Chapter 10: The Sister Nobody Knew About
The words on the envelope changed everything.
For several seconds, I couldn’t breathe.
A sister.
Daniel had a sister.
I looked at Mr. Harris.
He was staring at the floor.
Not surprised.
Not confused.
Just devastated.
“You knew.””
His silence answered before his mouth did.
“I knew.””
The room suddenly felt colder.
Michael, who had been sitting beside Daniel, looked up.
“What did you say?””
Mr. Harris closed his eyes.
“Emily had another child.””
Michael stood so quickly the chair scraped against the floor.
“No.””
The sound wasn’t anger.
It was disbelief.
“She never told me.””
“She couldn’t.””
Michael stepped closer.
“Why?””
Mr. Harris looked at the sleeping boy on the couch.
“Because she was protecting both of you.””
I watched Michael struggle to understand.
“What does that mean?””
Mr. Harris sat down.
For the first time, he looked older than his years.
“After Victor came after you, Emily realized something.””
“What?””
“He wasn’t just trying to find the evidence.””
Michael stared.
“He was trying to erase everyone connected to it.””
The silence that followed was heavy.
I looked at the envelope.
“Who is Daniel’s sister?””
Mr. Harris swallowed.
“Her name is Lily.””
Michael shook his head.
“No.””
He looked away.
“That’s impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because Emily told me she lost the baby.””
Mr. Harris looked at him.
“She lied.””
Michael’s face broke.
“Why would she lie to me?””
“Because Victor had people everywhere.””
He paused.
“She thought if you believed there was only one child, there would only be one target.””
I looked at Daniel sleeping peacefully.
The poor child had spent his entire life carrying secrets he never asked for.
Michael sat back down.
“Where is she?””
Mr. Harris didn’t answer.
That was when I knew.
“You don’t know.””
“No.””
His voice was quiet.
“Emily took Lily away before she disappeared.””
Michael ran his hands through his hair.
“She had another child…”
His voice cracked.
“And I never knew.””
I wanted to say something.
Anything.
But there were no words that could fix twenty years of stolen moments.
A few hours later, Daniel woke up.
He immediately looked around.
“Where’s my dad?””
Michael smiled sadly.
“I’m here.””
Daniel relaxed.
Then he noticed the envelope in my hand.
“What’s that?””
I looked at Mr. Harris.
He nodded.
“It’s yours.””
Daniel sat up.
“My mom wrote that?””
“Yes.””
He reached for it.
His hands shook as he opened it.
Inside was a single page.
He read silently.
Then his face changed.
“What?””
Michael moved closer.
“What does it say?””
Daniel looked up.
“She knew.””
“Knew what?””
“That I would find you.””
Everyone froze.
He handed me the letter.
The handwriting was delicate.
Daniel,
If you are reading this, it means you finally found the people who were supposed to protect you.
I’m sorry I couldn’t give you the life you deserved.
Your father loved you more than anything.
Richard made mistakes, but he tried to protect us.
And there is one more thing you must know.
You were never alone.
Your sister Lily is alive.
Daniel stopped reading.
His voice became smaller.
“I have a sister?””
Michael covered his mouth.
The next line was worse.
I had to hide her because Victor knew about her first.
If you ever find the truth, find Lily.
She is carrying the last thing your father needs to finish what we started.
Daniel looked at us.
“What does that mean?””
Nobody knew.
Then Mr. Harris stood suddenly.
His face had changed.
“What?””
He walked toward the window.
“Richard?””
He whispered:
“Victor wasn’t looking for the memory card.””
Michael looked at him.
“Then what was he looking for?””
Mr. Harris turned around.
“He was looking for Lily.””
The room went silent.
Daniel held the letter tighter.
“Where is my sister?””
Mr. Harris looked at the date on the letter.
Then at Michael.
And the fear returned.
Because he realized something.
“Emily didn’t hide Lily forever.””
“What are you saying?””
Mr. Harris pointed at the letter.
“She left a clue.””
Michael grabbed the page.
At the bottom, beneath Emily’s signature, there was a small symbol.
Something we hadn’t noticed.
A location.
A place.
And beside it, four words.
May you like
The words that made Michael’s face turn pale.
“Lily knows the truth.””
