Chapter 100: Chapter 100

Sarah

With a quick nod, I distanced myself from the group, seeking a quieter spot where I could process everything that had happened. The party continued around me, but all I wanted now was to leave. I had no idea what Kael was talking about. How could that woman be our sister?

Enrico seemed to have read my thoughts and guided me toward the exit, where several people seemed to be waiting for their respective cars. There were also some journalists, all with cameras ready, eager to get a good shot for sensationalism, I thought with distaste.

"I need to request my car," Enrico informed me.

He looked around, seemingly unsure about leaving me alone for the time it would take to do so. We were a bit farther away, but it didn't take long for Kael and "our" sister to find us.

"I don't think it's a good time," Enrico said.

"Do you really have no idea what I'm talking about?" Kael persisted with the same subject as before.

I decided to take control of the situation, after all, this matter was of utmost seriousness, and I probably wouldn't be able to sleep, thinking about it. The initial shock was dissipating, leaving behind a whirlwind of doubts. Many doubts.

"I've said it before, and I'll repeat it. I know nothing about this sister story, other than Rachel, of course," I said directly and curtly. "I hope you can clarify this matter."

I stared at Kael, seeking an explanation. And when he finished recounting the unbelievable story of my twin siblings, I was once again in shock. I brought my hand to my mouth, incredulous and disappointed.

"You really didn't know anything about the twins?" he asked, concluding his narrative that seemed to have come straight out of a surreal plot.

"I swear I had no idea. I've never even heard a whisper about this, not from my father, let alone my mother," I replied, feeling stunned, unable to comprehend such cruelty.

My mind was filled with horror in the face of the terrible capacity for human selfishness and pettiness. I could never have conceived something so wicked coming from the people I loved and still love most in my life, my own family.

The idea that my own mother might have separated two innocent babies from their biological parents was almost unimaginable. The mere consideration that she could be capable of such an act left me paralyzed, although something inside me knew it could be the bitter truth.

Moreover, accepting that Rachel was aware of all this and even blackmailed Kael's mother to distance herself from her father instead of helping a desperate mother find her stolen babies was almost unbearable. It was as if a layer of betrayal and deceit covered everything I knew and trusted.

"I... I'm speechless," I murmured with difficulty. "This is all so shocking."

I felt the moist touch on my face, and as I wiped it away, I realized it was my own tears, flowing uncontrollably.

"From the moment I saw you, I was convinced that you weren't involved in this mess, Sarah," Maira said, casting a sad glance in my direction.

"Kael, was it because of what Rachel said, about me being involved in this too, that you distanced yourself?" I needed to understand. "Even though you know she's capable of anything, you believed her just because we're sisters... twins?"

"I thought that if she knew about it, you should too. After all, you're sisters... twins."

"Sarah, this situation caught Kael by surprise," Maira tried to explain. "We're all stunned and confused."

I felt so lost that I didn't even realize I was standing in front of a sister I didn't know existed. But instead of embracing her and thanking her for the opportunity to explain, I simply turned and practically ran away.

"Sarah!" I heard Kael call after me, but I kept walking. "Sarah!"

The sounds around me seemed muffled by the whirlwind of confusing thoughts in my mind. I realized I had been deceived even by my own mother, a selfish and unscrupulous woman, capable of stealing babies just to satisfy her desires, in other words, my father.

Everything seemed blurred; people looked at me as if mocking me for being a fool all my life, always covering up my sister's wickedness. And even now, as an adult, I had been deceived by her.

I searched for a taxi, longing to get away from there, leave behind that crowd of unfamiliar faces, and find a quiet place where I could try to make sense of the whirlwind of twists that had turned my life upside down.

I walked through reporters and strangers, not really seeing anyone. My only desire was to find a taxi to take me far away from all that confusion. Car headlights approached, but I didn't care; I was on the sidewalk, right? However, suddenly, without understanding exactly what was happening, those headlights seemed to dangerously approach me.

Still, I stood there, hoping it was the taxi I so desperately wanted. The blur caused by tears in my eyes didn't allow me to see clearly where I was or where those lights were coming from. I remained there, waiting for the car to pull up beside me.

"Sarah!"

The final call echoed in my ears, followed by a violent impact against my body. I felt myself being thrown to the ground, and darkness enveloped me, carrying me away from everything.

Kael

Desperation. That's what I felt when I saw Sarah being struck by the car. My heart stopped for a moment, and the world around me seemed to vanish. I screamed her name with all the strength I had as if I could reach her through the power of my voice.

My legs acted on their own, and I ran toward where she lay on the ground. My heart beat irregularly, and a wave of panic surged through my entire body. People around me gathered, some calling for emergency help, others trying to hold me back, but I was determined to reach her.

I knelt beside Sarah, ignoring everything and everyone around me. Her face was pale, her eyes closed, and my fear turned into anguish.

"Don't touch the victim!" someone shouted, trying to prevent me from getting closer.