Chapter 4: The Woman Who Knew The Truth
The next morning, the Vance Estate looked different.
The same marble floors remained polished.
The same chandeliers still illuminated the halls.
The same staff members quietly moved through the mansion.
But everyone felt it.
Something had changed.
A secret had entered the house.
And secrets never stayed buried for long.
Grace sat alone in the old nursery.
She had asked Eleanor if she could see it.
The room where she had supposedly slept as a baby.
Her fingers brushed against the wooden crib.
"It feels strange.""
Eleanor stood in the doorway.
"Why?""
Grace looked around.
"Because I feel like I know this place.""
Eleanor walked inside.
"You were here.""
Grace looked at her.
"How can I remember something from when I was a baby?""
"You may not remember.""
Eleanor touched the faded stuffed rabbit.
"But sometimes, people remember feelings.""
Grace looked at the rabbit.
Then suddenly stopped.
"This...""
She reached toward it.
"What?""
Grace carefully picked it up.
"My mother had one like this.""
Eleanor's breath caught.
"What did you say?""
Grace turned the rabbit over.
"There was a small tear on the ear.""
Eleanor immediately looked closer.
The tear was still there.
The exact same tear.
A memory flashed through her mind.
A hospital room.
A newborn baby wrapped in a blanket.
A nurse placing a stuffed rabbit beside her.
Eleanor stepped back.
"Lillian didn't just raise you.""
Grace looked confused.
"What are you saying?""
Eleanor's voice became quiet.
"She knew about this room.""
Before Grace could answer, footsteps echoed from the hallway.
It was Victor Vance.
Eleanor's younger brother.
The man who had helped manage the family's investments for years.
He entered wearing an expensive suit and a calm expression.
But his eyes were not calm.
They went straight to Grace.
"So it's true.""
Eleanor narrowed her eyes.
"Victor.""
He ignored her.
"The DNA test.""
Grace stood.
"Who are you?""
Victor smiled slightly.
"I'm your uncle.""
The words surprised her.
Eleanor stepped forward.
"What are you doing here?""
Victor looked at the crib.
"I heard the family had discovered an old mistake.""
Eleanor's expression hardened.
"This wasn't a mistake.""
Victor looked at her.
"You should be careful with accusations.""
"Why?""
"Because the past is complicated.""
Grace watched them carefully.
She noticed something.
Victor wasn't surprised.
He wasn't confused.
He looked like someone who had been waiting.
Eleanor noticed too.
"You knew.""
Victor remained silent.
"You knew about Grace.""
His jaw tightened.
"I knew there were questions.""
"No.""
Eleanor stepped closer.
"You knew.""
Victor sighed.
"Eleanor, you need to understand something. The Vance family survived because certain truths stayed hidden.""
Grace's face changed.
"Are you saying you knew my whole life was a lie?""
Victor looked at her.
"I didn't create what happened.""
"But you knew.""
He didn't answer.
And that silence was enough.
Eleanor's anger rose.
"Get out of my house.""
Victor smiled sadly.
"You think finding your daughter solves everything?""
"What does that mean?""
He walked toward the door.
"It means you should ask yourself why Lillian Miller disappeared.""
Grace's expression changed.
"She died.""
Victor stopped.
"Did she?""
The room went silent.
Eleanor felt a chill.
"What are you saying?""
Victor looked back.
"I'm saying the woman who knew the truth may have been closer than you think.""
Then he left.
That night, Grace received a package at the mansion.
No return address.
No name.
Inside was an old photograph.
A young Lillian Miller stood beside a hospital bed.
Beside her was a woman Eleanor recognized immediately.
Eleanor herself.
Holding a newborn baby.
But there was something written on the back of the photograph.
May you like
A message that made Grace's blood run cold.
*"If you found this, it means Eleanor finally knows. But she still doesn't know who betrayed her.""*
