The Vanishing Heiress

Chapter 4

The Montgomery villa was a single-story building, its rooftop barely ten meters high. But when Rachel Montgomery jumped, it was as if she'd leapt from a skyscraper—my parents, my sister, even Ethan Sterling, all came running.

That night, an ambulance screamed through the cold air outside.

Once they were gone to the hospital, I limped back to my makeshift bedroom—the converted storage room. I collapsed onto the bed and glanced at my phone. December 2, 12:13 AM.

Ethan had promised he'd spend my birthday with me.

He didn't.

Strangely, it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.

Just eight more days. Then the government would finally come and take me away from this place.

The next five days were quiet. I went to work like usual. My parents and sister stayed at the hospital with Rachel.

Then, one afternoon, the restaurant TV exploded with breaking news:

"Ethan Sterling, CEO of Sterling Group, is now engaged to Rachel Montgomery, heiress of the Montgomery family."

I froze, my breath catching in my throat.

That night, I returned home to find them all waiting—my parents, Emily, Rachel… and Ethan.

My mother clicked her tongue and muttered something in French. "So late. Who knows what alley she's been wandering."

My father gave her a look, and she pasted on a smile.

"Megan, you're finally back. We've been waiting for you."

Then my father got straight to it.

"Megan, Rachel's condition is worsening. The doctors say her depression's severe. So… we've decided to transfer the engagement to her. I trust you won't object?"

I didn't respond. I just stood there, my lips curling into a quiet, bitter smile.

They'd already made the decision. Why pretend this was up for discussion?

I turned to Ethan.

"You agreed to this?"

He stood and reached for my hand.

"Rachel's only wish is to marry me. But I'm not abandoning you. The wedding—it's just to make her happy. That's all."

Marrying someone else… and calling it a formality?

I pulled my hand from his.

"Fine. Do whatever you want."

Something in my voice made him pause. He opened his mouth like he wanted to explain—but Rachel beat him to it.

"Sis, if you're upset, we can cancel everything."

She said it softly, but her fingers were digging into her palm so hard they drew blood.

Emily gasped and grabbed Rachel's wrist. Then she turned on me.

"Megan! Can't you see she's sick? What do you want from us? For all of us—including Ethan—to kneel and beg you?"

My sister. Always so quick to pick a side. And it was never mine.

Her words dragged up old memories I'd buried deep.

The day I first came to the Montgomerys, they gave my room to Rachel.

Later, they made me give up my study-abroad spot—for her.

And when Rachel broke the law...

My mother had gotten down on her knees, crying.

"I raised Rachel. She's not a bad person, just unwell. Prison would destroy her. Please, Megan. Just this once. Help us."

"Take the fall for her."

The past rose like acid in my throat.

I looked Emily in the eye and said,

"Alright. Kneel. Beg me. And I'll give Rachel this engagement too."