Chapter 9 - Willa stared at the woman.“Who are you?”
The woman laughed bitterly.
“You really don't remember.”
Kendrick raised his gun.
“Stay where you are.”
She ignored him.
“My name is Mara.”
Willa's heart slammed against her ribs.
Mara.
The name felt familiar.
A child's voice.
A bedtime song.
Two sisters.
One window.
A silver star.
Willa covered her mouth.
“I remember.”
Mara stepped closer.
“You remember me?”
“Not everything.”
“You remember enough.”
Mara's eyes filled with tears.
“You were supposed to die.”
Willa froze.
“You left me.”
“No.”
“Mama chose you.”
“No.”
“She saved you.”
Willa shook her head.
“She saved us both.”
Mara laughed.
“She saved Penny.”
Kendrick stepped forward.
“What exactly happened six years ago?”
Mara stared at him.
“Elena discovered the ledger.”
She explained.
The ledger wasn't just financial records.
It contained evidence that dozens of powerful families had built their fortunes through illegal assassinations, political corruption, and secret wars.
But one name sat above all others.
Ashford.
Kendrick's grandfather.
The man who had started the syndicate by betraying his allies.
Elena wanted to expose it.
Willa's mother wanted to use it.
Two women.
Two different goals.
Then they fought.
That night, the mansion burned.
Mara had the ledger.
Willa had the access key.
Penny was the witness.
Elena tried to save all three.
She failed.
Mara was captured.
Willa escaped.
Penny disappeared.
Elena vanished.
For six years, everyone thought they were dead.
Kendrick stared.
“Where is Elena?”
Mara looked at him.
“She's not hiding.”
“Then where?”
“She's been inside your organization the entire time.”
Kendrick's face changed.
“Who?”
Mara smiled.
“You'll know when she wants you to.”
Then a gunshot came from outside.
Mara collapsed.
Willa screamed.
Kendrick caught her.
Blood spread across her shirt.
Mara whispered:
“Don't trust the woman pretending to be your wife.”
Kendrick froze.
“My wife?”
Mara pointed toward Penny.
“The woman who raised her isn't Elena.”
Willa looked at Penny.
The child was trembling.
Then she whispered:
“Mommy changed her face.”
Kendrick's entire body went rigid.
“What?”
Penny's voice broke.
“Bad Mommy.”
Kendrick looked at Willa.
“Who is Elena?”
Penny pointed toward the church door.
Everyone turned.
A woman stood there.
Blonde hair.
Elegant black dress.
Cold eyes.
Kendrick lifted his gun.
She smiled.
“Hello, Kendrick.”
He lowered the weapon slightly.
His voice broke.
“Elena?”
The woman looked at Willa.
Then at Penny.
May you like
And smiled.
“Yes.”
Related Stories
