The Vanishing Heiress

Chapter 9

The Montgomery mansion remained brightly lit, filled with laughter and celebration.

The next morning, the sound of ceremonial cannons echoed through the skies, marking the beginning of Rachel Montgomery and Ethan Sterling's wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery beamed with joy, their tailored suits and gowns adorned with delicate roses pinned to their lapels.

Emily Montgomery was busy conspiring with the bridesmaids, trying to decide where to hide the wedding shoes to make it harder for Ethan to find them. Just then, Mrs. Montgomery glanced around and frowned when she didn't see Megan Sullivan.

"Emily, where's your eldest sister? Why hasn't she shown up yet? Is she really going to be late to her own sister's wedding? Who taught her such manners?"

Emily shrugged. "Probably doesn't want to watch Ethan marry Rachel. She's been in love with him for years."

Mrs. Montgomery's displeasure deepened. "Nanny Zhang, go fetch Megan. If she's not here, people will start gossiping about our family and Rachel again."

The maid nodded and turned to leave, but Emily stopped her.

"You go help set up the garden. Ethan will be here soon to pick up the bride. I'll get Megan." She paused. "Which room is she in?"

"The storage room," Nanny Zhang answered.

"What?"

Not just Emily—everyone in the room froze.

Mr. Montgomery frowned. "Why would Megan be staying in the storage room?"

Nanny Zhang lowered her eyes. "When the young mistress first arrived, it was sudden. No room had been prepared, so Madam said she could stay there temporarily."

That "temporary" arrangement had lasted twelve years.

Hearing this, Mrs. Montgomery pursed her lips. "I meant to arrange a proper room for her, but I forgot. She never even reminded me. I'm her mother—would I really neglect her? I don't know where she gets this temperament. Nothing like me."

Rachel, seated regally on a plush bed in her custom-made embroidered gown and golden phoenix crown, spoke up.

"Even our storage room is better than the life she had before, wandering the streets. What's the problem?"

Emily felt something was off about the remark but said nothing. Frowning, she walked to the storage room at the end of the hallway.

When she pushed open the door, a cloud of dust swirled in the air. Emily recoiled, covering her nose before stepping inside. The cramped, dim space was packed with discarded items.

Megan's "bed" was a thin plank balanced on buckets, pressed against a shelf full of clutter. Beside it stood a large water tank, serving as her makeshift desk, holding a worn lamp, a diary, and a stack of papers.

This was all Megan had in the Montgomery household.

Emily was speechless, her hand dropping from her nose in shock. She couldn't believe her own sister had been living in such squalor—in her own family home.

The room was too small to need much searching. Megan wasn't here.

But if not here, where else would she be?

Puzzled, Emily approached the water tank—Megan's only workspace.

"Mom! Dad!" she called out, lifting the diary and the stack of medical reports, ranging from old to recent. "Megan's gone, but she left these behind."

Just as Mr. Montgomery moved to examine them, the sound of Ethan's arrival for the bride ceremony echoed from outside.

"She probably stormed off in a tantrum. Who knows where she picked up such bad habits? Emily, come out. Your brother-in-law is here for Rachel," Mrs. Montgomery said dismissively.

With no choice, Mr. Montgomery followed, leaving Emily alone.

Meanwhile, Ethan stood in the living room, holding a bouquet, his expression devoid of wedding-day joy. His gaze swept the room, and when he didn't see Megan, his brow furrowed.

"Where's Megan?"

Rachel, displeased that his first question was about her sister, put on a fragile smile. "Ethan, big sister must have run off because she couldn't bear to see us get married. Please don't blame her."

Mrs. Montgomery chimed in, "Ethan, we failed to raise Megan properly. Don't take it to heart."

A flicker of irritation rose in Ethan.

This was supposed to be a fake marriage. Why can't Megan just accept it?

Pulling out his phone, he sent Megan a message.

"How could you be so childish? Where are you?"