Sara and Cara wandered the unfamiliar streets, their small hands tightly clasped together. The city was overwhelming—loud, bright, and full of strangers who barely spared them a glance.
"Sis, I'm hungry," Cara whimpered, tugging at Sara's sleeve. "Can we call Mom?"
Sara swallowed the lump in her throat. Their mother was gone. Calling her wouldn't bring her back.
"We have to keep moving, Cara," she whispered, forcing back tears.
But Cara couldn't hold back anymore. She broke into sobs, her tiny shoulders shaking.
Sara bit her lip, scanning the street. Her eyes landed on a small food stall, where a woman was selling freshly fried fish.
Summoning all her courage, she approached. "Excuse me, ma. We're hungry."
The woman looked at them, her gaze unreadable. "Food isn't free, child. If you want to eat, you have to work for it."
Sara nodded without hesitation. "I'll do it."
She spent the next hour scrubbing dishes, her hands raw from the soapy water. When she finally finished, she turned to the woman.
"I'm done, ma."
The woman inspected her work, then smiled. "Good girl. Take four fish and some bread."
Sara's stomach rumbled, but she didn't eat first. She handed a piece to Cara, who devoured it hungrily.
As they ate in silence, Sara made a silent promise.
I'll protect you, Cara. No matter what.
Later that night, the sisters huddled on the balcony of a stranger's house, their thin clothes doing little to protect them from the cold.
Sara wrapped her arms around Cara, hoping to keep her warm. But then—
A light flicked on.
A woman stood in the doorway, frowning.
"Who are you?" she asked.
Sara jumped up, shielding Cara. "Please, ma. We have nowhere to go."
The woman's expression softened. "Where are your parents?"
Sara hesitated. "We don't know."
For a moment, the woman said nothing. Then, she sighed. "Come inside."
Sara and Cara followed her, hope flickering in their tired hearts.
The next morning, the woman took them to an orphanage. She signed the necessary papers and prepared to leave.
"Thank you, ma," Sara said, her voice full of gratitude.
The woman smiled. "You're welcome, dear. Be strong."
As the orphanage doors closed behind them, Sara and Cara had no idea their faces had already been flashed across the news.
Desmond Walter's children were supposed to be dead.
Now, they were alive.
But he couldn't claim them.
Not when the whole world believed they had died.
Life in the orphanage was not easy, but for the first time, Sara and Cara felt safe.
They were enrolled in school, where they quickly stood out—not just because they were brilliant students, but because they were beautiful, with sharp minds and kind hearts.
But safety never lasted long.
One day, a wealthy couple visited the orphanage. The children playing outside froze. Some ran. Others hid.
Sara and Cara didn't understand why.
The woman's eyes scanned the children, then landed on Cara.
"That one," she said.
The orphanage staff called Cara inside. Minutes later, a man arrived with papers.
Adoption papers.
They were taking Cara.
Sara's heart shattered.
"No! Please, don't separate us!" she begged. "She's my sister!"
But no one listened.
As Cara was led away, Sara clung to her, sobbing.
"Sara!" Cara cried, reaching for her sister.
"Cara!"
But the doors closed between them.
Sara fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.
She later learned the couple was Mr. and Mrs. Willington. They had taken her sister far away.
For two months, Sara refused to eat. She barely spoke.
Then, another couple arrived.
They were billionaires—Mr. and Mrs. Anderson.
And they chose Sara.
As she stepped into the Andersons' luxurious home, Sara felt empty.
Mr. Anderson knelt beside her.
"I promise we'll find your sister," he said gently.
For the first time, Sara felt a glimmer of hope.
But that hope was short-lived.
Days later, the orphanage burned to the ground.
No records. No addresses.
Sara collapsed in tears.
Cara was gone.
And she had no way to find her.
To Be Continued…