Chapter 9: The Second Secret
Elena survived the night.
Barely.
The bullet had entered beneath her ribs and missed her heart by inches.
By dawn, she was in surgery.
Vivienne sat in the hospital corridor with both hands wrapped around a cup of untouched coffee.
Adrian stood beside the window.
Daniel sat across from them.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Vivienne broke the silence.
“What did she mean?””
Daniel looked up.
“I don't know.””
“She said you're not who I think you are.””
“I know.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“No.””
Daniel rubbed his face.
“I don't have one.””
Vivienne stared at him.
“Then find one.””
Adrian's phone rang.
He answered.
“Yes?””
He listened.
Then handed the phone to Vivienne.
“It's the investigator.””
She took it.
“Hello?””
“Ms. Vale, we've identified the vehicle used in the attack.””
“Who owns it?””
“Sterling Industries.””
Vivienne closed her eyes.
“Of course.””
“There is more.””
“What?””
“The vehicle was rented using a corporate authorization code.””
“Whose?””
The investigator hesitated.
“Daniel Sterling's.””
Vivienne slowly looked across the corridor.
Daniel had heard.
“No.””
He stood.
“I didn't authorize anything.””
The investigator continued.
“We know.””
Vivienne frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“The authorization was generated using your husband's old employee credentials.””
Daniel shook his head.
“My credentials were revoked months ago.””
“Exactly.””
The call ended.
Vivienne lowered the phone.
Daniel looked at her.
“I didn't do this.””
She said nothing.
“I swear.””
“I don't know what to believe anymore.””
He nodded.
“I understand.””
A doctor emerged from the operating room.
“Family of Elena Vale?””
Vivienne stood.
“I'm her daughter.””
“She survived the procedure.””
Vivienne closed her eyes.
Relief flooded through her.
“Can I see her?””
“Not yet.””
“When?””
“When she wakes.””
Vivienne nodded.
The doctor left.
Adrian touched her shoulder.
“We'll find who did this.””
Vivienne looked at him.
“You said that twelve years ago.””
Adrian went silent.
She regretted the words immediately.
But she didn't apologize.
Not yet.
Daniel's phone vibrated.
He looked down.
A message.
*You want to know who your wife really is?*
He opened it.
A photograph appeared.
Vivienne.
Standing outside a courthouse.
Beside her was an older man.
Daniel recognized him.
Gabriel Sterling.
The message continued.
*Ask her about the night she signed the marriage agreement.*
Daniel stared at the screen.
Vivienne noticed.
“What is it?””
He locked the phone.
“Nothing.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Daniel.””
He showed her.
She stared at the photograph.
Then went pale.
“I've never met him.””
Daniel frowned.
“Then why are you in this picture?””
“I don't know.””
He enlarged it.
The date was visible.
Three months before their wedding.
Vivienne's face changed.
“That's impossible.””
“What?””
“I was in London that week.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
“Vivienne…”
She took the phone.
Her fingers moved across the screen.
“That's not me.””
Daniel stared.
The woman in the photograph had Vivienne's face.
Same hair.
Same coat.
Same scar near her eyebrow.
But there was one difference.
A tiny crescent-shaped birthmark on the woman's neck.
Daniel looked at Vivienne's neck.
Nothing.
“She looks exactly like you.””
Vivienne whispered:
“Because she's my sister.””
The corridor went silent.
Daniel stared.
“You have a sister?””
“No.””
“My father never told me.””
Vivienne looked toward Adrian.
“Dad?””
Adrian's expression had gone completely still.
Vivienne stood.
“Tell me.””
He didn't answer.
“Dad.””
Adrian closed his eyes.
“There were two of you.””
Vivienne stopped breathing.
“What?””
“Twins.””
Daniel looked between them.
“Twins?””
Adrian nodded.
“Your mother gave birth to two girls.””
Vivienne's voice trembled.
“What happened to her?””
Adrian swallowed.
“She disappeared.””
“When?””
“The night you were born.””
Vivienne shook her head.
“You told me I was an only child.””
“You were.””
“That doesn't make sense.””
“Your sister died.””
Vivienne stared at him.
“How?””
Adrian looked toward the hospital room.
“She didn't.””
Vivienne's face drained of color.
“What?””
Adrian whispered:
“She was taken.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“By whom?””
Adrian didn't answer.
Vivienne already knew.
“Richard.””
“Yes.””
“But Richard was dead.””
Adrian's expression hardened.
“The man who took her wasn't Richard.””
Daniel looked at the photograph again.
“Gabriel.””
Adrian nodded.
“Gabriel Sterling took your sister.””
“Why?””
“Because she was the second heir.””
Vivienne's knees weakened.
Daniel caught her.
She immediately pulled away.
“How long have you known?””
“Since she was born.””
“You knew I had a sister for thirty years?””
“Yes.””
“You let me live my entire life believing she never existed.””
“I was protecting you.””
Vivienne laughed bitterly.
“That's everyone's excuse.””
Adrian looked devastated.
“I searched for her.””
“For thirty years?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did Gabriel have a photograph taken with her?””
Adrian's eyes widened.
“Because he found her.””
“When?””
“Before your wedding.””
Vivienne looked at Daniel.
The realization struck them both.
The photograph wasn't proof that Vivienne had met Gabriel.
It was proof that her missing twin had.
Daniel whispered:
“That's why someone wanted to know whether your baby was a Vale.””
Vivienne looked at him.
“What are you saying?””
“If your sister was alive…”
He stopped.
Vivienne finished the thought.
“She could also be an heir.””
Adrian nodded.
“Under the trust, yes.””
A nurse suddenly ran down the corridor.
“Mr. Vale!””
Adrian turned.
“The patient's awake.””
Vivienne rushed toward the room.
Elena's eyes were open.
She looked at her daughter.
Then at Daniel.
Then at Adrian.
Her lips moved.
Vivienne leaned closer.
“What?””
Elena whispered:
“Your sister…”
Vivienne held her breath.
“Where is she?””
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
“She isn't missing.””
Vivienne froze.
Elena gripped her hand.
“She has been living beside you.””
Daniel looked confused.
“What does that mean?””
Elena stared at him.
“She was at the wedding.””
Vivienne's blood ran cold.
“Who?””
Elena's voice became barely audible.
“Chloe.””
The room went silent.
Vivienne stared at her mother.
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
Elena nodded.
“Yes.””
Vivienne stepped backward.
“Chloe is my sister?””
Elena closed her eyes.
“She is your twin.””
Daniel's phone vibrated.
One final message appeared.
*Now you understand why Chloe wanted the Matriarch Ring.*
Then another.
May you like
*She didn't want to become the Sterling matriarch.*
*She already was.*
