Chapter 1 – The Photograph in the Red Envelope
Chapter 1 – The Photograph in the Red Envelope
Christopher's fingers trembled as he pulled the photograph from the envelope.
The world around him disappeared.
The picture showed a young woman smiling as she held a newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket.
Emma.
The date printed in the corner was eight years earlier.
Across the photo, written in black marker, were four chilling words.
"Problem permanently taken care of."
Christopher's breathing stopped.
The young woman was Sophia.
Emma's biological mother.
The woman everyone believed had died in a tragic boating accident.
He flipped the photograph over.
A second picture slipped onto the ground.
Sophia.
Bound to a chair.
Terrified.
Still alive.
Someone had taken the picture only hours before her reported death.
Christopher looked at Yvette.
"Where did this come from?"
"There were letters hidden underneath it, sir."
He unfolded the first page.
It was signed by Estelle Pierce.
"Juliette, once the child is gone, destroy every trace of Sophia. Christopher must never discover the truth."
Christopher's heart pounded.
His mother had lied for years.
Sophia hadn't died by accident.
She had been murdered.
Emma hadn't lost her mother.
She had been stolen from her.
Christopher immediately called his head of security.
"Lock every gate."
"No one leaves this estate."
"And bring my mother downstairs."
Within minutes, Estelle entered the grand hall.
Elegant.
Calm.
Untouched by fear.
She glanced at the guards surrounding her son.
Then at the crying Juliette.
Finally, her eyes settled on Emma.
"So," Estelle said softly.
"You finally know."
Christopher threw the photographs onto the marble floor.
"You killed Sophia."
Estelle didn't deny it.
"I protected this family."
"You murdered the woman I loved."
"I eliminated a weakness."
Christopher stared at her.
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For the first time in his life...
He realized he had never truly known his own mother.
