CHAPTER 2 — THE DAUGHTER THEY STOLE
Vivian's smile disappeared instantly.
Alexander knelt beside the girl.
His hands trembled.
"Emma..."
Tears filled his eyes.
The servants exchanged shocked glances.
They had never seen Alexander Blackwood emotional.
Never.
The girl stared at him.
Confused.
Afraid.
"Do I know you?" she whispered.
The question shattered him.
Because she genuinely didn't remember.
Alexander swallowed hard.
Twenty years earlier, his younger sister had vanished during a crowded charity event.
Police searched for months.
Private investigators searched for years.
Nothing.
No answers.
No clues.
No body.
Only heartbreak.
And now—
the birthmark on Emma's wrist confirmed what his heart already knew.
She was his sister.
The little girl everyone believed had been lost forever.
Vivian stepped forward nervously.
"There must be some mistake."
Alexander stood slowly.
His eyes became ice.
"What is her full name?"
Vivian hesitated.
No answer.
Alexander repeated himself.
"What. Is. Her. Full. Name?"
The woman swallowed.
"Emma... that's all we've ever called her."
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
Alexander looked toward the mansion manager.
"Bring me every employment record."
Immediately.
Within minutes, documents appeared.
And the truth emerged.
Emma had no legal employment file.
No identification.
No birth certificate.
Nothing.
It was as if she had been intentionally erased.
Alexander's jaw tightened.
Then he discovered something worse.
Much worse.
The earliest record connected Emma to Vivian herself.
Vivian had brought her to the mansion years ago.
As a child.
A terrified child.
Alexander slowly looked up.
"Where did you get her?"
Vivian's face turned pale.
For the first time, she had no answer.
Because she knew.
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And now—
he knew she knew.
