LOGINRachel’s POVThe guest house slowly became our prison.It sat far behind the main mansion, hidden behind tall trees and trimmed hedges like something shameful nobody wanted visitors to see. From my bedroom window, I could still see the lights from the main house glowing warmly every night.Sometimes I stood there for hours watching silhouettes move behind the giant windows. Laughing. Eating together. Living like a real family. Without us.The only people around us were hired caregivers who changed constantly because my stepmother always found fault with them.Nothing was ever enough for her. And our father listened to every single thing she said like her words were law. I hated him for that more than anything.I started becoming scared of speaking because of her. Every mistake felt dangerous. If I broke a glass, she’d sigh loudly and say, “Wasteful. Just like her mother.”If I cried, she’d roll her eyes. “Crocodile tears
Rachel’s POVSleep never came easily anymore. For years, it’s been like this. I recalled the evening.“Why are you doing this?” Richard asked. “None of your business.” I spat. “Be a good boy and don’t tell your wife” and I walked away. I got into the car and drove off. From my rearview mirror, I could see him standing there; he had been glued to a spot.I lay on my side, staring at the ceiling while the rain tapped softly against the window. The room was dark except for the faint light slipping through the curtains. Everyone else was asleep. But not me.Not when the past always came crawling back at night.I closed my eyes slowly.And just like that, I was a child again.**************************26 years agoThe mansion was beautiful.That was the first thing everyone always said about it.Beautiful marble floors. Giant chandeliers. Expensive paintings hanging on walls taller than most houses. Fresh flowers every morning. Long dining tables that could seat twenty people at once.
Richard’s POVThe room stayed silent. What did he just say? Was he sure of what he was saying? He began going through some papers and I looked beside me. Just like I expected. Tessa was deep in thought. She remembered it. The investigator looked up. “Mr. and Mrs. Anderson ’ll be going now but I’ll be sure to keep you updated” the investigator said. I joined him. “Thank you sir” I shook his hand. “ Let me see you to the door” I turned and Tessa was smiling. It was the same old smile she does in gatherings with rich people. I gestured for the man at the door. Once we were out of the house I cleared my throat. “ Sir, please, I'd like to make a request,” he turned towards me squarely. “Please if you find anything on my wife’s sister, please tell me first. As you can see, she’s already emotional”The investigator nodded. “ I noticed” I watched him get into his car and drive off. Ok getting back into the house, I was
I have a quote that would work for me. I have tried it a couple of times and it worked. The quote says, "Everything is an answer."Staring at Rachel, wriggling her hands in front of me gave me answers I was already suspecting. She couldn’t look me in the eye and she was taking time answering my question. At that moment, it seemed like time stopped and waited for her to speak. The only thing that could be heard was the beeping of the machines I was connected to.I glanced over at Richard who was looking at her. A big, invincible question mark was on his head, well, except for me. I wanted our eyes to meet so that I could tell him, ‘I told you’ but he wouldn’t just look up.“Rachel?”
Tessa’s POV The hospital room felt smaller every day. It didn’t help that I was meant to be looking for my sister. Even though staying in was the only thing I could do. I couldn’t help but feel like I was wasting my time. I lay in the bed, staring at the ceiling, the steady beep of the machines a constant reminder that my body was failing me. The rare blood type had turned what should have been a simple collapse into a nightmare. Donors were scarce. Time was running out. And every time I closed my eyes, I saw Rachel’s face in that parking lot, hugging Stacy like they were old friends. It irked me badly that the doctor kept complaining about my slight increase in blood pressure. He stopped prescribing meds and asked that I have a sumptuous meal of healthy food that would help me. Richard went into making it. That afternoon I was watching a Bulgarian telenovela when he walked into my room. My eyes lit up. “What did you make?” He dropped the food bag and first of all kissed me.
The lawyer’s office felt smaller than I remembered. I hated court cases. I avoided them but now, one has come to me. I have to fight this out. I sighed as I sat across from Mr. Harlan, the same man who had read my father’s will, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. The papers in front of me looked official, heavy with legal language I barely understood. Richard sat beside me, his hand resting on my knee, offering silent support. For that, I am forever grateful.Mr. Harlan cleared his throat. “To locate your sister as per the terms of the will, there’s a necessary first step. You must legally change your name back to Tessa. They will specifically reference you by that name. Until you do, the search cannot officially begin, and the estate remains frozen.”I stared at him. “Change my name back? Do you know what it will take?”“It’s a long protocol I know,” he continued. “Court filings, public notices, background checks, updating all legal documents, bank accounts, IDs, business records
Camilla’s POVI wrapped the silk robe tighter around me as I stepped out into the quiet living room, my bare feet brushing against the soft rug beneath me. The scent of fresh jasmine floated through the open window, dancing with the early afternoon breeze. I hadn’t set an alarm. No email
Richard's POV I was flipping through the structural renderings on my desk, scanning through elevations and floor loads that somehow felt less important now than they used to. My mind had been trailing behind all morning stuck somewhere between the sharp edges of Camilla’s smile
Richard's POVIt started with a small smile.The first time Zane walked into my office, he barely looked up from the stuffed dino he had tucked under his arm. But by the third visit, he was already tugging at the corner of my suit jacket, asking if I had any more of “those minty
Camilla’s POVFive days. That’s how long I’d stayed away from the office. Five days of caring for Zane, monitoring his temperature every two hours, nursing him back to health with homemade soups and constant cuddles. Caleb had been amazing, checking in every







