Julian didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“I was angry at you,” he admitted. “You left. You became successful. Everyone talked about you.”
Elena felt sadness more than anger.
“Julian, I never stopped being your sister.”
“I know that now.”
The words sounded different.
Less defensive.
More tired.
“Did Chloe know?”
Julian closed his eyes.
“Some things.”
“And the documents?”
He looked away.
“Some were my idea.”
Elena took a slow breath.
There it was.
The truth.
Not simple.
Not easy.
But real.
Later that evening, Thomas called Elena into his room.
“I found something.”
He handed her an old envelope.
“I kept this because your mother wrote it before she passed away.”
