Chapter 5 — Paid to Disappear
Chapter 5 — Paid to Disappear
The ballroom emptied into confusion.
Broken glass remained scattered across the stage like frozen pieces of the truth.
Claire stood quietly across from Evelyn.
Neither woman knew what to say.
Finally Evelyn asked,
"Who are you?"
Claire stared toward the elevator where Richard had escaped.
Then her expression changed.
Fear disappeared.
Only cold anger remained.
"He found me six months ago."
Evelyn's heart skipped.
"What?"
"He already knew I existed."
Claire reached into her pocket and unfolded a thick envelope.
Inside were photographs.
Bank transfers.
Signed confidentiality agreements.
One payment after another.
All from Richard Carter.
"He offered me money."
Claire's voice was calm now.
"Enough to disappear forever."
Evelyn felt sick.
"But I refused."
Claire looked directly into her identical sister's eyes.
"So tonight..."
"I came to see why he was so terrified of letting you know I was alive."
Then she revealed the sentence that shattered Evelyn's world completely.
"He didn't pay me because I was your twin."
A long silence followed.
Claire's eyes filled with quiet fury.
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"He paid me because I remember what really happened the night our parents died."
End of Chapter 5.
