Chapter 11 - THE DAUGHTER THEY ERASED
The room became completely still.
Lucas looked at his mother.
“You told us Rebecca Shaw was Dad’s employee.”
“She was.”
“And now she’s your daughter.”
Helena closed her eyes.
“Both statements are true.”
Evelyn stared at her.
“I have a sister.”
Helena did not answer.
Evelyn stepped closer.
“I have a sister.”
“Yes.”
The word shattered something in the room.
Helena finally explained.
She had given birth to Rebecca at seventeen.
Her wealthy parents forced her to surrender the baby.
Years later, after Helena married Henry Sterling, Rebecca found her.
Helena secretly hired her at Sterling Manor.
“What about Dad.”
Lucas asked.
Helena’s mouth tightened.
“Henry discovered the truth.”
“He became protective of Rebecca.”
“Too protective.”
Graham interrupted.
“They were never lovers.”
Helena looked at him with hatred.
“You told people they were.”
“I told one private investigator.”
“Because you ordered me to.”
Claire’s understanding shifted.
The supposed affair had been manufactured.
Helena had destroyed Rebecca’s reputation to force her away.
“Why.”
Claire asked.
Helena looked toward Evelyn.
“Because Rebecca discovered the first theft.”
Evelyn whispered.
“Mine.”
“No.”
Helena shook her head.
“Mine.”
Lucas went pale.
Helena continued.
“Twenty-two years ago, Sterling Global nearly collapsed.”
“Henry refused to sell.”
“I moved money through private accounts to cover debt without telling him.”
“Rebecca found the transfers.”
“She threatened to expose me.”
“So you paid her to disappear.”
“I protected this family.”
Rosa looked disgusted.
“You protected yourself.”
Helena stood.
“Everything you have exists because I made difficult decisions.”
Claire stared at her.
“And now Rebecca is back.”
“Yes.”
“Did she push me.”
“I don’t know.”
Mason’s phone vibrated.
He read a message.
“We may have an answer.”
They returned to the surveillance room.
Technicians had recovered deleted footage.
The video showed the upstairs hallway before Claire fell.
Evelyn confronted Claire.
They argued.
Then Evelyn grabbed Claire’s wrist.
Before anything else happened, Evelyn suddenly looked behind her.
Her expression changed.
Someone approached from off camera.
Claire turned.
The image glitched.
Then Claire stumbled forward.
Evelyn reached for her.
Claire fell.
The footage returned three seconds later.
A woman in an emerald dress moved down the service corridor.
Not Evelyn.
Rebecca.
Mason paused the frame.
“She was there.”
Claire felt sick.
Then Lucas noticed something.
“Zoom in on her hand.”
Rebecca was carrying an object.
A small black remote.
Rosa whispered.
“That controls the security locks.”
Mason nodded.
“And potentially the cameras.”
Claire watched Rebecca disappear into the corridor.
Then another figure followed her.
A man.
Nathan Cole.
Lucas stared at his best friend’s face.
But what happened next was worse.
Nathan turned toward the camera.
He lifted his phone.
And spoke.
May you like
“Phase one failed.”
“Prepare phase two.”
