
“The person who hired Vanessa…”
May you like
She looked at my father.
“…was your own brother.””
