Chapter 8 - THE CHILD WHO WAS NEVER REPORTED
I couldn't speak.
“My sister?”
Alessandra nodded.
“She was three months old.”
“What happened to her?”
Alessandra looked at Daniel.
He answered.
“She survived.”
My knees weakened.
“Where is she?”
Nobody answered.
Adrien stepped closer.
“Tell her.”
Alessandra sighed.
“Your sister was taken to protect her.”
“By whom?”
“Your father.”
I stared at Daniel.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Daniel looked at the floor.
“She was raised under another name.”
“Why didn't anyone tell me?”
“Because Stefano was searching for her.”
Adrien asked, “Why?”
“She was the only person who could inherit the records.”
I didn't understand.
“She was a baby.”
“Exactly.”
Daniel explained.
“Your father created a trust in her name. It contained the evidence Stefano wanted.”
Adrien's eyes narrowed.
“So the child was leverage.”
“Yes.”
“What name was she given?”
Alessandra looked at me.
“Anna.”
I froze.
“Anna?”
Adrien noticed my expression.
“You know someone.”
I nodded slowly.
“My childhood friend.”
Alessandra's eyes closed.
“Anna Reed.”
I couldn't breathe.
Anna.
The girl who had lived two streets away.
The girl who had always appeared whenever I needed her.
The girl who disappeared after college.
“She was my sister?”
“Yes.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“She knew?”
“No.”
“She doesn't know?”
“No.”
Adrien took my hand.
“We'll find her.”
My mother suddenly appeared in the doorway.
I screamed.
She looked older than I remembered.
Tired.
Broken.
But alive.
“Lena.”
I stepped back.
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You let me think you were dead.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to burn the house.”
Her face crumpled.
“I did.”
Adrien raised his weapon.
“Why?”
My mother looked at me.
“Because Stefano had found Anna.”
I froze.
“He wanted both of you.”
“So you burned the house?”
“I thought I could make him believe you both died.”
“You knew I was alive.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you come for me?”
“Because if I did, Stefano would follow.”
Her eyes filled.
“I watched you from a distance.”
“All these years?”
“Yes.”
“Marcus?”
“He was supposed to keep you away from danger.”
“He hurt me.”
My mother looked horrified.
“I never ordered that.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“She didn't.”
I looked at him.
“She told me to scare you away from Adrien.”
“But you abused me.”
“I know.”
He lowered his head.
“I crossed a line.”
Adrien stepped between us.
“That line ends here.”
My mother looked at him.
“I know what your family thinks of me.”
Adrien said quietly, “I don't care what they think.”
He looked at me.
“I care what Lena wants.”
That was the first time I felt something shift.
He wasn't deciding for me.
He was standing beside me.
My mother pulled a small necklace from her pocket.
She handed it to me.
“This belonged to Anna.”
I opened the pendant.
Inside was a tiny address.
A school.
I recognized it.
Anna had gone there.
“She was alive.”
My mother nodded.
“Until last month.”
My blood ran cold.
“What happened?”
“She disappeared.”
Adrien immediately reached for the necklace.
A folded piece of paper was hidden inside.
One sentence.
She found the ledger.
Alessandra looked at Adrien.
“Stefano has Anna.”
The room went silent.
Adrien's expression changed.
“Where?”
My mother shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Then my phone rang.
I stared at the screen.
Unknown number.
Adrien looked at me.
“Don't answer.”
I did.
A man's voice whispered.
“Lena.”
My blood froze.
“Stefano.”
He laughed softly.
“You finally know the truth.”
“What did you do to Anna?”
“She is alive.”
“Where?”
“Come to the old Viscari theater.”
Adrien grabbed my hand.
Stefano continued.
“And bring Adrien.”
The line went dead.
A second later, a photograph arrived.
Anna was sitting in a chair.
Alive.
Terrified.
May you like
And beside her stood a man I recognized.
My father.
