Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN AT THE DOOR
Michael didn’t sleep.
Not even for a minute.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Emily falling.
He saw Sophia smiling.
He saw himself making the biggest mistake of his life.
The next morning, someone knocked on the door.
Michael opened it.
A woman stood outside.
Older.
Tired.
Afraid.
“Are you Michael Carter?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Rachel.”
Michael stared.
“Rachel who?”
The woman swallowed.
“Rachel Reed.”
Sophia’s last name.
Michael stepped back.
“Are you related to Sophia?”
Rachel nodded.
“I’m her mother.”
The world stopped.
Rachel entered the house.
She looked around.
“This place hasn’t changed.”
Michael stared.
“You’ve been here before?”
Rachel looked down.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Twenty-eight years ago.”
Michael felt his stomach tighten.
“What happened?”
Rachel looked at him.
“Your father promised to protect me.”
“And?”
“He didn’t.”
Rachel told him everything.
Sophia had grown up believing one lie.
That her father abandoned her.
That Michael’s family hated her.
That she had to fight for everything.
But the truth was different.
Michael’s father had hidden Sophia because of a secret.
A secret that could destroy his reputation.
“What secret?”
Rachel looked at him.
“He had another family.”
Michael closed his eyes.
Another family.
Another lie.
Another betrayal.
Then Rachel said something that changed everything.
“Sophia didn’t push your wife because of the folder.”
Michael looked at her.
“Then why?”
Rachel’s eyes filled with sadness.
“Because she knew what was inside.”
“What was inside?”
Rachel whispered:
“Proof that your father left everything to Emily’s baby.”
Michael froze.
“What?”
“The folder contained your father’s final will.”
Michael felt the air disappear.
“My baby?”
Rachel nodded.
“Sophia was going to lose everything.”
But then Rachel pulled out an envelope.
“I took something from Sophia before I left.”
Michael opened it.
Inside was a letter.
Written by his father.
The first line made Michael’s blood run cold.
“Michael, if you are reading this, it means Sophia has finally discovered the truth.”
He continued reading.
“My son, your sister was never the danger.”
Michael frowned.
“What?”
The next sentence changed everything.
“Someone has been controlling her.”
May you like
Michael looked up.
“Who?”
