Chapter 5 - THE LAST WITNESS
The woman stepped into the light.
She looked older than the pictures.
But Laura recognized her.
Because she had seen her face before.
In the old family albums.
“Who are you?” Laura asked.
The woman looked at the three siblings.
“My name is Claire Cross.”
Nobody spoke.
Mark’s face changed.
“Daniel Cross’s daughter.”
Claire nodded.
“Yes.”
Laura immediately stepped back.
“You came here for revenge.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
She looked around the house.
“I came here because your father’s secret is about to destroy everyone.”
Mark laughed bitterly.
“You expect us to trust you?”
“No.”
Claire’s voice was calm.
“I expect you to listen.”
She placed a folder on the table.
Inside were photos.
Documents.
Evidence.
“Your father didn’t steal from my family.”
Laura looked confused.
“Then why did everyone believe he did?”
“Because someone needed him to take the blame.”
Claire looked toward the upstairs bedroom.
“Someone inside this family.”
Nobody moved.
“Who?”
Claire looked directly at Mark.
“Your mother.”
The words exploded through the room.
“No.”
Laura immediately rejected it.
“My mother would never.”
Claire looked at her.
“You believe that because she wanted you to.”
Mark picked up the documents.
His face slowly changed as he read.
“This can’t be true.”
Claire whispered:
“It is.”
Suddenly, Evelyn noticed something.
A photo inside the folder.
A young woman.
Standing beside Daniel Cross.
Holding a baby.
She turned pale.
“Wait…”
She looked closer.
“That baby…”
Claire nodded.
“Yes.”
The room became silent.
“That baby was me.”
Everyone froze.
May you like
Because the woman standing in front of them wasn’t just Daniel Cross’s daughter.
She was family.
