The Vanishing Heiress

Chapter 10

The message was sent, but there was no reply—like a stone sinking into the ocean.

Ethan Sterling stood in place, waiting for what felt like an eternity, but Megan Sullivan never responded. His expression grew darker by the minute.

Emily Montgomery, who had just stepped out, tightened her grip on the diary and medical report in her hands as she sensed the tense atmosphere. She had only skimmed the report, but what she saw was shocking.

How could Megan's health be so poor? And why did she only have one kidney?

Recalling Megan's behavior over the years, Emily felt it necessary to verify the authenticity of these reports. Instead of handing them over, she called a trusted assistant and instructed him to investigate everything that had happened to Megan during her seven years in Redpine Correctional Facility.

"Ethan, what are you still waiting for? Weren't you supposed to take me to get married?"

It was Rachel Montgomery who finally broke the suffocating silence. She walked up to Ethan and looped her arm through his.

"If Megan left, then she left. She's an adult—it's not like she's in any danger out there."

Hearing this, Emily and their father frowned. Rachel truly didn't care about Megan at all.

Ethan's voice was icy. "Skip the wedding traditions—the shoe search, the games. A fake marriage doesn't need to go that far. Rachel, you just wanted to walk down the aisle in a wedding gown with me. So let's go straight to the church."

"Ethan!" Rachel stomped her foot in frustration.

But Ethan simply pulled his arm free and strode out of the Montgomery residence without another word.

The Church

Since it was a sham wedding, Ethan hadn't invited any guests. The church was empty except for the Montgomery family and a priest.

"This isn't what I wanted at all!"

Rachel finally snapped when she saw the desolate wedding scene. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, "Ethan, Megan's gone, but you still have me! Am I really worse than that uncultured brat? And she's been to prison—how could she ever deserve you?"

Ethan was growing impatient, his mind restless over Megan's sudden disappearance.

"Rachel, I only agreed to this fake marriage because you threatened to jump off a building. I've done what you asked. Your wish is fulfilled. Now, I need to find Megan."

He turned to her, his voice sharp. "And don't forget—Megan went to prison in your place."

The moment those words left his mouth, everyone froze. No one had expected Ethan to bring that up now.

Then, Rachel pulled out a knife and pressed it to her throat.

"I don't care! Ethan, what does Megan have that I don't? Why do you love her and not me? Have you forgotten? When you were injured, it was me! I gave you one of my kidneys!"

Mrs. Montgomery nearly fainted from terror. She rushed forward to grab the knife. "Rachel, don't do anything reckless! I'm here—let me talk to Ethan for you!"

"Stay back!"

Rachel swung the knife wildly, slicing her mother's arm in the process. Her voice was a broken whisper. "Mom, I just want Ethan. Why can't I have him?"

"It's all Megan's fault! All her fault! She should die! Megan should die!"

Her hysterical screams echoed through the church, plunging the scene into chaos.

The farce finally ended when police cars and an ambulance arrived. Ethan had been injured while trying to wrestle the knife from Rachel.

Now, sitting in the ambulance as a medic bandaged his wound, Ethan barely registered the pain. His phone was in his other hand, repeatedly calling and texting Megan.

"Megan, the fake wedding with Rachel is over. Where are you?"

"Please don't be angry. Let me come find you."

"I only did this because she's your sister. I was trying to help you, wasn't I?"

"I just wanted your parents to treat you better—to make life easier for you in that house."

But no matter how many messages he sent, Megan never replied.

Meanwhile, at the hospital...

Mrs. Montgomery, ignoring the wound on her own arm, pleaded with the doctors. "My daughter has clinical depression and only one kidney. She's suffered so much already—please be gentle when stitching her up. She's terrified of pain."

Moved by her distress, a nurse paused and removed her mask.

"Ma'am, I understand your concern as a mother. But we've already performed preliminary examinations on your daughter."

"Her health is fine, and she has both kidneys. There's no need to worry."