Chapter 31

Chapter 31:

Fernanda held Ector’s gaze with unwavering intensity, a subtle smile curving her lips. Her voice remained steady, betraying no emotion as she affirmed, “Yes, I’m aware p>

Ector faltered, momentarily speechless. A whirlwind of thoughts besieged him, yet he struggled to articulate a single one. He had believed painful memories could be buried indefinitely, masked by his gentle care and kindness—an illusion of normalcy. Yet despite his efforts, she knew.

An oppressive silence enveloped them, broken only by the distant ticking of a clock. After what felt like an eternity, Ector found his voice. “When did you learn about this p>

“Just recently,” Fernanda replied calmly. “I realized I bear no resemblance to Michelle, and her behavior toward me always seemed strained. Curiosity got the better of me, so I secretly took a sample of her hair and had a DNA test done. It confirmed we’re not related by blood p>

Ector averted his eyes, relief and discomfort warring within him. He was grateful she had uncovered only this fragment—for now.

“So my biological mother… she’s no longer here, is she?” Fernanda asked, her tone even.

Ector’s lips quivered as he nodded slowly. “Yes, that’s right p>

“I see,” Fernanda replied, her voice steady though her gaze grew distant. “I have no memories of her, so discovering the truth now doesn’t affect me p>

Ector placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and leaned closer, earnest in his expression. “Fernanda, let’s leave the sorrowful past behind us. You are part of the Morgan family now. You’re my sister, and I promise to look after you p>

Her long lashes lowered like a curtain, concealing whatever emotions stirred within. In a soft voice, she murmured, “Okay p>

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Ector offered a small smile. “It’s late. You should rest p>

“I’m leaving,” Ector murmured, his tone softening. “You’re every bit a sister to me, as if we shared the same blood p>

A faint smile touched Fernanda’s lips. “Thank you p>

Her eyes followed him as he walked away, his quickened footsteps echoing with an urgency that felt like he was running from something. Rooted to the spot, Fernanda’s gaze remained icy and sharp, fixed on the empty space he left behind. She let out a low, scornful chuckle, her piercing gaze breaking away after a lingering moment.

She had played Ector for a fool. The secrets he tried to keep from her had been uncovered long ago—she knew far more than she had just revealed.

Back in his room, Ector slammed the door with a force that rattled the windows and yanked the curtains shut.

Startled, Michelle leapt from the sofa and rushed over. “What happened? You look pale,” she exclaimed, noticing the sweat glistening on his brow.

Pacing, then stopping, Ector gulped down a glass of water and sank into a chair.

Seeing his agitated state, Michelle asked, her voice laced with worry, “What’s wrong? Talk to me. Don’t leave me in suspense p>

“Fernanda knows,” Ector declared solemnly.

“Knows what?” Michelle asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“That you’re not her birth mother p>

Michelle’s expression flickered with shock. “How could she possibly know that? Did she mention this to you just now? What else did she say p>

Ector paused, his gaze fixed on Michelle, saying nothing.

Exhaling sharply, Michelle slapped her thigh in frustration. “I should have known. She’s reached the age where secrets like this don’t stay buried. You and Erika both take after me, but she… she looks nothing like me. It was only a matter of time before she started putting things together. What else did she say? Did she accuse me of treating her unfairly p>

“No, she didn’t utter a single negative word about you,” Ector replied, his expression unreadable.

“I find that hard to believe,” Michelle retorted, a skeptical chuckle escaping her lips. “Just look at the way she treats me. She refuses to even call me ‘Mom’ and constantly challenges me. Since she came back, tell me, when have I ever treated her poorly? And yet, she acts as if I owe her something p>

“You know perfectly well whether or not you owe her,” Ector replied, deliberately avoiding her gaze. “Do you seriously need me to spell it out for you p>

“What are you implying?” Michelle pressed, her voice rising with anger. “Why are you suddenly taking her side p>

Ector turned to her, his voice tight with frustration. “She’s not just some girl. She’s my sister p>

“She is not—Erika is your sister!” Michelle snapped. “Has she cast some kind of spell on you? I’m warning you, stay away from her. She has no good intentions for this family p>

“And what exactly do you mean by ‘no good intentions’?” Ector shot back, standing abruptly, his eyes sharp and unwavering. “You’ve always claimed Fernanda was lost, but I know the truth. We pushed her away p>

Michelle reeled in shock, her expression frozen. She grabbed Ector’s arm, her tone low and tense. “You’re talking nonsense p>

“I remember everything, even from when I was a child,” Ector said coldly. “You sold her off and told everyone she vanished. Just because she was Gracie’s daughter, and you couldn’t accept her. If it hadn’t been for the Harper family’s insistence, you never would have acknowledged her. You owe her p>

Michelle sat in stunned silence, struggling to process his words. How had Ector come to know all this?

Having said his piece, Ector felt the fury that had built up inside him begin to dissipate. He ran a hand through his hair and let out a long, weary sigh. When he looked at Michelle again, he saw her avoiding his gaze, visibly shaken and remorseful.

“Mom, there’s no use digging up what’s already buried,” he said, his voice softer now but resolute. “I just want you to treat her right. Life hasn’t been kind to her. She deserves better now p>

Michelle fumbled for words, her voice unsteady. “Did you… have you told her any of this p>

The words were too painful for Ector to say aloud. To reveal such a harsh and grim reality would only scar her further.

He preferred that she believe she had simply gotten lost—a narrative far less cruel.

All he wanted was to shield her from the darkness of her past and bring light and peace into her life from now on.

Gripping Ector’s hand, Michelle pleaded,

“Then please, keep this to yourself. I swear, from now on, I’ll do everything I can to treat her better. Just don’t ever tell anyone else—especially not her. Understand p>

Ector gave a slow, deliberate nod.

Michelle swallowed hard, her eyes flicking away with unease.

“You should get some rest,” she said quickly. “I’ll go now p>

She stepped out of Ector’s room and leaned her back against the hallway wall, gasping quietly as the weight of their conversation hit her.

Guilt churned in her chest, stirred by the echoes of past wrongs.

Luckily, only Ector knew the truth—or so she thought.

The idea of Fernanda finding out filled her with dread.

What neither Michelle nor Ector realized was that Fernanda, casually leaning on her balcony railing, had overheard every word.

Though the room was well-insulated, faint murmurs had slipped through—and Fernanda’s ears, keen and discerning, had caught them all.

Her face was unreadable. She had known the truth for a long time.

At just five years old, unusually perceptive for her age, she had overheard the words “sold off” from the lips of those who had taken her in.

That single moment had shattered the illusion.

Fueled by that understanding, Fernanda had run away and eventually found sanctuary with Hiram, who had embraced her with genuine warmth and care.

Now, with half of Ector’s cigarette balanced between her fingers, Fernanda took a slow drag and exhaled a perfect ring of smoke that drifted into the night.

Michelle’s promise of better treatment—was it just an awkward attempt at redemption?

With a soft, bitter chuckle, Fernanda extinguished the cigarette and flicked it into the darkness.

She brushed off her T-shirt and slipped back into her room.

But the damage was already done.

There are some sins no amount of regret can ever erase.

All Fernanda had to do was bide her time and take revenge on those who had wronged her and her mother.