Chapter 6: The Sister I Never Knew Existed
For a moment, I thought I had heard him wrong.
The restaurant was silent.
Not the uncomfortable silence from earlier.
Not the kind where strangers watched a public disaster.
This was different.
This was the silence of people standing in front of a truth too large to understand.
I stared at Marcus Voss.
"Say that again.""
His eyes met mine.
And I hated how much sadness I saw there.
"Your mother had another child.""
The words didn't feel real.
They floated between us.
Impossible.
Cruel.
A lie that somehow looked like the truth.
I laughed.
A short, broken sound.
"No.""
Marcus didn't move.
"Elara—"
"No.""
I stepped back.
"My mother didn't have another child.""
Nobody spoke.
Because nobody knew what to say.
I looked at Weston.
"You knew?""
His face changed immediately.
"No.""
The answer came too quickly.
And for once, I believed him.
"You didn't know?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
I looked at Marcus.
"What about you?""
He lowered his eyes.
"Yes.""
The honesty hurt more than a lie.
"You knew.""
"Yes.""
"And you never told me?""
His jaw tightened.
"I couldn't.""
I stared at him.
Everyone had the same excuse.
Couldn't.
Couldn't call.
Couldn't explain.
Couldn't tell the truth.
A word people used when they wanted forgiveness before they earned it.
"Why?""
Marcus looked at the floor.
"Because your sister was the reason Clara disappeared.""
The room became still.
My heart stopped.
"What does that mean?""
Marcus looked at me.
"Your mother didn't run because she was afraid for herself.""
He paused.
"She ran because she was afraid someone would find her child.""
I felt cold.
"Where is she?""
Nobody answered.
I looked around.
"Where is my sister?""
Marcus took a slow breath.
"Her name is Liana.""
The name felt strange.
Like a piece of a puzzle that had been missing so long I forgot there was a space.
"Liana Vale?""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes.""
"How old is she?""
His expression changed.
"Your age.""
I froze.
No.
That wasn't possible.
My mother had died believing I was her only child.
At least, that was what I believed.
"She was born before me?""
Marcus nodded.
"Two years before.""
I looked away.
The room blurred.
Memories came rushing back.
My mother cutting one birthday cake into two pieces because she said "sharing makes things sweeter.""
My mother keeping old boxes locked away.
My mother becoming quiet whenever I asked about my father.
All those moments I thought were about one secret.
There had been another.
A whole person.
A whole life.
Hidden from me.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
Marcus looked heartbroken.
"Because she wanted to.""
"Then why didn't she?""
He didn't answer.
And I knew.
Fear.
The answer was always fear.
"Who is she?"" I asked.
Marcus hesitated.
That hesitation made my anger return.
"Don't.""
He looked at me.
"Don't protect me.""
I pointed at him.
"Everyone keeps deciding what I can handle.""
My voice shook.
"I lost my mother once because people hid the truth.""
I stepped closer.
"I'm not losing another person because someone thinks silence is safer.""
Marcus nodded slowly.
"Her name is Liana Vale.""
"I know her name.""
I looked at him.
"Where is she?""
He was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then Adrian spoke.
"Marcus.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"She's alive.""
The words hit me harder than anything else.
Alive.
A sister I never knew existed.
A person who shared my mother's blood.
A person who had lived somewhere in this world while I grew up believing I was alone.
"Where?""
Marcus looked at the envelope.
"That is what Clara wanted you to find.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"Your mother left clues.""
My anger shifted into confusion.
"Clues?""
Marcus nodded.
"She knew she couldn't tell you everything directly.""
"Why?""
"Because someone was watching.""
I looked around.
The empty restaurant suddenly felt less empty.
"Watching her?""
"Watching both of you.""
My stomach tightened.
"Me too?""
Marcus nodded.
"Your mother spent years moving between places. Changing jobs. Changing names.""
"Why?""
"Because after the documents disappeared, she realized the danger wasn't over.""
I swallowed.
"She knew someone wanted her dead.""
Marcus didn't answer.
That was enough.
"And Liana?""
Marcus looked at me.
"Liana was placed somewhere safe.""
"Safe?""
My voice became sharp.
"She was separated from her mother.""
"Yes.""
"From me.""
Marcus looked away.
"Yes.""
I turned toward the window.
The city lights outside were beautiful.
People were walking below.
Cars moved through streets.
The world kept going.
While my entire life had just shifted.
"I have a sister.""
Nobody responded.
Because there was nothing to say.
Then Odalys quietly spoke.
"How did you know?""
I looked at her.
She wasn't asking me.
She was asking Marcus.
"How did you know Clara had another daughter?""
Marcus looked at her.
"Because I helped her hide her.""
Weston's head snapped toward him.
"You?""
Marcus nodded.
"After your father found out about Liana, I knew Clara had to move her.""
Weston's face changed.
"Your father knew?""
"Yes.""
"And he let her live?""
Marcus's expression turned dark.
"He didn't know where she was.""
The meaning sank in.
My grandfather had been searching for a child.
A child who was my sister.
"Why would she be a threat?""
Marcus looked at me.
"Because Clara wasn't just hiding a child.""
He paused.
"She was hiding an heir.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"The Voss family company.""
Everyone looked at him.
Marcus continued.
"Your grandfather created legal arrangements years ago. If certain evidence came to light, ownership would not remain with the Voss family.""
My head spun.
"What does that have to do with Liana?""
"Your mother discovered that Liana was named in those documents.""
"Why?""
Marcus looked at Weston.
"Because Clara was the only person your grandfather trusted enough to make her a beneficiary.""
Weston stared.
"My father named Clara?""
Marcus nodded.
"He knew she was honest.""
A bitter laugh escaped Weston.
"My father trusted her more than his own sons.""
"Yes.""
Nobody spoke.
Then my phone buzzed again.
Everyone turned.
Another message.
Same unknown number.
This time there was a photo.
My hands went cold.
It was a picture of a woman.
A young woman.
Standing outside a coffee shop.
I didn't know her.
But I knew her face.
Because I saw my mother's eyes.
My own eyes.
The caption underneath was simple.
*You wanted the truth. Here she is.*
I stared at the screen.
My sister.
Alive.
And then another message appeared.
*But she doesn't know you exist.*
My throat tightened.
I looked at Marcus.
"Who sent this?""
He didn't answer.
Adrian looked toward the door.
"Someone who wants you to find her.""
Weston shook his head.
"No.""
Everyone looked at him.
His face was pale.
"No?""
He looked at the photograph.
"That isn't a gift.""
My grip tightened around my phone.
"What do you mean?""
Weston looked at me.
And the fear in his eyes returned.
"Because if they want you to find Liana...""
A pause.
"Then they want both of you in the same place.""
The lights flickered.
Again.
But this time, nobody ignored it.
Adrian moved toward the windows.
Marcus grabbed his cane.
Odalys whispered:
"Why?""
Weston looked at me.
"Because Clara spent twenty years hiding one daughter.""
He looked at the photograph.
"But she spent her final days trying to protect the other.""
My breath caught.
"What are you saying?""
Weston didn't answer immediately.
Then he said:
"Elara...""
His voice broke.
"Your mother wasn't trying to save Liana from the people chasing her.""
He looked at me.
"She was trying to save Liana from what they would do if they found out about you.""
A cold silence filled the room.
May you like
And for the first time, I wondered if finding my sister was not the end of my mother's secret.
Maybe it was the beginning.
