Chapter 9 - The Second Daughter
Julian thought the mystery was finally over.
It wasn't.
Thomas explained that Elena had given birth to twins.
One child was Ava.
The other disappeared.
Julian's father had believed the second baby died.
But Elena's hospital records had been altered.
Someone had removed the second birth certificate.
Ava couldn't understand.
“Why would someone steal a baby?”
Thomas looked at Julian.
“Because that child was the legal heir to everything.”
Julian's eyes narrowed.
“What inheritance?”
“The original Crosswell trust.”
The trust contained property worth hundreds of millions.
But there was a condition.
The estate could not be transferred unless Elena's children were accounted for.
Richard had known.
That was why he had spent years destroying records.
Ava suddenly understood.
“West Briar.”
Thomas nodded.
“The building was held in the trust.”
Julian stared.
“So Richard wanted the property before the heirs were found.”
“Yes.”
Ava looked at Julian.
“And the other daughter?”
Thomas shook his head.
“I don't know.”
The hospital lights flickered.
Ava looked toward the corridor.
A woman stood there.
She was around Ava's age.
Brown hair.
Green eyes.
Same facial shape.
Same small scar near the left eyebrow.
Ava stopped breathing.
The woman walked closer.
“I think I know who you're looking for.”
Julian stood.
“Who are you?”
The woman looked at Ava.
“My name is Lily Cross.”
Ava's heart stopped.
“Cross?”
The woman nodded.
“I was told my whole life that my mother abandoned me.”
Julian stared at her.
“Who raised you?”
“A woman named Victoria Hale.”
Silence.
Richard's surname.
Julian stepped forward.
“Richard Hale had a sister?”
Lily nodded.
“He called her Victoria.”
Ava's blood ran cold.
“Then you're—”
Lily looked at her.
“Your twin.”
Ava couldn't move.
For twenty-nine years, she had believed she was alone.
Now a woman stood in front of her with her mother's eyes.
Lily reached into her bag.
She pulled out a photograph.
Three women stood together.
Elena.
Victoria.
And a newborn baby.
On the back was a date.
And one sentence:
Only one child was supposed to survive.
Julian looked at the photograph.
Then at Lily.
“Who wrote that?”
Lily's eyes filled with tears.
“My mother.”
Ava whispered:
“Victoria.”
Lily nodded.
“She told me never to trust Richard.”
Julian stared.
“But you were raised by her.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you here?”
Lily looked at Ava.
“Because she died last night.”
Ava stepped forward.
“What did she tell you before she died?”
Lily's expression changed.
“She said Richard wasn't the one who ordered the fire.”
Julian went still.
“Then who did?”
Lily reached into her pocket.
She removed a folded piece of paper.
“I don't know.”
She handed it to Ava.
Ava unfolded it.
There was only one name.
May you like
Her hands began to shake.
Because the name belonged to someone they all trusted—
