Chapter 7 - The Sister Elena Never Knew

Elena stared at Vivian.

“No.”

Vivian said nothing.

“My father had no other children.”

“He had one he refused to acknowledge.”

Vivian’s voice was suddenly different.

Less polished.

More personal.

“My mother was twenty-two when Victor Moretti met her.”

“He promised everything.”

“Marriage.”

“A home.”

“A future.”

“Then your mother discovered the affair.”

“And Victor paid my mother to disappear.”

Elena shook her head.

“My father wouldn’t—”

“Your father did exactly what wealthy men do when consequences become inconvenient.”

Vivian’s eyes filled with years of bitterness.

“When he died, you inherited everything.”

“I got nothing.”

Elena’s anger rose.

“So you kidnapped me?”

“I reclaimed what should have been mine.”

“You imprisoned children.”

Vivian’s face shifted.

For a second, guilt appeared.

Then vanished.

Rafael interrupted.

“Family therapy can wait.”

Alejandro glanced toward Thomas.

The old groundskeeper had quietly disappeared into the hallway.

Good.

If Thomas could reach the surface, maybe he could contact help.

Rafael noticed Alejandro looking.

“Don’t bother.”

“The estate is sealed.”

“Storm knocked out several communication lines.”

“Convenient.”

Alejandro sat down.

“You planned tonight?”

“No.”

Rafael looked annoyed.

“Tonight was Vivian’s mistake.”

Vivian turned sharply.

“My mistake?”

“You hired Elena as a maid on the same night Alejandro returned unexpectedly.”

“I didn’t hire her.”

Rafael frowned.

Vivian looked toward Elena.

Everyone became silent.

Elena swallowed.

“I put on the uniform myself.”

Alejandro stared.

“Why?”

“Because I knew you were coming.”

“How?”

“The kitchen staff said your driver called.”

Elena’s voice trembled.

“I had one chance.”

“So I left the lower level.”

“I walked directly into the foyer.”

“The water bucket wasn’t an accident.”

Alejandro understood.

“You wanted me to hear your voice.”

Elena nodded.

“I knew if I screamed, they would stop me.”

“But if I sounded like a servant…”

Rafael’s jaw tightened.

“You manipulated the situation.”

Elena looked directly at him.

“For three years, you taught me to survive.”

“I learned.”

Suddenly an alarm sounded.

Vivian turned toward the security panel.

A red warning flashed.

WEST GATE BREACH.

Rafael stood.

“What happened?”

A voice came through his earpiece.

Then his expression changed.

“What do you mean she escaped?”

Alejandro’s eyes narrowed.

“She?”

Rafael grabbed Vivian.

“Where is Isabel?”

Vivian’s face went white.

Elena whispered.

“Who is Isabel?”

Alejandro had no answer.

But from outside came the roar of an approaching engine.

Then headlights flooded the front windows.

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