Chapter 5: The Letter Hidden Beneath The Floor
Grace read the message on the back of the photograph again and again.
Her hands trembled as she sat at the edge of the bed in the guest room Eleanor had given her.
For years, she had dreamed about finding answers.
She imagined discovering relatives.
She imagined learning where she came from.
She never imagined uncovering a secret powerful enough to shake one of the richest families in America.
The photograph rested on the table beside her.
Lillian Miller.
The woman who raised her.
The woman who told her almost nothing about her past.
The woman who always became quiet whenever Grace asked about her birth.
Grace remembered those moments now.
Every unanswered question.
Every nervous glance.
Every time Lillian had whispered, "Some truths are dangerous until the right person finds them.""
Grace had thought it was just something old people said.
Now she wondered if her mother had been trying to protect her.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Grace?""
It was Eleanor.
Grace quickly wiped her eyes.
"Come in.""
Eleanor entered slowly.
For the first time, Grace saw the billionaire not as a powerful businesswoman, but as someone afraid.
"I wanted to check on you.""
Grace looked at the photograph.
"Someone sent me this.""
Eleanor walked closer.
The moment she saw it, her face lost color.
"Where did you get this?""
"It was delivered tonight.""
Eleanor picked up the photograph carefully.
Her fingers touched the image of herself holding her newborn daughter.
"Lillian took this.""
"You knew?""
Eleanor nodded.
"She was the nurse who helped me after your birth.""
Grace watched her.
"Then why didn't you tell anyone about her?""
Eleanor looked away.
"Because she disappeared.""
"What happened?""
Eleanor sat down.
"Three days after you were born, Lillian resigned from the hospital. Nobody could reach her. Her apartment was empty. Her phone was disconnected.""
"Did you look for her?""
The question hurt more than Eleanor expected.
"Yes.""
Grace waited.
Eleanor lowered her eyes.
"But every lead disappeared.""
A silence filled the room.
Then Grace placed the photograph in front of her.
"There's something written here.""
Eleanor read the words.
Her expression changed.
"Who betrayed her?""
Neither woman spoke.
Because they both knew the answer was connected to the same night.
The night Eleanor lost her daughter.
The next morning, Eleanor called an emergency meeting.
Every member of the Vance family was summoned to the mansion.
Victor arrived first.
Chloe arrived minutes later.
Neither looked happy to be there.
Eleanor stood at the head of the dining table.
"Twenty-five years ago, my daughter was taken from me.""
Victor remained silent.
Chloe looked uncomfortable.
"And yesterday, we discovered the truth.""
She placed the DNA results on the table.
"Grace is my biological daughter.""
No one reacted.
That bothered Eleanor more than anger would have.
Because they already knew.
Victor leaned back.
"You should be careful about what you reveal, Eleanor.""
She stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because powerful families have enemies.""
Grace looked at him.
"Are you saying I'm a threat?""
Victor looked at her.
"I'm saying you don't know what you're walking into.""
Chloe suddenly spoke.
"Why are you acting like this?""
Everyone turned.
She looked at Victor.
"You aren't surprised.""
Victor's expression changed slightly.
"What are you talking about?""
"You knew.""
The room became silent.
Chloe stood.
"You knew something about Grace before the test.""
Victor didn't answer.
Eleanor stepped closer.
"Victor.""
His jaw tightened.
Finally, he said:
"There was a letter.""
Grace froze.
"What letter?""
Victor looked at Eleanor.
"From Lillian.""
The room went completely still.
"When?""
"Twenty-five years ago.""
Eleanor's voice dropped.
"And you never told me?""
Victor looked uncomfortable.
"I thought it was better forgotten.""
Eleanor slammed her hand on the table.
"Where is it?""
Victor didn't answer.
"Where is the letter?""
After a long pause, he said:
"I don't have it.""
"Then who does?""
Victor looked toward the window.
"The person who paid me to hide it.""
Grace felt her stomach drop.
"Who?""
Victor remained silent.
Eleanor's voice became cold.
"Tell me.""
Victor finally looked at her.
And spoke a name nobody expected.
"Your husband.""
The room froze.
Eleanor stared.
"My husband died fifteen years ago.""
"I know.""
"Then how could he have paid you?""
Victor looked down.
"Because the secret started long before his death.""
That night, Eleanor returned to the nursery alone.
She searched through old memories.
Old documents.
Old photographs.
Then she noticed something strange.
The wooden floor beneath the crib looked slightly different.
A small gap.
A loose piece of wood.
Her heart started racing.
She carefully lifted the panel.
Hidden underneath was a small metal box covered in dust.
Inside was a letter.
The paper was yellow with age.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Lillian's.
Eleanor opened it.
May you like
And the first sentence made her stop breathing.
*"Eleanor, if you are reading this, it means I failed to protect your daughter.""*
