Chapter 2: The Secret Hidden For Twenty-Five Years
Eleanor did not sleep that night.
The rain continued pounding against the mansion windows while she sat alone in her private office, surrounded by documents that had shaped her entire life.
Except none of them explained the one question haunting her.
Who was her daughter?
At two in the morning, Eleanor opened an old wooden box hidden inside her desk.
Inside were memories she had never shown anyone.
A hospital bracelet.
A faded photograph.
A tiny white blanket.
And a newspaper clipping from twenty-five years ago.
"Newborn Daughter of Eleanor Vance Reportedly Safe After Complication.""
The article had been written after the hospital claimed there had been a misunderstanding.
A mistake.
A paperwork issue.
Eleanor had believed them.
Because she had wanted to believe them.
But now, after seeing Grace, every piece of her past felt different.
The next morning, Eleanor called the only person she trusted.
Dr. Samuel Carter had been her family physician for more than thirty years.
When he arrived, Eleanor placed the necklace on the table.
His face changed immediately.
"Where did you get this?""
Eleanor stared at him.
"Grace Miller.""
Samuel became silent.
"Samuel.""
He looked away.
"Don't tell me you never wondered.""
Her voice trembled.
"Wondered about what?""
The doctor sighed.
"Twenty-five years ago, there were inconsistencies at the hospital.""
Eleanor stood.
"What kind of inconsistencies?""
Samuel looked uncomfortable.
"The records were changed after your daughter was born.""
The room suddenly felt colder.
"Changed by who?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
Samuel looked at her.
"Eleanor...""
"No. You know something.""
The doctor remained quiet.
Finally, he said the words she had feared.
"I always believed the wrong baby went home with you.""
Eleanor covered her mouth.
For a moment, the strongest woman in New York City looked completely broken.
"My daughter...""
"I don't know for certain," Samuel said quickly.
"But there is only one way to know.""
Eleanor already knew the answer.
"A DNA test.""
That afternoon, Eleanor found Grace in the garden.
The young maid was trimming roses beneath the rain-covered sky.
"Grace.""
She turned.
"Mrs. Vance?""
Eleanor walked toward her slowly.
"I need to ask you something unusual.""
Grace smiled nervously.
"That sounds serious.""
"It is.""
Eleanor looked at the necklace around her neck.
"Would you allow me to run a DNA test?""
Grace froze.
The garden became silent.
"Why?""
Eleanor struggled to explain.
"Because I believe there is a possibility that you and I are connected.""
Grace stared at her.
"You think I'm your daughter?""
The question sounded impossible when spoken aloud.
Eleanor felt tears forming.
"I don't know what I think anymore.""
Grace looked away.
"I spent my whole life believing I didn't belong anywhere.""
Her voice cracked slightly.
"My mother never told me who my father was. She only told me one thing.""
"What?""
Grace touched the necklace.
"She said that one day, someone would recognize this.""
Eleanor's hands began shaking.
Before she could respond, Chloe suddenly appeared near the garden entrance.
She had heard enough.
"Are you serious?""
Both women turned.
Chloe looked between them, her face pale.
"You're actually considering that a maid could be your daughter?""
Eleanor's expression hardened.
"Chloe.""
"No.""
Chloe stepped closer.
"You raised me. You loved me. You gave me everything.""
Her voice became desperate.
"And now you're willing to throw me away because she looks like you?""
Grace looked uncomfortable.
"I never asked for anything.""
Chloe turned toward her.
"Of course you didn't.""
The accusation hung in the air.
Eleanor immediately stepped between them.
"Enough.""
But Chloe's eyes were filled with fear.
Not anger.
Fear.
Because she understood something before anyone else did.
If Grace was truly Eleanor's daughter...
then Chloe Vance was not the heir to the Vance fortune.
That evening, the DNA test was completed.
Eleanor waited in her office with Grace beside her.
Neither woman spoke.
Then Samuel arrived holding a sealed envelope.
His expression was impossible to read.
Eleanor stood.
"Samuel.""
The doctor looked at Grace.
Then at Eleanor.
And slowly placed the envelope on the desk.
"I think you should prepare yourself.""
Eleanor reached for the results.
But before she opened them, Samuel said one sentence that changed everything.
"Because whoever changed the hospital records twenty-five years ago... didn't make a mistake.""
May you like
He paused.
"They did it on purpose.""
