Chapter 14: The Choice Eleanor Made
Nathaniel was rushed to the hospital.
The bullet had struck his shoulder and narrowly missed a major artery.
Doctors said he would survive.
But I couldn't stop shaking.
I sat outside the emergency room with blood on my hands, staring at the floor.
Daniel sat beside me.
Margaret was speaking to detectives.
Richard had been arrested and taken away in handcuffs.
For the first time in thirty-five years, the Callaway family secrets were finally being investigated.
But one question remained.
Eleanor.
I found her standing near a window at the end of the corridor.
She was crying silently.
I approached.
"Tell me what Richard meant.""
She turned.
"Rose...""
"Why were you in the delivery room when Elizabeth died?""
Eleanor lowered her head.
"Because I was there when she gave birth.""
"And?""
She gripped the windowsill.
"Elizabeth was bleeding badly. The doctors told us they could save her, but they needed the medication immediately.""
I waited.
"Richard had already paid the hospital administrator to delay treatment. He wanted Elizabeth gone before she could change the inheritance agreement.""
My stomach tightened.
"Then what did you do?""
Eleanor looked at me.
"I tried to save her.""
"Did you?""
She nodded.
"I found the medication and gave it to the doctor myself. But by then, it was too late.""
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Elizabeth died holding my hand.""
I looked away.
"Why did Richard say you chose which baby would live?""
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"Because he twisted what happened.""
She explained that all three babies had been delivered prematurely.
One needed emergency surgery.
Another needed a blood transfusion.
The third was healthy.
The hospital had only one specialist available.
Richard demanded that the doctors prioritize Nathaniel because he believed Nathaniel would inherit the Callaway fortune.
Eleanor refused.
She demanded that all three children receive treatment.
But Richard had already arranged for one baby to be transferred.
Grace fought him.
James tried to intervene.
And in the confusion, Richard ordered the hospital staff to change the records.
"I couldn't stop him," Eleanor whispered.
I stared at her.
"Then why did you sign the transfer papers?""
She looked devastated.
"Because he threatened to have all three children declared dead. He said if I cooperated, at least two of you would survive.""
I felt tears burning my eyes.
"You chose to save Nathaniel.""
"No. I chose to keep him alive while Grace tried to protect you and Daniel.""
"That's not the same thing.""
"I know.""
She reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
Eleanor didn't try again.
"I have spent thirty years wishing I had been braver," she said.
I looked at the woman who had nearly fallen from the rooftop.
The woman I had saved without knowing she was connected to my past.
And I realized something.
She wasn't innocent.
But she wasn't the monster Richard wanted us to believe she was either.
"Why did you ask about my mother's name that night?"" I whispered.
Eleanor smiled sadly.
"Because I recognized your eyes.""
She reached into her handbag and removed another photograph.
It showed Elizabeth holding three newborn babies.
Grace stood beside her.
James was behind them.
And Eleanor was holding my tiny hand.
On the back, Elizabeth had written:
To my children. If the world ever separates us, remember that you were loved together.
I began crying.
Eleanor continued.
"Grace gave me that photograph before she disappeared. She wanted me to remember that none of you belonged to Richard.""
I looked at her.
"Where is Grace now?""
Eleanor hesitated.
Then she handed me a folded note.
"She left instructions for me to give you this.""
The note contained an address.
A small cottage outside Philadelphia.
And a message.
My darling Rose, if you're reading this, it means the truth has finally found you. Come home. I've waited long enough.
I stared at the words.
"She's there?""
Eleanor nodded.
"James took her there after she escaped Willow Creek.""
I immediately called Thomas.
He answered quickly.
"Rose?""
"I found her.""
There was silence.
Then he began crying.
"Are you sure?""
"Yes. I have the address.""
"I'll meet you there.""
An hour later, Daniel, Thomas, Margaret, and I arrived at the cottage.
It was small.
White wooden walls.
A garden filled with roses.
A blue rocking chair on the porch.
I stood outside the front door, unable to move.
Thomas placed a hand on my shoulder.
"She's inside.""
I knocked.
No answer.
I knocked again.
Then the door slowly opened.
An elderly woman stood before me.
Her silver hair fell around her shoulders.
Her face was thinner than in the photograph.
But her eyes were the same.
Those eyes had watched me grow up.
Those eyes had comforted me when I was afraid.
Those eyes had told me bedtime stories.
"Rose?""
My knees nearly gave way.
"Mom?""
She covered her mouth.
Then she reached for me.
I ran into her arms.
We held each other in the doorway, both crying too hard to speak.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"I thought you were dead.""
"I know, sweetheart.""
"Why didn't you come back?""
She pulled away just enough to look at my face.
"Because Richard threatened to destroy you. And I believed him.""
I held her hands.
"You're safe now.""
She nodded.
Then her eyes moved toward Daniel.
"Is that him?""
Daniel stepped forward.
Grace began crying.
"My little boy.""
Daniel dropped to his knees.
For the first time in thirty-five years, the three children Elizabeth had given birth to were standing together.
But Grace wasn't finished.
She looked toward Thomas.
"Did you bring the documents?""
Thomas nodded.
He handed her a sealed envelope.
Grace opened it carefully.
Inside was a final letter from James Mercer.
She read the first few lines.
Then her expression changed.
"What is it?"" I asked.
She looked at all three of us.
"James knew Richard would try to steal the inheritance.""
Daniel frowned.
"But the trust agreement is already in our possession.""
Grace shook her head.
"No. That was only the first agreement.""
She turned the page.
"Your biological father left something else.""
Nathaniel's voice suddenly came from behind us.
"What's that?""
We all turned.
He stood in the doorway, his shoulder bandaged, supported by a hospital crutch.
He had come despite the doctor's instructions.
Grace smiled through her tears.
"Your father's final gift.""
She held up the letter.
"The original deed to the Callaway empire.""
Then she revealed the final condition.
"Whoever inherits the fortune must first expose the person responsible for Elizabeth's death.""
Everyone looked at one another.
Because Richard had already been arrested.
But the letter contained one more name.
The person who had helped him.
May you like
The person who had signed the medical order.
*Eleanor Callaway.*
