Chapter 11: The Woman Who Signed My Father's Death
The drive to Boston took nearly four hours.
I barely spoke.
Sarah sat beside me in the back of the car, studying the documents from the hotel vault.
My mother sat opposite us.
Every few minutes, she looked as though she wanted to say something.
Every time, she stopped.
Finally, Sarah broke the silence.
“Mom, did you really sign the medication order?””
Eleanor stared out the window.
“Yes.””
Sarah closed the folder.
“Why?””
“Adrian told me your father was dying. He said the medication would stop his heart from failing.””
“And you believed him?””
“He was a doctor. Your father's doctor.””
Sarah shook her head.
“You knew he was dangerous.””
“I was young. I was frightened. I had already lost control of my life.””
I looked at her.
“You weren't young. You were forty-three.””
She flinched.
“Dominic—”
“You signed the order that killed my father.””
Tears ran down her cheeks.
“I didn't know.””
“But you never reported him.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
She reached into her handbag and removed a folded letter.
“Three weeks after Arthur died.””
I opened it.
It was addressed to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
The letter described Adrian's medication practices, the suspicious financial transfers, and Charles's involvement.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
I am afraid to testify because my children are being watched.
I looked at her.
“You never sent it.””
She shook her head.
“I found out Isabella was being followed. Then I received photographs of you in the hospital after the accident. Adrian told me you had died. He said if I went to the police, Isabella would disappear.””
Sarah looked down.
“So you did nothing.””
“I survived,” Eleanor whispered.
Sarah turned away.
I couldn't blame her for being angry.
But I also couldn't pretend my mother was innocent.
We arrived at St. Catherine's shortly after 1:30 a.m.
A security officer escorted us to the intensive care unit.
Margaret was awake.
Her face was bruised, and one arm was wrapped in a bandage. But when she saw Sarah, her eyes filled with tears.
“Isabella?””
Sarah rushed to her bedside.
“Margaret!””
The older woman reached for her hand.
“I thought I would never see you again.””
“Who did this?””
Margaret glanced toward the door.
“Adrian.””
I stepped closer.
“Why?””
She looked at me.
“Because I kept something from him.””
“What?””
She reached beneath her pillow and pulled out a small envelope.
Inside was an old photograph.
It showed two newborn babies lying in hospital bassinets.
One had a blue blanket.
The other had a white one.
On the back was a handwritten note.
Dominic and Daniel. October 12.
I stared.
“Twins?””
Margaret nodded.
“Your mother gave birth to two boys.””
Eleanor made a strangled sound.
“That isn't possible.””
Margaret looked at her.
“You were told one child died.””
My mother covered her mouth.
I looked between them.
“Which one was I?””
Margaret began crying.
“You were Dominic. Daniel was the second child.””
I remembered Michael's photograph.
The two identical boys.
The private residence.
The replacement heir.
But Margaret wasn't finished.
“Your grandfather arranged for Daniel to be raised separately. He wanted one son to inherit the family business and another to serve as insurance.””
Sarah stared.
“So Daniel was never adopted?””
“No. He was your brother.””
I looked toward my mother.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
She shook her head.
“I was unconscious after the delivery. When I woke up, Adrian told me one baby hadn't survived.””
Margaret continued.
“Your father discovered the truth years later. He found Daniel living under another name. He wanted to bring him home, but Arthur refused.””
I sat down.
Everything was beginning to make sense.
Daniel wasn't simply a stranger pretending to be me.
He was my twin.
And my grandfather had spent his life preparing him to replace me.
Margaret squeezed Sarah's hand.
“There is something else.””
She pointed toward the envelope.
I opened it.
Inside was a hospital transfer form dated five years earlier.
The patient was listed as Dominic Arthur Valerio.
The attending physician was Adrian Keller.
The receiving physician was Daniel Keller.
I stared at the name.
Daniel hadn't merely been pretending to be me.
He had undergone medical procedures under my identity.
“What happened five years ago?”” I asked.
Margaret took a shallow breath.
“After your boating accident, Adrian brought Daniel to the hospital. He wanted everyone to believe the surviving man was Dominic.””
“Then who was in the hospital?””
Margaret looked directly at me.
“You were.””
I frowned.
“Explain.””
“You survived the explosion. Fishermen brought you to the hospital. Adrian arranged for Daniel to be transferred into the same room under your name. The hospital records were switched.””
I felt sick.
Margaret continued.
“Daniel was supposed to convince the family that you had survived but suffered memory loss. Then Adrian would have complete control over your identity and inheritance.””
Sarah gripped the bed rail.
“Why didn't it happen?””
“Because Dominic disappeared before Daniel could take his place.””
I looked at the transfer form.
A signature appeared at the bottom.
Mine.
But I had never signed it.
Margaret whispered:
“Your grandfather knew the entire plan. He wanted Daniel to become the legal heir while you were declared dead.””
I looked at my mother.
“Did you know Daniel was my twin?””
She shook her head.
“No. I swear.””
Then Margaret reached for my wrist.
“Dominic, listen carefully. Daniel isn't the only person using your identity.””
“What do you mean?””
She looked toward the hospital door.
“There's another Dominic Valerio.””
Before I could respond, a nurse entered.
“Mr. Valerio?””
“Yes?””
She handed me a sealed envelope.
“Your brother asked me to give you this.””
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of Daniel standing beside a woman.
The woman wore a wedding ring.
I recognized the face immediately.
It was my wife.
The woman I had believed had died five years ago.
Her name was Olivia.
May you like
And beneath the photograph, Daniel had written:
Ask her why she married me before she married you.
