CHAPTER 19 The Woman Who Was Buried Alive
Richard thought he had experienced every possible shock.
His daughter being neglected.
His fiancée hiding secrets.
His father being alive.
His wife's hidden identity.
But nothing prepared him for those three words.
Anna is alive.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Richard stared at Marcus.
"Say it again."
Marcus looked serious.
"We found evidence that Anna survived the accident."
Richard's heart began racing.
"Where is she?"
Marcus hesitated.
"Richard..."
"Where?"
"We don't know yet."
The hope on Richard's face faded slightly.
"But we found her medical records."
Richard frowned.
"Medical records?"
Marcus nodded.
"Three years ago, someone admitted a woman under a false name to a private rehabilitation center."
Richard looked at the file.
The name was unfamiliar.
But the photograph attached...
Was Anna.
His wife.
The woman he buried.
The woman he cried over.
The woman he thought he lost forever.
Sophie slowly walked toward the photograph.
"Mommy."
Richard immediately looked at her.
"Sweetheart..."
She touched the picture.
"I knew she wasn't gone."
Everyone froze.
Richard knelt down.
"What do you mean?"
Sophie looked at him.
"Because Mommy visited me."
Richard's face changed.
"When?"
Sophie looked afraid.
"Sometimes."
"Where?"
She pointed toward the mansion.
"The secret room."
Richard felt cold.
"The locked room?"
Sophie nodded.
"Mommy told me not to tell anyone."
Richard felt pain.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Sophie lowered her head.
"Because Vanessa said Mommy was dangerous."
Richard closed his eyes.
Another lie.
Another piece of manipulation.
Anna had been alive.
She had been near them.
And he never knew.
Marcus interrupted.
"There's more."
Richard looked up.
"What?"
"We checked the rehabilitation center."
"And?"
Marcus swallowed.
"Someone erased all records yesterday."
Richard stood.
"Who?"
Marcus showed him security footage.
A person entering the building.
Wearing a black coat.
Face hidden.
But one detail was visible.
A ring.
A family ring.
The Hale family symbol.
Richard stared.
"No..."
Because he knew that ring.
His mother wore it.
The next morning, Richard returned to the mansion.
Not alone.
With security.
With Marcus.
With everyone he trusted.
The old house felt different now.
Like every wall was hiding a memory.
They went directly to the locked room.
But this time...
Richard noticed something.
A small mark near the floor.
A hidden mechanism.
He pressed it.
The wall moved.
Behind it was another room.
A room nobody knew existed.
Inside was a bed.
Medical supplies.
Photographs.
And a diary.
Richard picked it up.
The first page contained Anna's handwriting.
"If you found this, then I finally failed to protect our daughter."
Richard's hands shook.
He turned the page.
"Richard, I need you to know something."
A tear fell from his eye.
"Vanessa was never my enemy."
He stopped.
The words made no sense.
He continued.
"She was afraid of the same person I was afraid of."
Richard looked up.
Vanessa.
For years, he believed she was the monster.
But maybe...
She was only another victim.
Then the final sentence on the page appeared.
"The person who destroyed our family..."
Richard turned the page.
But the next page was missing.
Again.
Someone had taken the truth.
Someone had been one step ahead.
Suddenly...
A voice came from behind him.
"Richard."
He turned.
Standing in the doorway...
Was Anna.
Alive.
Older.
Tired.
But real.
Richard couldn't breathe.
Anna looked at him.
May you like
And whispered:
"I'm sorry I left you."
