Chapter 4: The Man From Sarah’s Past
The stranger’s words stayed in the room long after he stopped speaking.
“She was running from what he did.””
I looked at Ricardo.
For the first time since I met him, he wasn’t angry.
He wasn’t intimidating.
He looked like a man who had just heard the one sentence he feared most.
Leo held tightly onto his father’s jacket.
“Daddy?””
Ricardo didn’t answer.
His eyes stayed fixed on the stranger.
“Adrian.””
The man smiled faintly.
“So you remember me.””
My stomach tightened.
“You know him?””
Ricardo’s jaw clenched.
“Yes.””
The answer was too simple.
Too controlled.
I stepped closer.
“Who is he?””
Adrian looked at me.
“Your sister never told you?””
The way he said it made my chest hurt.
“Stop talking about my sister like you knew her.””
A small smile appeared on his face.
“I knew Sarah better than anyone.””
Ricardo moved between us.
“Don’t.””
Adrian laughed quietly.
“There it is.””
“What?””
“The same look you had the night you realized she knew the truth.””
My eyes moved between them.
“What truth?””
Nobody answered.
That scared me.
I had spent fourteen months believing my sister was dead. I had cried at a grave that might not even belong to her. I had carried guilt every day because I thought I should have seen something.
And now I was standing in a room with three men who knew pieces of Sarah’s life that I never knew existed.
I was done being kept outside.
I stepped forward.
“No more secrets.””
Ricardo looked at me.
“Clara.””
“No.””
My voice surprised even me.
“You don’t get to protect me from the truth. Not after everyone decided I wasn’t important enough to know my own sister’s story.””
Leo looked up at me.
The anger left Ricardo’s face.
For a moment, he looked ashamed.
Adrian leaned against the doorway.
“Sarah always said you were stubborn.””
A painful smile touched my lips.
“She was right.””
“She also said you were the only person she trusted.””
Ricardo’s eyes snapped toward him.
“Enough.””
Adrian ignored him.
“Sarah found out someone inside Ricardo’s organization was selling information.””
I stared.
“Selling information?””
Ricardo looked away.
Adrian continued.
“She discovered money moving through fake companies. Names disappearing. People getting eliminated when they got too close.””
“That’s impossible,” Ricardo said.
Adrian laughed.
“You always say that when reality becomes inconvenient.””
Ricardo’s hands curled into fists.
“You’re lying.””
“Am I?””
Adrian reached into his coat.
Both of Ricardo’s guards immediately raised their weapons.
But Adrian only pulled out a small envelope.
He threw it onto the table.
“Ask yourself why Sarah kept this hidden.””
Ricardo stared at the envelope.
I picked it up first.
Inside were documents.
Bank transfers.
Photographs.
Names.
My eyes scanned the pages.
Then I saw one name.
Marco Bellini.
The same man who had lied about bringing Sarah to Leo.
My breathing stopped.
“Marco.””
Ricardo’s expression darkened.
“I knew he was hiding something.””
Adrian shook his head.
“You knew he was hiding something small.””
He looked at Ricardo.
“You never imagined he was hiding something from you.””
A phone rang.
Everyone froze.
It came from inside the envelope.
A second phone.
Hidden beneath the papers.
I slowly pulled it out.
The screen showed one saved contact.
Sarah.
My fingers went numb.
Ricardo stepped closer.
“Answer it.””
I looked at him.
“What if it’s a trap?””
His eyes met mine.
“Then we find out.””
I pressed the button.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was nothing.
Then a whisper.
“Clara.””
My knees almost gave out.
“Sarah?””
A shaky breath.
“Listen to me. You don’t have much time.””
Tears filled my eyes.
“Where are you?””
“I can’t tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because if they know you found me, they’ll come after you.””
I looked at Ricardo.
His face had gone pale.
“Who?””
Silence.
Then Sarah whispered:
“Ricardo.””
The room froze.
I looked at him.
“What?””
Sarah’s voice trembled.
“I need you to understand something.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What?””
“I didn’t leave Ricardo because I stopped loving him.””
Ricardo closed his eyes.
“I left because I found out what he was capable of.””
My heart sank.
“Sarah…”
“I’m sorry, Clara.””
The call began breaking up.
“Wait!””
Her voice became faint.
“There’s one thing you need to know about Leo…”
Static filled the room.
Then her final words came through.
“Leo was never Ricardo’s son.””
The call ended.
Nobody moved.
The silence was unbearable.
Ricardo stared at the phone.
I stared at Leo.
The little boy who had been sleeping peacefully only minutes ago.
May you like
Adrian whispered:
“Now you understand why Sarah ran.””
