The Gala Heir: My Twin Sister and I Were Stolen Apart—Until Our Lockets Told the Truth

Six Years of Lies—and the Man Who Knew Every One

The service exit door swung shut behind Roland, but I wasn't worried. I'd spent six years learning how to track people who didn't want to be found. And Roland Cross had just made the biggest mistake of his life.

"Camille," Dominic whispered, still holding the girls. "Her name is Mia. That's what they told her at the orphanage."

I looked down at the little girl in my arms. She was trembling, her face buried in my neck, her small body shaking with sobs she'd probably been holding in for years.

"Mia," I said softly. "That's a beautiful name."

She looked up at me, her eyes red-rimmed but fierce. "Are you really my mommy?"

I couldn't speak. I just nodded, tears streaming down my face.

"They told me I was abandoned," she said. "They said nobody wanted me."

"They lied," Dominic said, his voice rough. "We wanted you. We never stopped wanting you."

Maya was still clinging to Mia's hand, refusing to let go. "You have my bracelet," Maya said, touching the rose-crest on her own wrist. "They match."

Mia looked down at her bare wrist. "I had one once," she said. "They took it away at the home."

I felt a surge of rage so hot it nearly consumed me. Someone had taken my daughter, stripped her of everything that connected her to us, and left her in a system that had failed her for six years.

"Who did this?" I asked, my voice deadly calm.

Mia shook her head. "I don't know. I only remember a man. He had a scar on his hand. He said he was taking me to a better place."

"A scar," Dominic repeated. "What kind of scar?"

"Like a star," Mia said. "On his thumb."

Dominic's face went white. "Roland. He has a scar on his thumb. I saw it when he shook my hand at the last fundraiser."

I didn't wait to hear more. I pulled out my phone and dialed the private investigator we'd kept on retainer for six years.

"I need everything on Roland Cross," I said. "Bank records, phone records, medical records. I need to know where he was six years ago, and I need it now."

"Camille," Dominic said, his voice urgent. "Security is coming. They're going to try to shut this down."

I looked up. Two security guards were approaching, their hands raised in a placating gesture. But I wasn't in the mood for placating.

"Gentlemen," I said, "you have two choices. You can help me find the man who stole my daughter, or you can explain to the police why you're protecting him."

The guards exchanged a glance. One of them swallowed hard.

"We don't want any trouble, ma'am," he said.

"Then you'll be very helpful," I replied. "Where does Roland Cross live?"

"I can't—"

"Now."

He gave me an address. I memorized it, then turned to Dominic.

"Take the girls home," I said. "I'll handle this."

"No." Dominic's voice was steel. "We do this together. We've been apart too long already."

Maya tugged on my sleeve. "Mommy, can Mia come home with us?"

I knelt down, cupping her face in my hands. "Yes, baby. Mia is coming home with us. She's never going back to that place again."

Mia looked up at me with those fierce eyes. "Promise?"

"I promise," I said. "And I never break my promises."

We walked out of the gala together, a family of four, leaving the champagne and the lies behind. But I knew this wasn't over. Roland was out there, and he had answers I needed.

And I was going to get them.