Chapter 3 - THE BROTHER WHO ERASED HIS SISTER
The first time Marlo saw Sterling Voss in person, she wanted to slap him.
The second time, she wanted answers.
He arrived at Gabriel's studio the following morning.
No entourage.
No bodyguards.
Just a dark suit and the unnerving stillness of a man who expected rooms to rearrange themselves around him.
Gabriel stood in the doorway.
“We're closed.”
Sterling looked past him.
“I'm here to see Marlo Kent.”
Marlo stepped forward.
“Then you can talk from there.”
Sterling's eyes met hers.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Finally, he said, “You have something that belongs to my family.”
Marlo laughed bitterly.
“That's interesting.”
Sterling frowned.
“What is?”
“My mother had a bakery that belonged to our family.”
His expression tightened.
“Miss Kent—”
“You took it.”
“I didn't personally—”
“You signed the project.”
Silence.
Marlo stepped closer.
“You don't get to hide behind employees.”
Gabriel watched quietly.
Sterling looked at the camera in Marlo's hand.
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
“About?”
“Your sister.”
His face changed.
It was subtle.
But Marlo saw it.
“Celeste is dead,” he said.
Marlo held up the photograph.
“Then who is this?”
Sterling stared.
For the first time, he seemed uncertain.
“Where did you get that?”
“My mother.”
His jaw tightened.
“Ruth should never have kept those.”
Marlo felt anger rise.
“My mother is dead.”
Sterling looked at her.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
He said nothing.
Marlo stepped closer.
“She lost everything because of your company.”
Sterling's eyes darkened.
“I know what happened.”
“Then why didn't you stop it?”
A long silence.
Finally, he said:
“Because I didn't know the full extent until it was too late.”
Marlo stared.
“That's supposed to make me feel better?”
“No.”
He looked down.
“It isn't.”
Sterling asked to see the video.
Marlo refused.
He didn't threaten her.
Instead, he said something unexpected.
“My sister was born with a rare skin condition.”
Marlo remained silent.
“Her skin had areas of different pigmentation. As she grew older, the patches became more visible.”
“Vitiligo?”
Sterling nodded.
“It wasn't dangerous. But my father treated it like a scandal.”
Marlo stared.
“Why?”
“Because he believed the Voss family should appear flawless.”
Sterling's voice hardened.
“He forced Celeste to cover herself with makeup. He controlled where she went. Who she met. What photographs were taken.”
Marlo looked at the picture.
“And you?”
Sterling hesitated.
“I tried to protect her.”
Marlo laughed bitterly.
“By keeping her hidden?”
His face tightened.
“I was young.”
“You were old enough to know better.”
He looked away.
Marlo continued.
“Your sister wasn't something shameful.”
“I know.”
“Then why did the world think she was dead?”
Sterling closed his eyes.
“Because my father arranged it.”
The room went silent.
Gabriel leaned forward.
“Arranged what?”
“A fake accident. A death certificate. A funeral.”
Marlo stared.
“Why?”
Sterling's voice became quiet.
“Because Celeste refused to keep hiding.”
Marlo looked at him for a long time.
Then asked:
“Where is she now?”
Sterling shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“She disappeared six years ago.”
“From where?”
“A private residence.”
“Whose?”
Sterling looked at her.
“Mine.”
Marlo felt cold.
“You kept her locked away?”
“No.”
“Then why couldn't she leave?”
“She could.”
“Did she?”
Sterling's silence answered.
Marlo stepped back.
“You're not her protector.”
His face changed.
“You don't know what happened.”
“Then tell me.”
He looked at the photograph.
“My father died seven years ago. I thought Celeste would finally be free.”
“What happened?”
“She refused to see me.”
Marlo frowned.
“Why?”
Sterling swallowed.
“Because she blamed me for what happened to Ruth.”
The room went silent.
Marlo stared.
“What?”
Sterling looked at her.
“Your mother helped Celeste escape.”
Marlo's heart raced.
“And you destroyed her bakery because of it.”
He said nothing.
Marlo stepped forward.
“Did you know?”
His jaw tightened.
“Not at first.”
“Did you find out later?”
“Yes.”
“And you did nothing?”
Sterling looked at her.
“I tried to repair it.”
Marlo laughed.
“My mother died in a tiny apartment.”
“I know.”
“She went to sleep every night believing she'd failed.”
Sterling's voice broke.
“I know.”
Marlo stared.
For the first time, the powerful man looked less like a king.
And more like someone who had spent years refusing to face his own guilt.
When Sterling left, he handed Marlo a card.
“Call me if you find Celeste.”
Marlo looked at it.
“Why would I?”
He paused.
“Because she's my sister.”
Marlo held his gaze.
“And my mother was my family.”
Sterling nodded.
“I know.”
He turned to leave.
Then stopped.
“Marlo.”
She looked up.
“Your mother wasn't accused of fraud because of the bakery's accounting.”
Marlo froze.
“What?”
May you like
Sterling's expression darkened.
“She was framed because she knew where Celeste went.”
