Chapter 7: My Sister Had Been Lying Since the Beginning
I couldn't look at the birth certificate anymore.
Olivia Carter.
Mother: Evelyn Williams.
Father: Richard Hale.
The woman who had held my hand at our mother's funeral. The woman who had promised we would always protect each other. The woman who had disappeared four years ago.
She was Evelyn's daughter.
Not my biological sister.
Not the sister I had believed I knew.
I looked at Richard.
"Are you absolutely certain?""
He nodded.
"I have the original hospital records, the laboratory results, and a letter from Evelyn herself. I didn't want you to learn this way.""
Marcus stood beside the desk, staring at the document.
"Does Olivia know?""
Richard's expression changed.
"She knows.""
I felt something inside me break.
"She knew all along?""
"Yes.""
I laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
"Then why did she pretend to be protecting me?""
Richard lowered his eyes.
"Because she was afraid you would discover the truth.""
Daniel took the birth certificate and examined its seals.
"Mr. Hale, do you have evidence that Olivia was aware of her biological parentage before she began working with Evelyn?""
Richard opened the second drawer of his desk.
He removed a small stack of letters tied together with a blue ribbon.
"These were sent between Evelyn and Olivia.""
Daniel carefully opened the first envelope.
The letter was dated four years earlier.
My dearest Olivia,
You have spent enough time pretending Eleanor was your mother. You know the truth now. You are my daughter, and you deserve the life that should have been yours.
My stomach tightened.
The letter continued.
Help me secure the foundation, and I will make sure you receive everything your biological father has denied you.
I looked up.
"Everything?""
Richard nodded.
"Evelyn promised Olivia a share of the family assets.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why would she need Olivia's help?""
"Because Olivia had access to Maya's identity and personal records. Evelyn wanted to use that information to create a false beneficiary claim.""
Daniel looked at the next letter.
"There's something else.""
He turned the page toward us.
It contained a list of proposed transactions.
Beside each transaction was a set of initials.
O.C.
My sister's initials.
I felt sick.
"How much did she receive?""
Richard looked at me.
"Approximately six hundred thousand dollars over four years.""
I closed my eyes.
Six hundred thousand dollars.
While I had spent months searching for her, she had been collecting money from the woman who had helped destroy our family.
Marcus touched my shoulder.
"Maya.""
I stepped away.
"Don't.""
He stopped immediately.
I needed space.
I needed air.
I needed someone to tell me that the last seven years hadn't been a complete lie.
But nobody could.
We returned to the police station that afternoon.
Detective Mitchell was waiting.
She had received the documents from Daniel and immediately requested a second interview with Olivia.
When we entered the interview room, Olivia was sitting with her hands folded.
She looked up.
Then she saw the birth certificate in my hand.
Her expression changed.
"You went to Richard.""
I placed the document on the table.
"Tell me it's fake.""
Olivia didn't answer.
"Tell me!""
She began crying.
"Maya, please.""
I pushed the birth certificate toward her.
"Is Evelyn your mother?""
Olivia looked down.
Then she nodded.
The room seemed to become unbearably quiet.
I stared at her.
"Since when?""
"Four years.""
"Four years?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I found out after Mom died.""
I shook my head.
"She was our mother.""
"She raised me. I know that.""
"Then why did you let Evelyn convince you otherwise?""
Olivia looked up.
"Because I wanted to know why she abandoned me.""
I stared at her.
"You were never abandoned by us.""
"I know that now.""
"No. You don't.""
My voice broke.
"You were loved. You had a home. You had a sister who would have given you everything. And you threw that away for a woman who paid you to destroy our lives.""
Olivia covered her mouth.
Detective Mitchell quietly moved closer.
"Miss Carter, we need a complete explanation.""
Olivia nodded.
Then she began.
"After Eleanor died, I found the documents. At first, I thought they were lies. I went to Evelyn because I wanted answers.""
"And she told you she was your mother?""
"Yes.""
"Did she show you proof?""
"She showed me the original hospital records.""
Olivia took a breath.
"She told me Richard had refused to acknowledge me. She said Eleanor knew the truth and had deliberately kept me away from my biological family.""
I felt tears burn behind my eyes.
"So you believed her.""
"I wanted to believe her.""
"Why?""
"Because I was angry, Maya.""
She looked directly at me.
"I was angry that I had spent my entire life struggling while the Williams family lived in luxury. I was angry that I had worked two jobs to keep us alive. I was angry that everyone seemed to have a place in the world except me.""
I stared at her.
"We struggled together.""
"I know.""
"You weren't alone.""
"I know.""
"Then why didn't you come to me?""
Olivia began sobbing.
"Because Evelyn promised me something I'd never had.""
"What?""
"A family that would choose me.""
I looked away.
She continued.
"She promised that if I helped her, she would recognize me publicly. She would give me a place in the family trust. She told me I deserved the money because I was her first daughter.""
Detective Mitchell interrupted.
"Did you knowingly participate in falsifying financial documents?""
Olivia nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you help create the company used to receive the foundation transfers?""
"Yes.""
"Did you forge Maya's signature?""
Olivia hesitated.
Then she nodded again.
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Why?""
Olivia looked at me.
"Because Evelyn told me Maya would eventually inherit the foundation.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"She said your mother had left evidence that you were Richard's biological daughter. She knew your father had revised his will before he died.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Then why was Vanessa involved?""
Olivia looked at him.
"Because Evelyn wanted to control the foundation before the will could be challenged.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"How would the marriage accomplish that?""
Olivia explained that Vanessa had been promised access to the trust through a private agreement.
Once the marriage took place, Evelyn intended to use Vanessa's position to challenge the legitimacy of my inheritance.
If I refused to surrender my rights, they would accuse me of fraud.
They would present the forged authorization, the false beneficiary records, and Olivia's testimony as evidence.
I would lose my job.
My reputation.
And potentially my inheritance.
It had been carefully planned.
The wedding was supposed to be the final step.
But something still didn't make sense.
I looked at Olivia.
"Why did Vanessa say you were working for them?""
Olivia swallowed.
"Because I was.""
"Then why did you turn yourself in?""
She looked down at her hands.
"Because Evelyn changed the agreement.""
"What agreement?""
"She promised me six hundred thousand dollars and a place in the family trust. But last week, I discovered a new document.""
She reached into her coat and handed Detective Mitchell a folded page.
It was an internal memorandum.
At the bottom was Evelyn's signature.
The heading read:
*Contingency Plan: Removal of Olivia Carter.*
My heart began pounding.
Olivia whispered:
"She was planning to make me disappear.""
Detective Mitchell examined the document.
"Where did you obtain this?""
"From Evelyn's private office.""
"Why would she want to remove you?""
Olivia looked at me.
"Because I knew too much.""
She explained that Evelyn had discovered the forged signature was becoming difficult to defend.
The independent trustees had started asking questions.
The bank had flagged the transfer.
And Daniel had begun tracing the shell company.
Evelyn needed someone to blame.
Olivia was convenient.
She had a criminal record.
She had helped create the false documents.
And she was the person who had signed the transfer requests.
Evelyn could claim Olivia had acted alone.
Then she could move on with Vanessa.
"And you believed that?"" I asked.
Olivia nodded.
"I didn't at first. But I overheard Evelyn talking to someone on the phone. She said the police would find enough evidence to put me away for twenty years.""
I stared at her.
"So you came forward.""
"Yes.""
"Not because you wanted to protect me.""
Olivia lowered her head.
"Not only because of that.""
The admission hurt.
But at least it was honest.
Detective Mitchell took the memorandum.
"We'll verify this document and investigate the alleged threat. For now, you're cooperating with the investigation. That doesn't mean your involvement is excused.""
Olivia nodded.
"I understand.""
I stood.
She looked up.
"Maya, please.""
I stopped near the door.
"Can I see you again?""
I turned.
"I don't know.""
Her face crumpled.
"I really am sorry.""
I looked at the woman who had once been my entire world.
"I know you are.""
Then I walked out.
Marcus was waiting in the corridor.
He had been unusually quiet throughout the interview.
"How are you?"" he asked.
I shook my head.
"Don't ask me that anymore.""
He nodded.
"Okay.""
We stood beside the vending machines.
After a moment, he said, "I think my mother is capable of anything now.""
I looked at him.
"Do you think she knew your father was going to change the will?""
"Probably.""
"And Vanessa?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"She knew about the family connection. I don't know how much she understood about the rest.""
I looked toward the interview rooms.
"At least now we know who Olivia is.""
Marcus stared at the floor.
"Do we?""
I didn't answer.
His phone began vibrating.
The caller ID displayed a number neither of us recognized.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice came through.
It was Evelyn.
"Marcus, darling. You need to listen carefully.""
His face hardened.
"What do you want?""
"I know you've been speaking to Richard.""
"How do you know that?""
"Because someone just told me.""
Marcus glanced at me.
Evelyn continued.
"Come to the estate. Alone.""
"No.""
"Then I suppose you don't want to know what your father really wrote in his final will.""
Marcus went still.
"We already have the will.""
Evelyn laughed softly.
"No, sweetheart. You have a copy.""
"What are you talking about?""
"The original document was never filed.""
Marcus tightened his grip on the phone.
"Why?""
"Because the last page was missing.""
He looked at me.
Evelyn's voice became colder.
"Come home, Marcus. Bring Maya if you must. But if you want to know why your father left everything to her, you need to see what he wrote about the two of you.""
Then the call ended.
Marcus stared at his phone.
I looked at him.
"She's lying.""
"Maybe.""
May you like
But he didn't sound convinced.
And neither was I.
