The rain hammered against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Sterling mansion, but the atmosphere inside was even colder.
Clara stood in the center of her late father’s dimly lit office, her heart pounding against her ribs. Opposite her stood Eleanor, her stepmother—the woman who had stepped into her father’s life ten years ago and slowly, meticulously pushed Clara out of the family legacy.
“You weren’t supposed to be back until tomorrow,” Eleanor whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Her hands were tucked behind her silk gown, hiding something.
“Where is it, Eleanor?” Clara asked, her voice steady despite the tears burning behind her eyes. “The real medical report from the night Dad died. I know you moved it.”
For years, Clara believed her father had simply passed away from a sudden illness. But after finding a hidden compartment under the old attic floorboards an hour ago, pieces of a terrifying puzzle began to assemble. She had found receipts, unmailed letters, and evidence that her stepmother had been systematically isolating her father from everyone he loved—including Clara.
“You’re being hysterical, Clara,” Eleanor replied, attempting a cold smile, though her pale skin betrayed her panic. “Your father was sick. You were too busy with your career to notice. Don’t blame me for your guilt.”
“Show me what’s in your hands,” Clara demanded, stepping forward.
Eleanor stepped back, her posture collapsing. In a sudden motion, Clara lunged forward and snatched the black sealed envelope from Eleanor’s trembling grip.
Eleanor gasped, reaching out in desperation. “Clara, no! You don’t understand what that will do to this family!”
Clara ripped the seal open. The paper inside was crisp, stamped with an official seal from a private laboratory. As her eyes scanned the first few lines, the blood drained from her face. Her breath hitched in her throat.
It wasn’t just a medical report. It was a confession letter signed by someone Clara trusted even more than her father…
(To be continued in Episode 2)
