Chapter 9: The Truth Daniel Buried
I don’t remember sitting down.
I don’t remember taking off my shoes.
I don’t remember the sounds around me.
All I remember is Daniel saying one sentence.
“She was my sister.””
A sentence that changed everything.
“You have a sister?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
“Where is she?””
He didn’t answer.
And suddenly, I understood why.
My voice became quieter.
“Daniel.””
He looked at me.
“She’s gone.””
The room became silent.
“How?””
He looked down.
“She disappeared six years ago.””
Nobody moved.
Even Chloe looked shocked.
“You never told me you had a sister.””
“I know.””
“Why?””
Daniel sat down.
Because for the first time since I met him, he looked powerless.
“Because every time I talked about her, people asked questions I couldn’t answer.””
“What questions?””
He swallowed.
“Why she left.””
I stared.
“You don’t know?””
“I thought I did.””
His words confused me.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel rubbed his hands together.
“Sarah worked at my company. She was the person who helped me build everything.””
His voice cracked slightly.
“She was my best friend.””
I listened.
“She discovered financial problems.””
My eyes moved toward Chloe.
“The same problems Natalie accused you of?””
He nodded.
“Yes.””
Daniel looked at the floor.
“Sarah believed someone inside the company was stealing money.””
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
The answer frustrated me.
“You don’t know?””
“She was investigating when she disappeared.””
The officer quietly listened.
Daniel continued.
“Natalie was the last person who spoke to her.””
Everyone looked toward the door where Natalie had left.
My stomach tightened.
“Then why did you stay with Natalie?””
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Because I believed her.””
That hurt.
Not because of Natalie.
Because Daniel had trusted the wrong person.
“And later?””
“Later I found evidence that Natalie lied.””
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?””
“I tried.””
His voice became heavier.
“But Sarah’s records were missing.””
I looked at him.
“What records?””
“The evidence she collected.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Daniel.””
He looked at me.
“Your sister had access to your accounts.””
He froze.
“What?””
I looked at Chloe.
“She knew about your company.””
Chloe immediately shook her head.
“No.””
But nobody listened.
Because suddenly everything connected.
The money transfer.
The stolen documents.
The ruined dress.
The cancellation.
Someone wasn’t just trying to destroy my wedding.
Someone was trying to hide something.
The officer looked at Daniel.
“Did your sister Sarah ever work with Valentina Maison?””
Daniel frowned.
“No.””
Marcus suddenly spoke.
“Wait.””
Everyone turned.
Marcus looked at the folder.
“There is something I didn’t mention.””
He pulled out a document.
“The boutique discovered the stolen design file was not the only thing accessed.””
“What else?””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“A historical client file.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Which client?””
Marcus answered quietly.
“Sarah Parker.””
Daniel went completely still.
I felt my blood run cold.
My last name.
The same name as mine.
I looked at Daniel.
“Why would Valentina have a file about your sister?””
He didn’t answer.
Because he didn’t know.
Or because he did.
Then Marcus said something that made everyone freeze.
“Because Sarah wasn’t just Daniel’s sister.””
He looked at me.
“She was your biological sister.””
The world stopped.
I stared at him.
“No.””
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“That’s impossible.””
Daniel looked at me, confused.
“Emma…”
I couldn’t breathe.
My family.
My sister.
My past.
Everything I knew suddenly felt unstable.
“My parents only had two children.””
Marcus looked at the file.
“According to this, Sarah was adopted.””
Silence.
I felt dizzy.
“No.””
Daniel stepped toward me.
“Emma, wait.””
I backed away.
“How would you know?””
Nobody answered.
Then my phone rang.
Everyone looked at it.
Unknown number.
My hands shook as I answered.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then a woman’s voice whispered:
“Emma?””
My heart stopped.
Because I knew that voice.
I had heard it once before.
In an old family recording.
A voice my mother cried over every year.
The woman continued:
“I know you don’t remember me.””
I couldn’t speak.
“Because they made sure you wouldn’t.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
“Who are you?””
A pause.
Then:
“I’m Sarah.””
The room disappeared.
The wedding.
The dress.
The betrayal.
Everything.
All I could hear was the voice of a woman who was supposed to be gone.
“Emma,” she whispered.
“Your sister Chloe didn’t ruin your wedding by accident.””
My heart raced.
“What?””
“She was trying to stop you from finding the truth.””
I looked at Chloe.
Her face had turned completely white.
Sarah continued:
“And the person who paid her to do it…”
A pause.
May you like
A terrifying pause.
“…was your mother.””
