Chapter 2: The Lie Buried for Nineteen Years
Chapter 2: The Lie Buried for Nineteen Years
Victoria refused to continue the birthday party.
The guests remained seated, unable to leave.
No one wanted to miss what was unfolding.
Victoria led Emily into the family library.
Margaret followed, her face pale.
"So tell me," Victoria demanded.
"What happened?"
Emily inhaled slowly.
"The night of the fire..."
"I wasn't inside."
Everyone froze.
"My nanny pulled me outside before the flames spread."
Victoria's eyes widened.
"But they found a body."
Emily nodded.
"A body Margaret paid someone to identify as mine."
Margaret slammed her fist onto the table.
"She's lying!"
Emily calmly reached into her bag again.
This time she produced an old envelope.
Inside were photographs.
Hospital records.
Foster care documents.
Letters she had written to Victoria every birthday.
None had ever been delivered.
"I was taken to another city."
"They changed my last name."
"I lived in foster homes."
"I worked after school."
"I became a waitress."
"Every birthday I came here..."
"...hoping I'd see my sister."
Victoria looked toward Margaret.
"Is it true?"
Margaret remained silent.
The silence answered everything.
Victoria's voice trembled.
"Why?"
Margaret finally laughed.
A cold, emotionless laugh.
"Because your father loved Emily more than anyone."
"If she stayed alive..."
"...she would inherit half the Ashford fortune."
"I wasn't going to let that happen."
Gasps filled the library.
Victoria felt physically sick.
May you like
For nineteen years...
She had loved the woman who destroyed her family.
