Chapter 7 - Two SistersFor the first time in Isabella's life, she understood what true terror felt like.
Not fear of dying.
Fear of discovering that reality itself had been lying to you.
The woman in black stepped forward.
“Hello, Isabella.”
The Celeste in red backed away.
“Don't listen to her.”
The woman in black laughed.
“You still sound exactly like Mother.”
Isabella stared at them.
“Who are you?”
The woman in black touched her face.
“Your sister.”
Red-dressed Celeste shook her head.
“She is lying.”
The woman in black smiled.
“My name is Celine.”
Isabella's breathing stopped.
Celine.
The name appeared in the birth records.
A second daughter.
Twin sister.
Hidden.
“You had a twin?”
Celeste looked devastated.
“Father told me she died at birth.”
Celine laughed bitterly.
“He lied to both of us.”
Nathan raised the metal rod.
“Stay back.”
Celine ignored him.
“He couldn't control two daughters, so he chose one.”
She pointed at Celeste.
“And buried the other.”
Isabella looked at Celeste.
“Why didn't you know?”
“Because I was a child!”
Celine's expression softened.
“You were always the obedient one.”
Celeste stepped forward.
“Where have you been?”
“Everywhere Father couldn't find me.”
Celine looked toward Isabella.
“Until now.”
She reached into her coat and produced a folder.
“Your mother gave this to me before she died.”
Isabella took it.
Inside was proof.
Birth certificates.
Medical records.
Photographs.
And a handwritten confession from Helena.
My husband ordered me to surrender one of my daughters. I refused. So he took her anyway.
Isabella couldn't breathe.
“Which daughter?”
Celine smiled sadly.
“Me.”
Celeste began crying.
“I thought I killed you.”
“You almost did.”
Isabella looked between them.
“So who pushed me?”
Neither answered.
Celine pointed at the staircase footage.
“Not me.”
Celeste whispered:
“Not me.”
Then Isabella noticed something.
The woman in black had a tiny scar beneath her right ear.
Celeste didn't.
Celine saw her looking.
“Father marked me.”
“How?”
“With a knife.”
The room fell silent.
Then Celine said:
“But that isn't the worst part.”
She pulled out another photograph.
A man stood beside Alexander.
Isabella recognized him.
Her fiancé.
Nathan.
“What?”
Nathan stepped backward.
“I don't know that man.”
“You should.”
Celine's voice was calm.
“You've been investigating the Vales for three years.”
Nathan stared at her.
“Who told you that?”
“Alexander.”
Isabella looked at Nathan.
“Is it true?”
Nathan said nothing.
That silence destroyed something inside her.
“You lied to me.”
“No.”
“You knew about my family.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You knew about Alexander.”
Nathan looked away.
Celine stepped between them.
“He didn't come here by accident.”
Nathan finally spoke.
“My father was destroyed by Richard.”
Isabella stared.
“You wanted revenge.”
“Yes.”
“And you used me.”
Nathan's face tightened.
“At first.”
Isabella's eyes filled with tears.
“At first?”
He whispered:
“Then I fell in love with you.”
Before she could answer, a gunshot exploded.
Celine fell.
Blood spread across her black dress.
Celeste screamed.
Nathan spun toward the tunnel.
A shadow disappeared into the darkness.
Isabella rushed to Celine.
Celine grabbed her hand.
Her eyes were fading.
“Find…”
“What?”
“The room beneath the lake.”
Then she whispered:
May you like
“Your mother is still alive.”
And she lost consciousness.
