Chapter 12: The Woman Who Had Been Watching
Your sister's name is Charlotte.
She was adopted by a family connected to the Harrington estate.
If she is ever found, tell her that she was loved.
I lowered the letter.
“Charlotte.”
The name felt unfamiliar.
But somehow important.
My mother was trembling.
“Emma, I need to call Daniel.”
Before she could reach her phone, someone knocked at the front door.
Three sharp knocks.
Mom looked toward the hallway.
“Are you expecting anyone?”
I shook my head.
I walked to the door.
And opened it.
A young woman stood on the porch.
She looked about my age.
Long dark hair.
Green eyes.
The same high cheekbones.
The same small beauty mark beside her left eyebrow.
My beauty mark.
For a moment, I thought I was staring into a mirror.
The woman smiled nervously.
“Emma Bennett?”
I couldn’t speak.
“My name is Charlotte.”
My knees nearly gave way.
She began crying.
“I think…
I think you’re my sister.”
Behind me, Mom gasped.
Charlotte looked past my shoulder.
Then her face crumpled.
“Mom?”
My mother rushed forward.
And the three of us collapsed into an embrace on the front steps.
For a long time, none of us said anything.
We simply cried.
Then Charlotte whispered something that made me freeze.
“Emma, there’s something you need to know about Adrian.”
I pulled back.
“What about him?”
Her expression changed.
“I know him.”
My stomach tightened.
“How?”
Charlotte hesitated.
Then she answered.
“Because I was engaged to him before you were.”
