The Vanishing Heiress

Chapter 13

At those words, Rachel Montgomery's carefully maintained composure shattered completely, her face turning deathly pale.

Her lips trembled slightly. "Third Brother, what truth? I don't understand anything you're saying today."

"Second Sister, are you still refusing to tell us the truth?" Emily Montgomery raised her voice slightly.

Her eyes brimmed with disappointment. "How many things have you falsely accused Megan of over the years? How many times has she taken the blame for you? Do I have to list every single one?"

The moment she finished speaking, Rachel stumbled backward, nearly collapsing to the floor.

Her eyes reddened, her usual pitiful expression in place.

"Emily, I'm your second sister. How can you speak to me like this?"

A cold laugh escaped Emily. "Then have you forgotten that Megan is my eldest sister—my real sister?"

Rachel's face grew even paler.

Perhaps the word "real" had struck a nerve.

She clutched her chest, frowning as if struggling to breathe.

"Enough! Emily, are you trying to kill your own sister?"

Seeing Rachel's fragile state, Mrs. Montgomery's maternal instincts flared.

Emily couldn't believe it. "Mom, you're still defending her? Do you have any idea how many terrible things she's done? Do you even know who your real daughter is?"

She pulled out the medical reports.

"Megan only has one kidney. Seven years ago, she was the one who matched with Ethan for the transplant surgery."

"Megan spent seven years in prison, nearly dying multiple times—all from beatings!"

"For twelve years in the Montgomery family, none of us ever cared for her or loved her. Instead, we blamed and resented her because of Second Sister's lies. But Second Sister's depression was fake. Everything was fake!"

Then, Emily delivered the final blow—medical proof that Rachel had both kidneys, along with psychological evaluations confirming her mental stability.

At that moment, Ethan Sterling, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.

"Emily, give me Megan's medical reports."

Hands shaking, Emily passed them to Ethan.

Rachel collapsed to the floor.

Critical condition notices, X-rays, CT scans, scattered pathology photos—one after another, each more horrifying than the last. Ethan's expression darkened with every page.

Among them was even a full-body photo of Megan.

Her arms, abdomen, back, thighs—every exposed patch of skin was marred by wounds, deep and shallow.

All from the beatings and torture she endured in prison.

The cold indifference in Ethan's eyes shattered the moment he saw them.

In an instant, he strode toward Rachel.

Looming over her, his gaze was murderous.

"Tell me," he demanded, voice low and dangerous. "What did you do? What did you do to Megan?"

The once composed Ethan had completely lost his rationality.

His eyes burned red, his heart torn into shreds. "Rachel Montgomery, why would you do this to her?"

Seeing no way out, Rachel let out a bitter laugh.

She turned to Mrs. Montgomery, who stood frozen. "Mom… it hurts so much."

But before she could continue, Emily stepped between them, blocking her.

"Until everything is made clear, stop playing the victim with Mom. All these years, you've used her soft heart—her love for you—to make her hurt her own daughter over and over."

Emily closed her eyes, remembering how the Montgomery family had treated Megan.

"You're cruel. Did you ever think about the guilt and pain you'd make us live with?"

Rachel didn't answer.

Instead, she turned to Mr. Montgomery. "Dad… you've always loved me the most, haven't you?"

At that, Mr. Montgomery tightened his grip on the diary in his hands and looked away.

In that moment, Rachel knew she had lost every last shred of sympathy.

Her voice was eerily calm.

"I wanted Megan Sullivan dead. That's all."

"Rachel. Montgomery."

Ethan's voice was a guttural snarl.

His face was that of a demon's. "Tell me everything you did."

Rachel flinched, about to speak—

But then, Mr. Montgomery interrupted.

"Ethan."

"I'll give you answers. But first… read what Megan left for you."

At that, the killing intent around Ethan dimmed slightly.

Dazed, he took the diary and flipped to the last page.

Megan's delicate handwriting stared back at him.

"I'm sorry. This time… I won't wait for you."

"I hope you and Rachel will be happy."

"This is goodbye. Let's never meet again."

The date—December 10, 2024.

The day he had kissed Rachel in public.

That was the day Megan had given up on him completely.

And he—arrogant fool that he was—had thought they still had a future.

Clutching the diary to his chest, agony tore through him like a blizzard.

In front of everyone—

The untouchable prodigy of the city, the ruthless "Ice King" who commanded power with a flick of his wrist—

Broke.

A single tear of regret slid down Ethan Sterling's face.

And in the suffocating silence that followed—

They all saw it.