For several seconds, I couldn’t hear anything except the ticking of my car’s engine.
I stared at the photograph in Rachel’s hands.
Two women stood outside a hospital entrance. One was Olivia, unmistakable in her familiar smile. The other looked so much like my wife that I could have mistaken them for reflections.
But the second woman had a small scar beneath her chin.
Olivia didn’t.
“Who is she?”” I asked.
Rachel looked at Sophie and Ruby before answering.
“Olivia’s twin sister.””
I laughed once, without humor.
“My wife never had a sister.””
“She did. An identical twin named Elise.””
“No. I knew Olivia for four years before we got married. I met her parents.
I spent holidays with her family. Nobody ever mentioned a twin.””
“Because her parents told everyone Elise died when they were babies.””
Rachel’s voice trembled as she explained. Olivia and Elise had been born in a small Georgia hospital. Their mother had died shortly after delivery, and their father, overwhelmed by grief and financial problems, had signed papers relinquishing one child for adoption.
Years later, Olivia discovered the truth through a family medical record.
She searched for Elise in secret.
When the sisters finally met, they recognized each other immediately. They shared the same eyes, the same laugh, and the same habit of touching their left ear when they were nervous.
“They became inseparable,” Rachel said.
“But they agreed to keep the reunion private because the people who arranged the adoption had powerful connections.””
I gripped the steering wheel.
“And my father knew about Elise?””
Rachel nodded.
“Richard found out when Olivia became pregnant. He was terrified that the sisters would uncover what he’d done with the family trust. Elise had worked in financial compliance. She knew how to follow money.””
I turned toward the photograph again.
“Why would my father leave an envelope addressed to me with Elise’s name connected to it?””
“Because he knew what Victor was capable of.””
“Then why didn’t he stop him?””
Rachel’s eyes filled with anger.
“Because your father started this. He hired Victor to protect the family business. He thought he could control him. When Olivia threatened to expose the fraud, Richard ordered Victor to frighten her into silence.””
“Frighten her?””
Rachel swallowed.
“The plan changed when Olivia went into labor.””
A terrible thought began forming in my mind.
“Where was Elise when the twins were born?””
Rachel hesitated.
“I don’t know exactly. But I know she was at the hospital that night.””
I stared at her.
“You said you were there when Olivia gave birth. How could you not know?””
“Because I was a junior nurse. Victor had me transferred between rooms. I saw Olivia holding both babies. Then someone ordered me to take Ruby to another ward.””
“Who gave that order?””
“Dr. Samuel Price. He said the babies needed separate medical evaluations.””
“And you obeyed?””
“I was twenty-four years old, Damien. Victor had already threatened my family. I believed the babies would be returned within hours.””
Her voice broke.
“They weren’t.””
I looked back at the twins.
Sophie had wrapped one arm around Ruby. Ruby leaned against her sister as if she’d known her forever.
“Did Olivia know they were separating them?”” I asked.
Rachel nodded.
“She fought. She screamed for you. She begged them to call you. Victor told her that if she cooperated, both girls would eventually be safe.””
“And she believed him?””
“No. She was trying to buy time.””
I closed my eyes.
For six years, I’d imagined Olivia abandoning us, dying alone, or living somewhere beyond my reach.
Now I had to consider that she’d spent those years fighting to return to us.
My phone vibrated.
Martin had sent a message.
*I found the envelope. Meet me at my office tomorrow at nine. Come alone. Do not bring Rachel.*
I read it twice.
Rachel noticed my expression.
“What is it?””
“Martin wants me to meet him alone.””
“Don’t go.””
“He’s my attorney.””
“He also worked for your father.””
I looked at her.
“You think he’s involved?””
“I think you need to stop trusting people simply because you’ve known them a long time.””
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
The caller ID showed Sophie’s school.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?””
“Mr. Cole, this is Mrs. Bennett. I’m sorry to call so late, but someone came to the school asking about Sophie again.””
My stomach dropped.
“Who?””
“He claimed to be a detective. He had paperwork authorizing him to review her enrollment records.””
“Did you let him in?””
“No. Something about his badge looked wrong, so I called the police. But before they arrived, he left this envelope at the front desk.””
“What envelope?””
Mrs. Bennett hesitated.
“It has Sophie’s name on it.””
“Don’t open it. Don’t touch anything else. I’m calling the police.””
I ended the call and looked at Rachel.
She had already started shaking her head.
“They know where the girls are.””
I drove to the police station instead of the school. An officer agreed to accompany us to collect the envelope, and another unit followed us to a secure location.
Inside the envelope was a photograph of Sophie sleeping in her bedroom.
It had been taken through her window.
On the back, someone had written:
*ONE DAUGHTER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ENOUGH. BRING THE OTHER HOME.*
Sophie began crying.
I pulled her into my arms.
“Listen to me,” I whispered.
“Nobody is taking you anywhere. I promise.””
But as I held her, I noticed something on the photograph’s lower edge.
A reflection in the bedroom window.
A man standing outside.
I recognized the silver watch before I recognized his face.
Victor Hale.
Then my phone rang again.
This time, the number was blocked.
I answered without speaking.
A woman’s voice came through the line.
“Damien?””
My entire body went rigid.
“Olivia?””
A shaky breath.
“Listen carefully. You have my daughters. Victor knows. And if you want them to survive, you must never let Elise come near them.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Rachel whispered, “That wasn’t Olivia.””
I turned toward her.
“How can you possibly know?””
May you like
Rachel pointed at the photograph of the two women.
“Because Elise has been pretending to be your wife for six years.””
