Chapter 334: Informing the Sanders, Anna the Impostor

“Okay.” The brief peace was shattered when Anna unexpectedly appeared, and I couldn’t sleep the rest of the night. The closer I got to the truth, the more anxious I became. I had always wondered why Anna was so cruel to me and Grandma, but now I understood. She hated us because she, too, had lost her family. I didn’t know what had happened in the past, but what if the Sanders were to blame?

I tossed and turned in bed, unable to rest. Carter sensed my unease and said, “Chloe, whatever the Sanders did, you’re not to blame. No one has the right to kill your…”

“I’m just worried about Grandma,” I whispered. Grandma had always been kind to me in my memories, but I knew she could also be strict and harsh with my brothers when necessary. Had she hurt someone to protect the Sanders?

“Carter, did you find anything about the Carlyns?”

“Not much,” he replied. “While the internet is useful today, it wasn’t as easy to research in your grandma’s time. Some things are harder to track down.” He patted my back gently. “It’s late. Let’s sleep for now. We might learn more when we visit the Sanders tomorrow.”

Though my body was exhausted, my mind raced all night. I couldn’t wait to uncover the truth.

The next morning, Carter and I visited the Sander residence for the first time since everything had unfolded. Josh, who had recently had heart surgery, was at home recovering. As I stepped into the Sander residence again, I was struck by how empty and lifeless the yard felt. Most of the maids were gone, and Josh was sitting on the couch in his pajamas, staring at us.

“What brings you two here?” he asked.

In a short time, he had gone from a strong, middle-aged man to someone who looked much older. His hair, which had been only partially gray before, was now fully gray. The wrinkles on his face were more noticeable, his back had become hunched, and his eyes had lost their usual brightness. In just a couple of weeks, he seemed to have aged dramatically. He had been my father for over twenty years. Seeing him like this, I felt more sadness than anger. They had brought it upon themselves, but they were just people who had been misled.

I asked awkwardly, “Are you feeling any better?”

“I won’t die yet,” he replied bluntly.

Greg looked exhausted as well. I’d heard his girlfriend had recently broken up with him. He was cautious about Carter’s presence but still polite toward us.

“Let’s get to the point. My father needs rest,” Greg said.

Carter’s voice remained calm. “We came here to discuss something about Anna.”

Greg sighed. “I already know about my sister’s child. It’s gone.” The Sanders had already been through so much turmoil, and money didn’t matter anymore. No amount of money could bring back the people they had lost.

“It’s not just that,” Carter continued. “There’s been a lot going on with the Boltons, too. Both the Boltons and the Sanders have been targeted.” He looked at Josh. “Mr. Sander, I understand you’re grieving, but if you keep going like this, you might lose your last son as well.”

Josh’s expression softened with a hint of hope, and Carter added, “You need to understand that the deaths weren’t accidents. They were planned. My family has also been affected by similar incidents. We need to work together now.”

“What happened to the Boltons?”

Carter quickly explained the situation involving Sheila and Anna. After listening, Josh went quiet, and Greg slammed his fist on the table. “What are you getting at?”

I said, “Anna isn’t your real daughter.”

Josh, who had been silent, stared at me in disbelief. “What did you just say?”

“She’s an imposter. The real Anna is still alive.”

Josh’s face drained of color as he stammered, “A-are you saying she’s not my daughter? She’s fake?”

“Yes.” I pulled out the paternity test results I had prepared earlier. “This is the DNA comparison. It shows she’s not biologically related to you.”

Josh’s eyes filled with tears as his whole body shook. “So, I’ve been hurting Chloe, all this time, because of this imposter?”

Greg grabbed the report, his hands trembling as he read it.

“Dad, we… we’re sorry for Chloe!”