Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 21 - Chapitre 27

As they left the mansion, she looked back—memories flooding her, tears threatening. But she said nothing as they entered the SUV and drove home. At the house, she ran upstairs, hoping no one would notice her swollen eyes. But Austin did. She entered her room, locked the door, and finally broke down. Images of her father and mother came rushing back. The betrayal cut deeper than any wound. The thought that Mr. Daniels might’ve played a part in it only made it worse. And then Lisa’s voice echoed in her mind: “She was just a problem child.” She sank to the cold floor, curling into herself like a grieving mother mourning a child she never got to hold. Then— Knock. Knock. Her breath caught. She didn’t move at first. “Rachel…” The voice was soft. Familiar. Austin. She wiped her face quickly, hands trembling. Her chest rose and fell in uneven bursts. Her dress was slightly undone, arms limp with exhaustion. Hesitating, she moved toward the door—and opened it slowly. There he w

Amanda, in a daze, slowly drove home. Her grip tightened on the steering wheel as her mind spiraled. The hum of the engine and the quiet of the evening offered no comfort—only a backdrop to her unraveling thoughts. “Racheal…” What is she hiding? Who is she? Her heart pounded as her father's voice echoed in her head—sharp, unforgiving. If he ever found out she was digging into the past, into the family’s secrets... he wouldn’t hesitate to lash out. And his anger always needed a target. Lisa. Or her. "This is driving me crazy," Amanda whispered, eyes stinging. When she finally reached the mansion, she didn’t say a word to anyone. She walked straight to her room and shut the door behind her. The silence was suffocating. She sat on the floor, knees drawn to her chest, rocking gently. Her thoughts collided like a crashing storm. She buried her fingers in her hair. “AHHHHHHHH!” The scream tore out of her, raw and broken. Then, without thinking, she grabbed her phone and call

The next morning, Rachel woke up before the alarm clock could even buzz. The light of dawn streamed faintly through the blinds, painting soft shadows across the room. She sat up slowly, her limbs heavy but her mind already moving. She went about her routine mechanically—brush teeth, wash face, moisturize—each action a shield to keep herself from thinking too much. Then she stepped into the walk-in closet and picked out a tight black skirt that hugged her hips like armor. She matched it with a wine-colored silk shirt, the deep shade rich against her fair skin. Her hair was left loose, cascading down her back in soft waves, and her makeup was minimal—just enough to erase the fatigue lingering beneath her eyes. She looked in the mirror, adjusting her collar, and paused. The reflection staring back at her was unfamiliar. Gone was the shy, uncertain woman who once tried to disappear into the background. This woman had steel in her spine. Her eyes didn’t tremble anymore—they burne

The room lingered with tension, rising like smoke in the air. Austin stood in a daze. A part of him couldn’t help but wonder—if the real Anna had been found, would Mr. Daniels have pushed him aside this easily? Without a word, Austin quietly turned and left, leaving Racheal alone with John. Across the room, John’s eyes turned red, burning with rage as he stared at his grandfather. She froze as he stepped closer. Gone was the playful, calm John she used to know—this man’s stare was sharp and cold. She swallowed hard, then stood to her feet. “Umm… please excuse me,” she stammered, her voice trembling as she walked slowly toward the door. She didn’t look back. Once she was gone, John rushed over to Mr. Daniels' bedside. “You have to reconsider,” he said firmly. “You can’t just throw all of Austin’s work under the rug like it means nothing. Please—for his sake—let them share it. 50/50.” “No,” Mr. Daniels said, his voice weak but his tone unshakable. “I’ve made my decision.” Joh