Chapter 7: The Daughter Nobody Knew Existed
“Your father?””
I stared at Daniel.
He nodded, his eyes fixed on the photograph in Nathaniel's hands.
“Mom told me when I was twelve. She said you had a different father, but she made me promise never to tell anyone.””
“Why would she make you promise that?””
“Because she was afraid.””
“Afraid of whom?””
Daniel looked toward Nathaniel.
“The Callaways.””
Nathaniel didn't move.
I turned toward him.
“Your father was involved with my mother?””
He swallowed.
“I don't know. But apparently, he knew her very well.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“I understand.””
“No, you don't.”” My voice cracked.
“I've spent twenty years believing my mother was an ordinary woman who died in a terrible accident. Now I'm being told she had secrets, that someone might have killed her, and that your father might be mine.””
Nathaniel lowered his eyes.
“I won't pretend I understand what you're feeling.””
I stepped away from him.
“Then stop looking at me like I'm some inheritance problem you need to solve.””
His expression changed.
“That's not what you are.””
“Then what am I?””
He had no answer.
Marcus interrupted.
“Sir, we need to move. Victoria has the original documents, and we have reason to believe she's heading somewhere important.””
Nathaniel immediately turned.
“Where?””
“Her private residence. Our team traced her vehicle to the property.””
“Then we're going there.””
I looked at Daniel.
“You're coming with us?””
He shook his head.
“I'm not exactly in fighting condition.””
Nathaniel turned to Marcus.
“Arrange a secure room for him. Nobody visits without authorization.””
Daniel gave him a skeptical look.
“You always give orders like that?””
“Usually.””
“Must be exhausting.””
For the first time that morning, I almost laughed.
Nathaniel smiled faintly.
Then Daniel grabbed my hand.
“Rose, there's one more thing.””
“What?””
“Mom said if anyone ever came looking for the locket, I should tell you to find the woman in the blue photograph.””
“What woman?””
He reached beneath his mattress and pulled out a small, faded picture.
It showed two women standing beside a hospital window.
One was my mother.
The other was Eleanor Callaway.
Both were holding babies.
I turned it over.
There was a handwritten date.
The day Nathaniel was born.
And beneath it:
One child was given a name. The other was given a chance.
I looked at Nathaniel.
He stared at the picture for a long time.
Then he said, “We need to talk to my mother.””
Eleanor was awake when we returned to the hospital.
Nathaniel placed the photograph beside her.
She looked at it and began crying.
“Oh, Catherine.””
I sat beside her.
“Mrs. Callaway, please tell me the truth.””
She reached for my hand.
“Your mother and Edward loved each other.””
My chest tightened.
“Were they together?””
“For a time. Before Edward married Nathaniel's mother.””
Nathaniel frowned.
“Mom, you never told me.””
“Because your father wanted to protect both children.””
“Both?””
Eleanor nodded.
“Catherine gave birth to twins.””
The room went silent.
I stared at her.
“Twins?””
“Yes.””
Nathaniel's face lost color.
Eleanor continued.
“You were the first child. Nathaniel was born eleven minutes later.””
I couldn't breathe.
Nathaniel looked at me.
I looked back.
We were siblings.
Not cousins.
Not distant relatives.
Brother and sister.
The billionaire whose wedding I had worked at, whose mother I'd nearly died saving, was my twin.
“Why?”” I whispered.
“Why were we separated?””
Eleanor wiped her eyes.
“Edward was already married. His wife had suffered several miscarriages. When she learned Catherine was pregnant with his children, she threatened to expose everything and destroy Catherine's life.””
“That's why my mother left?””
“She wanted to keep both babies safe. But Edward's wife was powerful, and her family had connections throughout the banking industry.””
Nathaniel's voice was strained.
“What happened to the second baby?””
Eleanor looked at him.
“You.””
He shook his head.
“I was raised as Edward's legitimate son.””
“Yes.””
“And Rose?””
“Catherine kept her. She couldn't bear to lose both children.””
I felt tears gathering.
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“Because she feared Edward's wife would come after you. She believed that if you grew up away from the Callaway name, you might have a chance at a normal life.””
Nathaniel stood and walked toward the window.
“Who was my mother?””
Eleanor looked down.
“Your legal mother was Margaret Callaway. She knew about Catherine and Edward. She agreed to raise you, but she never forgave your biological mother.””
“Did Margaret know Rose existed?””
“Yes.””
Nathaniel turned sharply.
“Then why was I never told?””
“Because Margaret made Edward promise that Rose would never enter this family.””
My stomach twisted.
“Is Margaret still alive?””
Eleanor nodded.
“She lives in Connecticut.””
Nathaniel's jaw tightened.
“And Victoria?””
Eleanor looked at me.
“Victoria is Margaret's granddaughter.””
Everything suddenly made sense.
The photograph.
The secret meetings.
The forged trust documents.
Victoria hadn't stumbled into our family.
She had been sent into it.
Eleanor squeezed my hand.
“She wanted the controlling shares. But she also wanted to erase the last person who could prove Catherine's children were Edward's heirs.””
I whispered, “Me.””
Eleanor nodded.
Nathaniel returned to the bedside.
“Then we need to find Margaret.””
Eleanor looked frightened.
“Be careful. She has known about this for twenty-six years.””
Before anyone could respond, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A woman's voice spoke calmly.
“Hello, Rose.””
I recognized her immediately.
Victoria.
“Where is my locket?””
She laughed softly.
“Safe. For now.””
“What do you want?””
“To meet the family.””
Nathaniel reached for the phone.
Victoria continued.
“Bring Nathaniel. Bring Eleanor. And bring the original trust papers.””
Nathaniel spoke into the phone.
“You have no idea what you've done.””
“Oh, Nathaniel. I know exactly what I've done.””
“Where?””
“Your grandmother's estate. Tomorrow morning.””
Then her voice became colder.
“And Rose? Don't forget to bring your birth certificate.””
The call ended.
Nathaniel looked at me.
I looked at him.
Neither of us spoke.
Because Victoria had just revealed something more frightening than the truth about our father.
May you like
She already knew everything.
And she was preparing to use it against us.
