Chapter 14: The Witness Who Knew My Mother

The next morning, I returned to the council chamber alone.

Kane was already there.

He stood near the window, looking exhausted. His clothes were wrinkled, and dark circles surrounded his eyes.

I didn't ask whether he had slept.

It wasn't my concern anymore.

Councilwoman Mara entered a few minutes later with an elderly healer.

The moment I saw him, my heart stopped.

He was the same healer who had signed my adoption papers all those years ago.

His gaze settled on me, and his eyes immediately filled with sorrow.

"Evelyn," he whispered.

I slowly stood.

"You knew me?"

He nodded.

"I knew you before you could even speak."

Kane's expression changed.

The healer placed an old leather case on the table.

"Your mother brought you to me seventeen years ago. She was terrified."

"She told me Elder Elias had been murdered, and that the people responsible were searching for his daughter."

My breath caught.

"Murdered?"

The healer looked toward Mara before continuing.

"The official records said Elias died from an illness. That wasn't the truth."

The room went completely silent.

"He was poisoned," the healer said.

Kane stepped forward.

"Who poisoned him?"

"I don't know."

The healer opened the leather case and removed a small journal.

"But Elias knew he was in danger."

He handed it to me.

My fingers trembled as I opened the first page.

The handwriting was unmistakably my father's.

"If anything happens to me, protect my daughter. Do not let the Calder family find her."

I stopped breathing.

Kane stared at the page.

"Why would my family be involved?"

The healer looked at him.

"Because your father wanted the Wren estate."

Kane's face hardened.

"That doesn't prove he killed Elias."

"No," the healer said. "But it proves he had a reason to want Elias gone."

I turned another page.

There was a list of names.

At the bottom was a single note.

"The child must never be bonded to a Calder."

My hand froze.

Kane saw the words.

"Evelyn..."

I closed the journal.

"So that's why they erased me."

The healer nodded.

"Your father feared that the Calder family would eventually discover your identity and use the Wren inheritance through your bond."

A bitter realization settled over me.

Kane had pursued me for four years.

He had fought his family to be with me.

And all those years, neither of us had known that our relationship had been exactly what Elias feared.

Kane looked devastated.

"I loved her," he whispered.

I looked at him.

"I know."

That was the cruelest part.

I believed he had loved me.

Maybe he still did.

But love hadn't stopped him from hurting me.

Mara suddenly picked up another document.

"There is something else."

I looked at her.

"What?"

"The council searched the Calder family vault last night."

She placed a photograph on the table.

It showed Vera standing beside Kane's father many years ago.

My eyes narrowed.

Vera looked much younger, but there was no mistaking her.

The healer stared at the photograph.

"That's the girl."

Kane turned sharply.

"What did you say?"

"She was there the night your father brought the forged records to me."

Kane's face lost all color.

"Vera was involved?"

The healer nodded slowly.

"She wasn't a child when the final records were changed. She knew exactly what they were doing."

I looked down at the photograph.

For the first time, I understood why Vera had always seemed so certain that Kane would choose her.

She had never been fighting for a place that belonged to her.

She had been waiting for the truth to remain buried.

Mara took the photograph back.

"We are bringing Vera before the council this afternoon."

Kane looked at me.

His voice was barely audible.

"Evelyn, I'll make sure she tells the truth."

I shook my head.

"No, Kane."

"This time, let the truth speak for itself."