Chapter 10: The Daughter Who Came Back From The Dead
For fourteen months, I had imagined this moment.
I imagined running toward Sarah.
I imagined holding her so tightly she couldn’t disappear again.
I imagined screaming at her for leaving me.
But when my sister finally stood in front of me, alive and breathing, I couldn’t move.
Because there was a gun pointed at her back.
And the hand holding it belonged to our father.
Victor Vance.
“Dad?””
The word escaped my mouth before I could stop it.
Victor’s expression didn’t change.
“I’m sorry, Clara.””
My heart shattered.
Not because I didn’t understand danger.
Because I understood betrayal.
Sarah looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“Clara, don’t come closer.””
I ignored her.
“You’re alive.””
Her lips trembled.
“Yes.””
I laughed once, but there was no happiness in it.
“You let me bury you.””
“I know.””
“You let me think I lost you.””
“I know.””
My voice broke.
“Why?””
Sarah looked away.
Because she had no answer that would hurt less.
Ricardo stepped forward.
“Put the weapon down.””
Victor looked at him.
“You don’t give me orders.””
“You’re holding a gun to your daughter.””
“And you destroyed my daughter’s life.””
The accusation hung in the air.
Ricardo went silent.
I looked between them.
“What is happening?””
Nobody answered.
Then Sarah spoke.
“Clara, you need to understand something.””
She looked at Ricardo.
“The man you thought you knew was never the whole story.””
Ricardo’s expression hardened.
“Sarah.””
“No.””
Her voice shook.
“You deserve the truth.””
Leo was still holding my hand.
He looked at Sarah.
“Mommy?””
The moment she heard him, Sarah’s face collapsed.
She lowered her eyes.
“My baby.””
Leo stepped forward.
Ricardo immediately stopped him.
“Wait.””
Sarah looked at him.
“You think I would hurt him?””
Ricardo didn’t answer.
That silence hurt her.
I saw it.
The pain between two people who had loved each other.
Sarah whispered:
“You still don’t remember.””
Ricardo’s jaw tightened.
“Remember what?””
Victor answered.
“The night Sarah disappeared.””
Everyone turned.
Victor lowered the gun slightly.
“Ricardo was not himself.””
“I know,” Sarah said.
“I saw him.””
Ricardo looked at her.
“What did you see?””
Sarah’s eyes filled.
“I saw my husband standing over a dead man.””
The warehouse went silent.
My stomach dropped.
Ricardo’s face lost color.
“I killed someone?””
Sarah shook her head.
“No.””
Relief flashed.
Then disappeared.
“You almost did.””
Ricardo stared.
“I don’t understand.””
“You were drugged. Angry. Confused.””
Sarah swallowed.
“Someone made you believe I betrayed you.””
“Who?””
Her eyes moved toward Victor.
Then Marco’s abandoned path.
“Everyone involved.””
A sudden sound came from behind us.
A slow clap.
Everyone turned.
Marco stood near the entrance.
Again.
Impossible.
Ricardo’s guards raised weapons.
Marco smiled.
“You’re all finally telling the truth.””
Ricardo stepped forward.
“You.””
Marco looked at Sarah.
“You should have stayed hidden.””
Sarah’s expression changed.
“You should have stayed dead.””
The words shocked me.
Marco laughed.
“There she is.””
Ricardo looked at Sarah.
“What does he mean?””
Sarah took a breath.
“I found out Marco was the one moving information.””
Marco shrugged.
“And?””
“And I threatened to expose him.””
His smile disappeared.
“That was your mistake.””
Sarah continued.
“He tried to kill me.””
Victor tightened his grip on the gun.
“He failed.””
Marco looked at him.
“You helped her.””
Victor said nothing.
Marco laughed.
“After everything, you still choose her?””
Victor’s face hardened.
“She’s my daughter.””
A gunshot exploded.
Everyone froze.
Victor fell backward.
Sarah screamed.
“Dad!””
Chaos erupted.
Ricardo grabbed Leo.
His guards fired toward Marco’s men.
I dropped beside Victor.
Blood spread across his shirt.
“Dad.””
His eyes opened slowly.
“Clara.””
I grabbed his hand.
“Stay with me.””
He looked at Sarah.
“I’m sorry.””
Sarah fell beside him.
“Why?””
Victor struggled to speak.
“Because I knew.””
Everyone went quiet.
“Knew what?””
Victor looked at Ricardo.
“The truth about Leo.””
Ricardo froze.
Victor coughed.
“The boy was never switched.””
My breath stopped.
“What?””
Victor looked at Sarah.
“She lied.””
Sarah’s face went pale.
Ricardo stared at her.
“Sarah?””
The warehouse became silent.
Even the gunfire outside seemed distant.
Victor whispered:
“Leo is your son.””
Nobody moved.
Sarah closed her eyes.
May you like
And then she said the words that broke everything.
“I know.””
