CHAPTER 6 The Woman Who Knew Anna's Secret
Richard couldn't move.
The woman standing in front of him looked impossible.
Same eyes.
Same expression.
Same gentle sadness.
For one second, his mind convinced him.
Anna was alive.
But then reality returned.
This woman was different.
"Who are you?"
The woman looked at him.
"My name is Claire."
Richard stared.
"Why do you look like my wife?"
Claire slowly placed the photograph on the table.
"Because Anna was my sister."
Richard froze.
"Sister?"
She nodded.
"Her twin sister."
The world seemed to stop.
Richard had known Anna for almost fifteen years.
She never mentioned having a twin.
Not once.
"Why didn't I know?"
Claire looked down.
"Because Anna was protecting you."
Richard became frustrated.
"Everyone keeps saying that. Protecting me from what?"
Claire's eyes filled with sadness.
"From the truth."
She opened the photograph.
It showed two young women.
Anna and Claire.
But behind them stood someone Richard recognized.
Vanessa.
Much younger.
Standing beside them.
Richard stared.
"She knew both of you?"
Claire nodded.
"Vanessa wasn't just your fiancée."
Richard's expression changed.
"Then what was she?"
Claire whispered:
"She was the reason Anna was afraid."
The room became silent.
Richard felt anger rising.
"Why didn't Anna tell me?"
"Because she thought you were being watched."
Richard looked confused.
"Watched?"
Claire nodded.
"Your company. Your money. Your family."
Richard sat down.
Suddenly, every strange event started connecting.
The locked room.
The missing pages.
Sophie's fear.
Vanessa's control.
Anna's warning.
Claire reached into her bag.
She pulled out an envelope.
"Anna gave me this before she died."
Richard stared.
"Why didn't you give it to me sooner?"
Claire looked away.
"Because Anna made me promise."
"What promise?"
Claire whispered:
"Only give it to Richard when Sophie is old enough to understand."
Richard opened the envelope.
Inside was one sentence.
Written by Anna.
"Richard, if Sophie ever tells you about the woman in the mirror, believe her."
Richard looked confused.
"The woman in the mirror?"
Then his phone rang.
It was Sophie's school.
The principal sounded nervous.
"Mr. Hale..."
"What happened?"
"We need you to come immediately."
"Why?"
A long pause.
Then:
"Sophie drew something today."
Richard's voice lowered.
"What did she draw?"
The principal answered:
"A woman standing behind her mother."
Richard's heart stopped.
"Who?"
The principal hesitated.
Then said:
May you like
"She wrote one name."
"Vanessa."
