Chapter 4: The Third Baby
For several seconds, nobody in the penthouse moved.
Three babies.
Three children born on the same night.
And my father had spent thirty-five years making sure we never found each other.
Nathaniel gripped the edge of the marble table.
"Margaret, I need you to explain exactly what you mean.""
The elderly woman's voice trembled through the speaker.
"I was the hospital administrator when your mother delivered. There were three babies, not two. Your father knew about all three.""
Eleanor covered her mouth.
"That's impossible. I was told there were only twins.""
"Because Richard ordered the third birth erased from the records.""
I stepped closer to the phone.
"Who was the third baby?""
Margaret hesitated.
"I can't tell you until I know you're somewhere safe.""
Nathaniel immediately answered.
"You're speaking to me, Margaret Callaway's former employer. Nobody is touching you. Tell us.""
There was a long pause.
Then Margaret whispered, "The third child was a boy.""
Nathaniel stared at the phone.
"Another son?""
"Yes.""
Eleanor slowly lowered herself into a chair.
"Why would Richard hide another child from me?""
Margaret sighed.
"Because the third baby wasn't his biological son.""
The room went silent.
Nathaniel looked confused.
"What?""
"Your father had been involved with another woman before his marriage. She became pregnant around the same time as your mother. When she died during childbirth, Richard arranged for the baby to be transferred into another family.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"Richard never told me about another woman.""
"There's more," Margaret said.
"Tell us," I demanded.
"Your father wanted to control the inheritance. The Callaway family trust had a complicated provision. If Richard had three biological children, the ownership structure would change.""
Nathaniel frowned.
"That doesn't explain why he separated Rose and me.""
"No," Margaret replied.
"But it explains why he was terrified of anyone discovering the third child.""
I looked at the photograph in my hands.
Three children.
One mother who had supposedly died.
And a father who had built an empire on secrets.
"Where is the third baby now?"" I asked.
Margaret took a shaky breath.
"I don't know his current location. But I know the name he was given.""
Nathaniel leaned toward the phone.
"What name?""
"Daniel.""
Before she could continue, a loud crash came through the speaker.
Someone was at Margaret's door.
"Who's there?"" she shouted.
A man's voice answered.
"Police. Open up.""
Margaret sounded relieved.
"Oh, thank God.""
Then another voice spoke.
"Mrs. Bell, we need you to come with us.""
Nathaniel immediately stood.
"Margaret, don't go anywhere. Who are those people?""
There was a muffled exchange.
Then Margaret whispered:
"That's not the police.""
The call disconnected.
Nathaniel grabbed his phone.
"Marcus! I need Margaret Bell's address. Send two security teams immediately.""
I stood frozen.
Eleanor reached for my hand.
"Rose, we need to get you somewhere safe.""
I pulled away.
"Why? Because someone might be looking for me?""
"Yes.""
"Then tell me everything you know!""
Eleanor's eyes filled.
"I wish I could.""
"You knew about the third baby?""
"No. I swear.""
Nathaniel returned from the hallway.
"Marcus is on his way to Margaret's apartment. But there's another problem.""
He showed us his phone.
A photograph had appeared in his messages.
It showed a man standing outside the Sterling Grand Hotel.
He was holding a newspaper.
The headline read:
*CALLAWAY HEIR'S SECRET SISTER REVEALED?*
Beneath the photograph was a message.
Tell Eleanor to stop digging. She already lost one child. She doesn't need to lose another.
My stomach tightened.
"Who sent it?""
"Unknown number.""
Nathaniel looked at his mother.
"Mom, is there anything else Dad kept from us?""
Eleanor stared at the photograph.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"Richard didn't just hide the third child. He paid someone to make sure that child never found us.""
"Who?"" Nathaniel demanded.
Eleanor slowly looked at me.
"Your mother's husband.""
I blinked.
"My mother never had a husband.""
Eleanor nodded.
"That's what Grace told me.""
She opened the leather box again and removed a folded document.
It was a marriage certificate.
The groom's name was clearly printed.
*THOMAS CARTER.*
I stared at the paper.
"That's my father's name.""
Nathaniel looked at me.
"Rose, you said you never knew your father.""
"I didn't.""
Eleanor turned the certificate over.
There was a handwritten note.
If anything happens to Grace, Thomas knows where the children are.
Before I could process it, Nathaniel's phone rang.
Marcus.
Nathaniel answered immediately.
"Did you find Margaret?""
Marcus's reply came through loud and clear.
"Sir, we reached her apartment.""
"And?""
"She's gone.""
Nathaniel's expression hardened.
"Any signs of a struggle?""
Marcus paused.
"Not exactly. But we found something on her kitchen table.""
"What?""
"A photograph of you, Rose, and your mother.""
He lowered his voice.
"And someone had written three words across it.""
Nathaniel asked, "What words?""
May you like
Marcus answered:
*ONE CHILD SURVIVED.*
