CHAPTER 12 Anna's Final Letter

Richard read the letter slowly.

Every sentence felt heavier than the last.

"My dearest Richard,

If you are reading this, then something happened that forced you to search for answers."

Richard paused.

Because Anna knew him.

She knew he would not stop.

She continued:

"I need you to understand something. The danger around Sophie is not because of money alone."

Richard frowned.

"Not money?"

The next sentence changed everything.

"Sophie carries a truth that powerful people want hidden."

Richard looked at Eleanor.

She looked away.

The letter continued.

"When Sophie was born, I discovered something impossible."

Richard's heartbeat increased.

"Someone changed the medical records."

He already knew.

But then came the part he didn't expect.

"The person who changed them was not trying to hide who Sophie's father was."

Richard stopped.

"What?"

He read again.

"The person was trying to hide who Sophie's mother was."

Silence.

Richard looked at Sophie.

Then the letter.

Impossible.

Anna was Sophie's mother.

Who else could it be?

Unless...

There was another secret.

The next page was missing.

Again.

Someone had removed the most important part.

Richard slammed the letter down.

"Someone keeps taking pieces of the truth."

Eleanor spoke quietly.

"Because the truth destroys people."

Richard turned.

"Who removed the pages?"

Eleanor didn't answer.

Then Sophie's voice came from behind them.

"Daddy?"

Richard immediately turned.

She was holding something.

A small box.

"Where did you get that?"

Sophie looked at Eleanor.

"Grandma gave it to me."

Richard stared at his mother.

"You gave her this?"

Eleanor nodded.

"I was waiting for the right time."

Richard opened the box.

Inside was another photograph.

But this one was different.

It showed Anna.

Holding a baby.

Not Sophie.

Another baby.

Richard's face went pale.

Because on the back of the photograph was written:

"The first daughter."

Nobody spoke.

Nobody moved.

Then Sophie's small voice whispered:

"Daddy..."

Richard looked at her.

"Yes?"

She pointed at the photograph.

"That's the woman who visited Mommy before she disappeared."

Richard froze.

"What woman?"

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Sophie looked terrified.

"The woman who looked exactly like me."