The Vanishing Heiress

Chapter 25

Ethan Sterling was rushed into the emergency room.

Mrs. Montgomery hurried to the hospital after hearing the news from Ethan's assistant.

"Megan, sweetheart, are you alright?"

She pulled Megan Sullivan close, examining her from head to toe despite the blood staining her clothes.

"I'm fine. This is Ethan's blood."

Megan subtly pulled away from her mother's warm touch, frowning slightly. "What did you just call me?"

"I'm sorry." Mrs. Montgomery caught herself, regret flashing in her eyes.

"It's fine." Megan sat on a nearby bench, waving dismissively.

She understood—it was just a habit. Mrs. Montgomery had always called Rachel and Emily that way.

"Megan." Mrs. Montgomery stepped forward, then slowly, deliberately, sank to her knees.

Megan, who had been restless enough to crave a cigarette, jolted in shock. She quickly grabbed her mother's arms.

"What are you doing? You're my elder, Mrs. Montgomery. You can't kneel before me."

The words cut deeper than Megan realized.

To her, perhaps, they were nothing more than strangers now.

"Megan, I just… wanted to apologize to my daughter as her mother."

Mrs. Montgomery looked up, tears welling in her eyes.

Mother?

Megan froze.

Then she almost laughed.

Why were people always like this? Only regretting after losing everything. Only realizing their mistakes after paying a bloody price.

"Mrs. Montgomery, are you asking me to forgive Rachel?"

That was the only possibility she could think of.

Her voice was calm, detached. "I'm just a small-time painter now. My forgiveness doesn't matter. If it eases your conscience, you can pretend Megan Sullivan is already dead."

She smiled faintly. "I haven't introduced myself since coming back. My name is Sophia Lane."

Every word—Mrs. Montgomery, pretend Megan is dead—pierced her mother's heart like knives.

Mrs. Montgomery shook her head desperately. "No… No, Megan. I'm not asking you to forgive Rachel. What she did to you was unforgivable. Whether she lives with guilt forever or suffers the same pain you did, she deserves it."

She clutched Megan's hands tightly.

"You don't have to forgive her. Or me. Or your father, Emily… or even Ethan. You have every right to never forgive any of us."

Tears streamed down her face. "Megan, we failed you. I just… I want to make it right."

"There's no need." Megan's voice was gentle but firm. "I don't need it anymore."

I don't need it anymore.

Which meant she once had.

But that time had passed.

"I know nothing we do matters to you now. But what's rightfully yours… we have to give it back."

Mrs. Montgomery's expression was resolute.

She pulled several documents from her handbag, explaining each one carefully.

"Here—24.8% of Montgomery Group's shares, under my name. It's been notarized. They're yours now. And two properties… your grandfather bought them for you. They've always been yours."

Her gaze was cautious, hopeful.

A faint smile touched her lips. "You became a painter… that's wonderful. I've contacted several top galleries in the city, even private art museums. They're yours now too."

"Mrs. Montgomery, I can't accept these. I'm doing fine. I really don't need them."

Megan refused again, shaking her head.

But her mother's eyes remained tender, unwavering.

"My child, these were always meant to be yours. I'm just returning them."