Chapter 9: The Woman Who Held the Missing Piece
The next morning, Alexander received a message.
No name.
No number.
Only one sentence.
"If you want the truth about Isabella, come alone."
Attached was an address.
An abandoned church outside the city.
Alexander knew it was a trap.
But he also knew he couldn't ignore it.
Not after twenty years.
Not after discovering his sister's final secret.
Before leaving, he gave Lily the silver hairpin.
“Keep this safe.”
She looked worried.
“Are you leaving me?”
Alexander shook his head.
“Never.”
He smiled gently.
“I am finding answers.”
Lily held the hairpin.
“Come back?”
Alexander looked at her.
“I promise.”
The abandoned church was empty.
Broken windows.
Dust everywhere.
Old wooden benches covered in darkness.
Alexander walked inside.
“Who are you?”
A voice answered.
“You look exactly like Isabella.”
Alexander turned.
A woman stepped out from the shadows.
She was older.
Tired.
But her eyes were familiar.
Alexander stopped breathing.
Because he knew those eyes.
“Who are you?”
The woman looked at him.
Then whispered:
“I was your sister's best friend.”
Alexander stared.
“Maria?”
She nodded.
Maria.
The woman who disappeared the same night Isabella vanished.
Everyone thought she had left the country.
But she had been hiding.
“Why are you here?”
Maria looked at him sadly.
“Because Isabella knew she was going to die.”
Alexander felt his chest tighten.
“No.”
Maria's eyes filled with tears.
“She didn't die immediately.”
The words shocked him.
“What?”
“She survived the accident.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“Then where is she?”
Maria looked down.
And the answer destroyed him.
“She survived long enough to hide Lily.”
Alexander couldn't breathe.
“Where is my sister?”
Maria closed her eyes.
“She made me promise not to tell you unless Lily was safe.”
A long silence.
Then she whispered:
“Alexander…”
“Your sister didn't disappear.”
“She was taken.”
The world stopped.
Alexander's hands clenched.
“Who?”
Maria looked toward the darkness outside.
“The same person who is still trying to find Lily.”
Alexander waited.
Then Maria said the name.
A name he never expected.
May you like
A name that changed everything.
“Your father.”
