Chapter 5 - The Second DaughterJulian reread the sentence.
Mia stared at him.
“What does it mean?”
He didn't answer.
The medical file contained a shocking truth.
Claire had given birth twice.
The first child was Mia.
The second was another daughter.
A girl named Lily.
Both girls had been separated after birth.
Julian felt sick.
“Your mother had another child.”
Mia's eyes widened.
“I have a sister?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
The file contained no answer.
Only a hospital number.
Julian called every contact he had.
Nothing.
Then the security chief found something.
The hospital number belonged to a private adoption agency.
A sealed record.
Julian immediately requested access.
The answer came back hours later.
The child had been adopted.
By a wealthy family.
A family with one surprising connection.
Victor Blackwood.
Mia couldn't believe it.
“My sister was raised by him?”
“No,” Julian said. “His business partner.”
The name was Daniel Hart.
A powerful lawyer.
And Victor's closest ally.
Julian realized the truth.
Victor had separated the sisters deliberately.
One child could be controlled.
Two could expose him.
Meanwhile, Elena received another message.
Bring me the girl.
She stared at the phone.
“No.”
The reply came instantly.
Then Julian dies.
Elena began trembling.
For the first time, she understood she was trapped.
She went to Mia's room.
Mia was packing a small bag.
“Where are you going?”
“To find my sister.”
Elena stood in the doorway.
“I can help.”
Mia stared at her.
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
The honesty surprised Mia.
Elena stepped inside.
“I did terrible things.”
“Yes.”
“I hurt you.”
“Yes.”
“But I want to stop.”
Mia remained silent.
Elena handed her a USB drive.
“Your husband doesn't know I have this.”
“What is it?”
“Financial records.”
“Why give it to me?”
“Because if Victor gets them, he will destroy everything.”
Mia took the drive.
Then she noticed something.
A small scar on Elena's wrist.
Mia remembered seeing the same scar in an old photograph.
Her mother had it.
Mia stared.
“Where did you get that?”
Elena froze.
“What?”
“That scar.”
Elena looked down.
“This?”
“Yes.”
Elena slowly shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Mia's eyes narrowed.
The photograph of Claire showed a similar mark.
But that was impossible.
Unless...
Elena wasn't Elena's real name.
Julian entered the room.
“What are you doing?”
Elena turned.
“I need to tell you something.”
But before she could speak, the lights went out.
A gunshot shattered the window.
Julian grabbed Mia.
Security rushed in.
Elena screamed.
A second shot struck the wall.
Then silence.
Outside, a black car sped away.
Julian ran toward the window.
On the driveway lay a piece of paper.
He picked it up.
Three words.
STOP DIGGING, BROTHER.
Julian's expression became cold.
Victor was no longer hiding.
May you like
The game had become a war.
And Mia's missing sister was the key.
