Chapter 6 - LilyThey found Lily two days later.
She was twenty-two.
She lived in another city under the name Lily Hart.
Mia stared at the photograph.
Same eyes.
Same smile.
Same small scar.
Her sister.
Alive.
Julian arranged a private meeting.
Lily arrived cautiously.
She looked at Mia.
Then at Julian.
“Why did you bring me here?”
Mia stepped forward.
“Because I think you're my sister.”
Lily laughed nervously.
“That isn't funny.”
Mia showed her the ring.
Lily's expression changed.
She reached beneath her necklace.
A second ring appeared.
Identical.
Julian closed his eyes.
The impossible truth was now undeniable.
Two daughters.
Two rings.
One family secret.
Lily began crying.
“My father told me my birth mother abandoned me.”
Mia shook her head.
“She didn't.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she left us letters.”
Lily looked at Julian.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Julian Blackwood.”
Lily froze.
“My adoptive father told me never to trust that name.”
“Your adoptive father worked for Victor Blackwood.”
Lily stepped backward.
“I don't understand.”
Julian explained everything.
Lily's world collapsed.
She had spent twenty-two years believing she was unwanted.
Now she learned her mother had fought to protect her.
Mia hugged her.
For the first time, the sisters held each other.
But their reunion was interrupted.
Lily received a call.
She answered.
A man's voice said:
“Your mother is alive.”
Lily froze.
“Who is this?”
“You want to see her?”
“Yes.”
“Then come alone.”
The call ended.
Julian took the phone.
“It's a trap.”
Mia shook her head.
“What if it's real?”
They traced the call.
An old coastal hospital.
They went there under heavy security.
At the hospital, an elderly woman waited in a wheelchair.
Her hair was silver.
Her face was thin.
But her eyes were unmistakable.
Mia stopped walking.
“Mom?”
The woman looked up.
Her lips trembled.
“Mia?”
Mia ran to her.
Claire cried as she held her daughter.
Lily joined them.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Julian stood nearby, tears running down his face.
Claire looked at him.
“You grew up.”
Julian laughed through his tears.
“So did you.”
Claire's expression became serious.
“I tried to come back.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because your father threatened the girls.”
Julian's jaw tightened.
“He's dead.”
Claire nodded.
“I know.”
“Then why did you stay away?”
“Because Victor took over.”
Claire explained that Victor had manipulated the family for years.
He had arranged the fake death.
He had separated the sisters.
He had hidden the evidence.
And he had controlled Elena.
But there was one final secret.
Claire reached into her bag.
“I kept the original company ledger.”
Julian stared.
“The ledger?”
“It proves everything.”
Claire handed him a small book.
Names.
Payments.
Bribes.
Transfers.
And at the end was one signature.
Julian's mother.
Margaret Blackwood.
Julian stared in disbelief.
“My mother helped Victor.”
Claire nodded.
“She did.”
Mia looked at Julian.
He looked shattered.
Then Claire whispered:
“But she regretted it.”
She pulled out another letter.
“Your mother wrote this before she died.”
Julian opened it.
The first sentence broke his heart.
Julian, if Claire's daughters ever return, protect them from the sins I helped create.
May you like
Then footsteps sounded outside.
Victor's men had found them.
