The Vanishing Heiress

Chapter 3

After walking out of the Montgomery house, I caught the city loop bus to the Xiden Shopping District.

With a criminal record, no valid academic history, and lingering injuries, I didn't have many choices. The only job I could find was washing dishes at a small restaurant—just enough to get me through the next ten days.

It was almost comical, really.

When I was brought back to the Montgomery family at fifteen, they gave me exactly one thousand dollars for living expenses that first month. After that, they decided I wasn't worth the effort—especially when stacked up against Rachel Montgomery. From then on, I was on my own.

I worked my way through high school and college, paying for everything—rent, food, tuition—while their real daughter got chauffeured around in luxury sedans and praised for drawing sunflowers.

At 11:30 that night, after scrubbing the last dish, I stepped out into the cool air—only to see a sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom pull up in front of the restaurant.

Ethan Sterling stepped out like he owned the night.

"Megan," he said, walking toward me, "why've you been gone so long?"

Before I could answer, he grabbed my wrist and guided me to the car. The backseat door swung open, revealing a beautifully decorated strawberry shortcake.

"Megan, happy birthday."

For a second, I couldn't move.

The Sterlings and Montgomerys had been family friends for generations. Ethan and I had been engaged since birth—a decision made long before I could say yes or no. Even after I disappeared at two and reappeared at fifteen, that engagement never changed.

I still remembered the first time I saw him after I came back. He was in a crisp white shirt, standing in the sunlight with that calm, effortless grace.

Ethan was the third son of the Sterling family. Their butler had told me to call him Third Brother.

And I did—for five long years.

Back then, he was the only one in that house who treated me like a person. He stood up for me when I was bullied, gave me thoughtful gifts on every holiday. In a city full of cold shoulders, he was the only warmth I had.

That warmth became everything to me.

I fell for him—hard. I thought he was my safe harbor, my anchor in a storm.

So when he was seriously injured in a business feud, I didn't hesitate. I gave him a kidney.

And in return, he handed me a seven-year prison sentence.

"Megan? What's wrong?" he asked softly. "You thought I forgot your birthday?"

His voice pulled me back. I forced a smile. "Thanks."

Then he reached into the backseat and pulled out a velvet gift box. "Open it."

Inside was a crimson wedding dress. Hand-stitched. Custom-made.

"You always said you wanted to marry me in red," he said gently. "I had this made a while back. Do you like it?"

Of course it would be him—the only person in the world who'd think to give me a red wedding gown.

Bitterness rose in my throat.

"Third Brother," I said, my voice low. "You remembered wrong. I don't like wedding dresses. And I don't like red."

When I was little, the director at the orphanage told me they'd found me abandoned outside a bridal boutique, wearing an expensive red gown.

For years after that, I'd wear red every chance I got—standing outside bridal stores, hoping someone would recognize me and take me home.

Ethan froze for a second, then reached out and ruffled my hair the way he used to, like nothing had changed.

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I'll have another one made. Let's go eat, okay? We'll celebrate your birthday properly."

On the drive back, it started to rain. Ethan held my hand the whole way.

"Megan," he murmured, "you're even thinner than you were seven years ago. And your leg—"

His phone rang.

The name on the screen flashed: Rachel.

He answered. Whatever she said made his face go pale.

"Turn around," he told the driver, voice tight. "Take us back. Now."

The entire drive back, he was texting nonstop.

When we pulled up to the Montgomery estate, Rachel was standing on the rooftop in a flowing white gown.

She turned and saw us—me and Ethan—together. Her face turned ashen.

"Dad… Mom… Emily… Third Brother…" Her voice trembled as she looked down at us. "Now that Megan's back… it's my turn to disappear."

Then she jumped.