Chapter 10: The Sister Who Came Back
Nobody moved.
The woman standing at the bottom of the staircase looked exactly like the photographs hidden inside Simone’s locked room.
Same eyes.
Same smile.
Same silver necklace hanging around her neck.
But there was one impossible detail.
She was alive.
Marcus gripped the railing so tightly his knuckles turned white.
“Claire?””
The woman looked up.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then she smiled sadly.
“Hello, Marcus.””
His face changed.
Not anger.
Not relief.
Something much more painful.
Confusion.
“You’re dead.””
Claire looked down.
“I know.””
The words sent a chill through me.
Lily moved closer to my side.
I wrapped my arm around her.
Simone walked down the stairs slowly.
“Claire…”
Her sister looked at her.
And the sadness in that look was worse than hatred.
“You let it go too far.””
Simone stopped.
“I was trying to fix it.””
“No.””
Claire shook her head.
“You were trying to control it.””
The silence afterward felt like a confession.
I stepped forward.
“Someone needs to explain what is happening.””
Claire looked at me.
Her eyes softened when she saw Lily.
“You must be Darius.””
I immediately became protective.
“How do you know my name?””
“Because I’ve been watching from a distance.””
My stomach tightened.
“That’s not comforting.””
“It wasn’t meant to be.””
She walked closer.
Marcus moved between us.
“Stay away from him.””
Claire stopped.
“I’m not here to hurt anyone.””
“You disappeared.””
“Yes.””
“You let me believe you were dead.””
Claire looked down.
“I had no choice.””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“There is always a choice.””
Her expression broke.
“You think I don’t know that?””
The emotion in her voice silenced him.
Claire looked at Simone.
“I tried to tell you.””
Simone whispered:
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
Claire’s voice hardened.
“You never listened.””
I looked between the sisters.
“You two know where Lily’s story begins.””
Claire looked at me.
“Yes.””
“Then tell me.””
She hesitated.
Then looked at Lily.
“Not in front of her.””
Lily immediately grabbed my hand.
“No.””
Everyone looked at her.
“I’m tired of people talking about me like I’m not here.””
The words hit everyone.
Even Simone.
Claire crouched down slowly.
“You’re right.””
Lily stared at her.
“Who are you?””
Claire’s eyes filled with tears.
“My name is Claire.””
“Why do you know my name?””
Claire looked at Simone.
Then back at Lily.
“Because I was there when you were born.””
The room went silent.
My heart started racing.
“What?””
Claire stood.
“I was there the night Lily came into this world.””
Marcus looked at Simone.
“You knew?””
Simone didn’t answer.
That was enough.
I felt anger rising.
“You knew my daughter’s history.””
Simone’s eyes filled.
“I knew part of it.””
“Part?””
She looked at Lily.
“I didn’t know everything.””
Claire shook her head.
“You knew enough.””
I turned toward Claire.
“What happened?””
She took a deep breath.
“Eight years ago, there was an accident.””
Marcus stared.
“My daughter?””
Claire nodded.
“And Lily.””
The words made my body freeze.
“What accident?””
Claire looked at Simone.
“Tell him.””
Simone looked terrified.
“I can’t.””
“You have to.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Tell me.””
Simone looked at him.
Then at Lily.
Then she whispered:
“There were two children.””
Nobody moved.
“Two babies,” Simone continued.
“Born in the same hospital. On the same night.””
My heart pounded.
“What are you saying?””
Claire answered.
“The hospital records were changed.””
I stared at them.
“Why?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Claire said:
“Because someone wanted one child to disappear.””
Lily squeezed my hand.
I looked at Simone.
“Who?””
Her face crumpled.
May you like
And for the first time, she looked truly broken.
“My mother.””
