Chapter 3 – The Woman Who Stole a Family
Three days later...
Neither Lily nor Vanessa could sleep.
DNA testing confirmed the impossible.
99.9999% probability.
They were identical twins.
News exploded across every media outlet.
"Ashcroft Heiress Discovers Long-Lost Twin Sister."
But the story wasn't over.
Margaret asked both sisters to meet her at the old Ashcroft estate.
Inside the dusty attic, she unlocked a wooden chest no one had opened in decades.
Letters.
Medical records.
Bank documents.
One envelope bore a familiar signature.
Eleanor Ashcroft.
Vanessa frowned.
"My aunt?"
Margaret nodded.
"She wasn't your aunt."
"What?"
"She was your father's business partner."
Lily opened the envelope.
Inside was a contract.
Payment received.
One infant transferred.
Buyer confidential.
Vanessa's hands shook.
"My father didn't choose this..."
Margaret's voice hardened.
"Eleanor forced him."
She revealed another letter.
It was written by Vanessa's dying father.
If my daughters ever read this... forgive me.
Eleanor threatened to expose everything.
She promised your sister would grow up safely.
Instead, she stole half our family fortune after my death.
She lied to you your entire life.
Please... find each other.
Don't let her destroy what's left of us.
Vanessa burst into tears.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just quiet tears that refused to stop.
Lily gently reached for her hand.
May you like
For the first time...
Vanessa didn't pull away.
