Inside the hospital, doctors and nurses were crowded around the doorway of the VIP suite.


    The elderly Director had woken up in a state of sheer panic. He was thrashing wildly, screaming that he needed to leave, and had even violently ripped out his IV lines in a desperate attempt to end his own life.


    Shanley and Juniper arrived at the exact same moment. Juniper was walking so fast that Shanley had to stride to keep up with her.


    "Ms. Payne."


    "Mr. Schwartz."


    Seeing the two of them approach, the medical staff immediately parted, clearing a path.


    But to everyone''s surprise, Juniper stopped right at the doorway. She didn''t step inside.


    Shanley walked up behind her and gently wrapped hisrge hand around hers. A steady, grounding warmth instantly flowed through her trembling fingers.


    He knew.


    She was terrified. She had waited so many agonizing days for the Director to wake up, and now, she was petrified he was going to confirm that her sixth sister had truly died in that fire.


    "I''ll go in with you," Shanley murmured, giving her fingers a reassuring squeeze.


    "Okay."


    Juniper nodded, taking a deep breath before stepping into the room.


    Because of his violent outburst, the doctors had been forced to give the Director a mild sedative.


    He was now lying t on the bed, his ancient, weary eyes staring nkly at the ceiling. He looked entirely devoid of life.


    Hearing footsteps, the Director knew the person pulling the strings had arrived. He slowly closed his eyes, radiating an aura of total, unyielding resistance.


    "Sir,"


    Juniper began, her voice low and tight. It took her several seconds to find the words. The Director kept his eyes shut. He didn''t say a word.


    "During the Haven Orphanage fire all those years ago, many people died..." Juniper ignored his silence and pressed on. "But one girl managed to escape. Where is she?"


    "Stop asking."


    The Director finally spoke, his eyes still firmly closed, his tone like ice. "I don''t know anything, and I won''t say anything."


    So many years had passed.


    Why wouldn''t these people just let it go? Why couldn''t they just leave Coralie alone?


    That poor child had lost her family, then she lost her friends, and then she lost the man she loved.


    She had finally crawled out of the darkness, and now these vultures were circling again. What did they want from her?


    "Fifteen years ago, a passenger ship sank off the coast of Borealia. There were no survivors..."


    Juniper''s voice cracked, shifting to apletely different tragedy.


    Hearing this, the Director''s eyes snapped open. He stared at Juniper, his expression


    a chaotic mix of shock and confusion.


    Why was she bringing this up?


    "Actually, there was one survivor."


    Juniper paused, her voice trembling slightly. "A little girl was swept away by the current and eventually washed ashore in Caelus."


    "Because she couldn''t find her family, she was ssified as an orphan and sent to the Haven Orphanage."


    "You"


    The Director''s pupils dted in absolute shock. How could she possibly know this?


    "That little girl had a family of nine. Aside from her parents, she had three brothers, two older sisters, and one younger sister."


    Juniper''s eyes were red, brimming with tears. If Shanley hadn''t firmly supported her waist, her knees would have buckled. "She begged begged you to help her find them, but every lead turned into a dead end."


    "How do you..."


    The Director''s deadened expression shatteredpletely. His raspy, weathered voice shook. "How do you know all these details? Could you be....."


    It was too shocking. He was terrified to even voice the impossible hope rising in his chest.


    "Hello."


    Juniper took a step forward and formally extended her hand, her


    demeanor incredibly polite a


    deeply respectful. "I am her


    youngest sister Juniper Rayne.


    "What?"


    The Director lurched upright, his brain instantly deprived of oxygen. He nearly passed out. Gripping the bedrails to steady himself, be stared himself be sta ather matter disbelief. You''re saying you''re her sister? You''re not some sleazy reporter digging for a scoop?"


    A reporter?


    Juniper blinked, the realization hitting her like a freight train.


    That was why he had been sobative. He thought she was a tabloid journalist


    looking to exploit a tragedy.


    He was a good man; he had just been protecting the victim.


    "Yes."


    Juniper nodded, exining patiently. "I''m her sister."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!