Chapter 7: The Girl in the Reflection
I stared at the screen.
Impossible.
There was no explanation.
The reflection showed a girl standing several feet away from Daniel and my mother.
Same hair.
Same jacket.
Same face.
Mine.
But I had never been there.
“I don’t understand,” I whispered.
Sophie looked at the image.
“Is that you?””
“Yes.””
My father took the phone from my hand.
He zoomed in.
His expression changed.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
“You’ve seen her before.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
Dad didn’t answer.
“Dad.””
He looked away.
That was enough.
“You know something.””
He remained silent.
My voice became louder.
“You know something.””
Finally, he said, “Six months ago, I found out someone had been following you.””
My heart dropped.
“Following me?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
“I didn’t know.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I thought I could handle it.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You always think you can handle everything.””
He looked hurt.
But I didn’t stop.
“You track my phone. You install cameras. You hide my sister. You decide what I deserve to know.””
My voice broke.
“You don’t protect people, Dad. You control them.””
The words landed heavily.
My father looked down.
And he didn’t deny it.
That hurt more.
Sophie stepped between us.
“Who was following her?””
Dad looked at her.
“I don’t know.””
“Then why do you think Daniel is involved?””
“Because every time something happens, Daniel appears.””
That was true.
But something still didn’t make sense.
I pointed at the phone.
“That video was recorded before I knew anything.””
“Yes.””
“So why was I there?””
Nobody answered.
Then Sophie quietly said:
“Maybe you weren’t.””
We looked at her.
“What?””
She pointed.
“Look closer.””
I zoomed in.
The girl in the reflection wasn’t facing the camera.
She was facing Daniel.
And she was holding something.
A phone.
“She was recording them,” Sophie said.
I felt a chill.
Someone had been watching Daniel.
Someone had been collecting evidence.
Someone who looked like me.
But wasn’t me.
My father suddenly stood.
“We need to leave.””
“What?””
“Now.””
“Why?””
He looked at the hallway.
“Because if Daniel sent these messages, he wants us distracted.””
Sophie grabbed her bag.
“Where are we going?””
“My house.””
I stared.
“Why?””
“Because there’s something you both need to see.””
Twenty minutes later, we arrived at my childhood home.
The place looked exactly the same.
But now I knew better.
Nothing was ever exactly what it seemed.
My father walked straight to his office.
He opened a locked drawer.
Inside was a stack of files.
He handed one to me.
“What is this?””
“Everything I found about Daniel.””
I opened it.
Photos.
Bank records.
Names.
Dates.
Then I saw something.
A name written at the top of one page.
*Rachel Hayes.*
I looked up.
“Daniel’s wife?””
My father nodded.
“She died three years ago.””
“Why is she in here?””
“Because she was the first person who tried to expose him.””
I read the document.
Rachel had discovered Daniel’s financial crimes.
She had collected evidence.
Then suddenly, she died in what police called an accident.
My stomach tightened.
“You think Daniel killed her?””
“I think Daniel destroys anyone who threatens him.””
Sophie picked up another file.
Then she froze.
“What?””
She turned the page toward us.
There was a photo.
A woman.
Older.
But familiar.
I recognized her immediately.
“Mom?””
No.
Not my mom.
Rachel.
But beside her was another person.
A young woman.
The same girl from the reflection.
Sophie whispered:
“That’s her.””
I looked at the picture.
“Who?””
Sophie pointed.
“My other sister.””
Silence.
My father went pale.
“What did you say?””
Sophie stared at him.
“Daniel had another child.””
My head spun.
Another child.
Another secret.
Another hidden person.
My father grabbed the photo.
“This is impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because Daniel told me his daughter died.””
Nobody spoke.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
No one spoke at first.
Only breathing.
Then a woman’s voice.
A voice I had never heard before.
“Emily Carter?””
“Yes?””
A pause.
Then:
“I’m sorry you found out this way.””
My heart raced.
“Who are you?””
The woman whispered:
“I’m the reason your father has been lying to you.””
The call ended.
And beneath the unknown number was a name.
May you like
A name that changed everything.
*Rachel Hayes.*
