A Missing Key 218 Missed Calls One Family Secret novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Evie Lancaster.

My name. Broadcast for the entire airport to hear.

I froze, thinking I’d imagined it.

Then I turned toward the information desk.

And my heart sank.

They were there,

My family.

Dad was talking frantically to an airport employee. He looked like he’d aged a decade overnight-hair completely gray,

shoulders hunched.

Mom sat in a chair nearby, sobbing into a tissue, her eyes swollen.

Garrett was showing my photo to random travelers. “Excuse me, have you seen this woman? She’s my sister.”

Miles crouched on the floor, redialing my number over and over, muttering, “Evie, please. Just pick up…”

I stared at the scene, feeling… nothing.

What is this? Some kind of performance?

Who are they putting this on for?

Wasn’t it enough to destroy me? Now they had to stage a tearful reunion at the airport?

I let out a bitter laugh, grabbed my suitcase, and turned to leave.

But then I spotted Vanessa, standing in the back, arms crossed, looking annoyed.

She was complaining to Garrett. “Why are we even doing this? She’s a grown woman, not a lost kid. She’s obviously avoiding us on purpose!”

Garrett whipped around and snapped at her. “Shut. Up.”

Dad’s voice drifted over, broken and desperate.

“My daughter… she never turns her phone off for more than 24 hours… something’s wrong… please, you have to help me find

her…”

10:20

A Missing Key, 218 Missed Calls, One Family Secret

4.5%

Chapter 7

His hands were shaking.

For a split second, something in me wavered.

Just a second.

Then I remembered the family photo with me Photoshopped out. The potted plant in my place.

I straightened my back and walked toward the gate.

Goodbye.

I’m done with this show.

The boarding line was long.

I kept my head down, hat pulled low, just trying to disappear.

“Ma’am, your boarding pass, please.”

I handed it over, counting down the seconds. Three minutes, and I’d be on that plane.

“Evie! Wait!”

My face burned. I’d never been so humiliated in my life.

“Garrett! Get up!”

He shook his head, tears streaming down his face. “Evie, I’m sorry. We were wrong. All of us. But please-just give me five minutes. If you still want to leave after that, I won’t stop you.”

He pulled out a thick manila envelope from his bag and held it up to me with both hands.

“Mom and Dad wanted me to give you this. Please. Just look.”

I turned my face away. “I don’t want anything from your family.”

“Evie!”

In his panic, he tore the envelope open. Papers spilled everywhere.

Documents. Bank statements.

And a small red booklet.

It landed right at my feet.

The cover read: Property Deed.

Time stopped.

The noise around me faded.

All I could see was that little red book at my feet.

I bent down, hands trembling, and picked it up.

It was heavier than I expected.

I opened it.

Under Owner, in bold print, was my name.

Evie Lancaster.