Chapter 6 — The Witness Who Came Back From the Dead
The person standing outside Professor Hughes' office was impossible.
At least...
That was what everyone believed.
Because the woman standing there had been declared dead twenty years ago.
Her name was Sarah Mitchell.
And she was the person who knew everything.
My mother stepped backward when she saw her.
"No."
Just one word.
But it carried twenty years of fear.
Sarah looked at Claire.
"You really thought I would stay silent forever?"
I looked between them.
"Who is she?"
Daniel answered quietly.
"The woman who tried to save you."
My heart tightened.
Sarah looked at me.
"When you were born, your father discovered Richard was stealing company secrets."
She swallowed.
"He was going to expose him."
"Then they attacked his reputation."
"They destroyed his company."
"And when that wasn't enough..."
She looked at Claire.
"They took you."
My hands trembled.
"They told Daniel I died?"
Sarah nodded.
"They told everyone."
My mother suddenly shouted:
"She's lying!"
Everyone turned.
Claire was shaking.
"You don't know what you're saying."
Sarah laughed sadly.
"I know exactly what I'm saying."
She opened her bag.
And pulled out a small envelope.
"I kept this for twenty-two years."
She handed it to me.
My name was written on the front.
Emily.
My hands froze.
"This was supposed to be given to you when you turned eighteen."
I opened it.
Inside was a letter.
From Daniel.
My real father.
The first line destroyed me.
"My daughter Emily, if you are reading this, it means I failed to protect you."
My eyes filled.
I kept reading.
"I need you to know one thing."
"You were never unwanted."
"You were stolen."
I couldn't breathe.
Behind me...
Someone whispered:
"Emily."
I turned.
Richard Bennett was standing there.
But he wasn't angry anymore.
He looked broken.
"Don't read the rest."
I stared at him.
"Why?"
His eyes filled with fear.
"Because if you do..."
He paused.
"You'll know what I really did."
The hallway became silent.
I held the letter tighter.
"What did you do?"
Richard looked at me.
And finally...
He told the truth.
"I wasn't the person who stole you."
May you like
He swallowed.
"I was the person who helped them."
