Chapter 8 - The Sister in the Photograph
Vivian had never had a sister.
Or so she'd been told.
But Marco's claim changed everything.
A second child had been born.
A baby girl.
Hidden from Kane.
Her name was Elena.
The search began immediately.
Old hospital files.
Private adoption records.
Church registries.
Everything.
After two weeks, they found her.
Elena Hayes.
Thirty years old.
Living in Wisconsin.
Teacher.
Married.
Two children.
Normal.
Happy.
Unaware that she had spent her entire life being watched.
Vivian drove there with Adrian.
She waited outside Elena's home for twenty minutes.
Then knocked.
A woman opened the door.
Brown hair.
Amber eyes.
The resemblance was undeniable.
Elena stared.
“Can I help you?”
Vivian couldn't speak.
Adrian stood behind her.
Elena looked between them.
“Who are you?”
Vivian finally whispered:
“My name is Vivian.”
Elena smiled politely.
“Okay.”
“And I think…”
Her voice broke.
“I think I'm your sister.”
Elena stopped smiling.
The next hour was filled with photographs, documents, tears, and disbelief.
Their mother had hidden both daughters.
Vivian had been sent into the city.
Elena had been sent north.
Neither knew the other existed.
The Black Rose had failed to find either.
Until now.
Elena hugged Vivian.
It was the first time Vivian had ever known what it felt like to have a sister.
Adrian watched from the doorway.
Elena smiled at him.
“So you're Adrian.”
He blinked.
“You know me?”
“My mother had a photograph.”
Vivian turned.
“What photograph?”
Elena took one from a drawer.
It showed Adrian's father holding both babies.
Vivian and Elena.
Written on the back:
Protect them both.
Vivian cried.
For the first time, she understood her mother's plan.
Her mother hadn't abandoned them.
She had saved them.
Kane had simply made the sacrifice look like betrayal.
The truth gave Vivian strength.
But Kane struck again.
He kidnapped Elena's husband.
He demanded the ledger.
Vivian went to him.
Alone.
Adrian tried to stop her.
She kissed him.
“Trust me.”
“I do.”
“Then let me go.”
He closed his eyes.
“Come back.”
“I will.”
Vivian walked into Kane's warehouse.
He was waiting.
“You have your mother's courage.”
“And your hatred.”
He smiled.
“The ledger.”
She placed it on the table.
“Release him.”
Kane opened the book.
“You think this is the original.”
Vivian smiled.
“No.”
Kane looked up.
Her phone was recording.
Federal agents surrounded the building.
Kane realized too late.
He had confessed on camera.
He lunged.
Vivian stepped aside.
Adrian entered.
Kane turned.
The final confrontation began.
Kane fired.
Adrian was hit.
Vivian screamed.
But Adrian stayed standing.
He fired once.
Kane fell.
Alive.
Unconscious.
Surrounded.
May you like
The empire was finally finished.
Or so they thought.
