Chapter 9: The Son Who Was Never Richard's
The drive to New Jersey felt endless.
Nobody spoke.
Nathaniel sat beside me in the back of the SUV, holding the DNA report as though it might suddenly change.
I kept staring at the same words.
PATERNITY EXCLUDED.
Richard Callaway wasn't Nathaniel's biological father.
But if that was true, who was?
And why had my mother given birth to all three children?
At last, I broke the silence.
"Nathaniel, do you know who your biological father could be?""
He shook his head.
"Until tonight, I believed Richard was my father.""
"Did he ever treat you differently?""
Nathaniel looked out the window.
"Not exactly. But he never showed affection. Everything was about performance.
Grades. Business. Reputation.""
I thought about my own childhood.
My mother had never told me much about my father.
She used to say that some people were better left out of your story.
Now I understood why she had been afraid.
"Did you ever meet James Mercer?"" I asked.
Nathaniel shook his head.
"Once, when I was a child. My father said he was a disgraced relative who had stolen money from the company.""
Thomas, sitting in the front passenger seat, turned around.
"James didn't steal anything. Richard framed him.""
Nathaniel stared at him.
"How do you know?""
"Because I worked for James before he died.""
Thomas paused.
"He was the man who helped me find Grace.""
I looked at him.
"You knew James?""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
Thomas sighed.
"Because I thought he was dead.""
Marcus interrupted.
"We're here.""
The SUV stopped outside a private medical facility surrounded by tall trees and iron fencing.
A sign near the entrance read:
*HARBORVIEW PRIVATE RECOVERY CENTER.*
Two security guards stood near the main entrance.
Nathaniel showed his identification.
"We're here to see Margaret Bell.""
The receptionist looked nervous.
"Mr. Callaway, I'm afraid visitors aren't permitted.""
Nathaniel placed the DNA report on the counter.
"Then call whoever is in charge.""
A few minutes later, a doctor appeared.
He introduced himself as Dr. Harris.
"Mr. Callaway, Mrs. Bell was admitted yesterday after an apparent fall.""
"Was she attacked?""
"We can't determine that yet.""
"Can we see her?""
The doctor hesitated.
"One at a time.""
I stepped forward.
"She's the woman who helped hide my mother. I need to speak to her.""
Dr. Harris studied my face.
Then he nodded.
"Five minutes.""
He led us down a long corridor.
The smell of disinfectant reminded me of the hospital where my mother had supposedly died.
I pushed the memory away.
Margaret lay in a private room.
Her hair was white.
A bandage covered her forehead.
Machines beeped beside her bed.
I approached slowly.
"Mrs. Bell?""
Her eyelids fluttered.
I took her hand.
"My name is Rose Carter.""
Her eyes opened.
For a moment, she looked confused.
Then she began crying.
"Grace's little girl.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
Margaret tried to sit up.
"Did Eleanor send you?""
"She's outside.""
Margaret closed her eyes.
"Then the truth has finally come out.""
I leaned closer.
"Who was my biological father?""
Margaret looked toward the door.
"Not Richard.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Then who?""
She swallowed.
"James Mercer.""
I froze.
"James Mercer was my father?""
Margaret nodded weakly.
"Grace loved him before she ever worked for the Callaways. Richard knew about their relationship. When Grace became pregnant, he convinced her that James had abandoned her.""
I stared at her.
"Why would he do that?""
"Because Richard wanted Grace for himself. He was obsessed with her.""
My stomach turned.
Margaret continued.
"James discovered the truth and tried to take her away. Richard arranged for him to be arrested on fabricated charges. By the time James was released, Grace had disappeared.""
I looked through the glass panel in the door.
Nathaniel was standing outside.
I couldn't imagine telling him that the man he had been raised to call his father had destroyed the lives of everyone around him.
Margaret tightened her fingers around mine.
"Rose, there's something else.""
"What?""
"James wasn't just your father.""
I stared at her.
"Whose father was he?""
"All three of you.""
My breath caught.
"All three?""
Margaret nodded.
"Grace gave birth to triplets. You, Nathaniel, and Daniel. James was the biological father of all three.""
I covered my mouth.
"Then why did the records say Richard was Nathaniel's father?""
"Because Richard arranged the switch. He wanted Nathaniel to inherit the Callaway empire. He believed nobody would question the birth certificate if the child was raised as his legitimate heir.""
The room seemed to spin.
I looked at Margaret.
"Where is James now?""
Her eyes filled.
"Dead.""
I felt something inside me break.
"How?""
"Richard made sure he never got the chance to tell the truth.""
Margaret reached beneath her pillow and pulled out a small envelope.
"Your mother gave me this before she disappeared.""
I opened it.
Inside was a key and a handwritten note.
For my children. When they are old enough to understand.
Margaret whispered:
"James left something for all three of you. A safe deposit box at the old Mercer bank in Philadelphia.""
I held up the key.
"What is inside?""
Margaret looked directly into my eyes.
"Proof that Richard Callaway didn't just steal your identities.""
She swallowed.
"He stole the Callaway fortune from your real father.""
The door suddenly swung open.
Nathaniel rushed inside.
"Margaret, who was my father?""
Margaret looked at him.
"James Mercer.""
Nathaniel closed his eyes.
Then Margaret continued.
"But that's not the worst part.""
She looked toward the hallway.
"Richard knew James was alive when he announced his death.""
Thomas stepped backward.
"That's impossible.""
Margaret shook her head.
"I saw him myself.""
Nathaniel gripped the bedrail.
"When?""
Margaret's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Three months ago.""
My heart began pounding.
"Where?""
Margaret turned toward me.
"At Willow Creek.""
The facility where my mother was supposedly being held.
Then she whispered:
"James Mercer is alive. And he's the man who has been protecting your mother all these years.""
Before anyone could respond, the monitor beside Margaret's bed began sounding an alarm.
Dr. Harris rushed inside.
"Everyone out! Now!""
Nathaniel grabbed my arm.
We stumbled into the corridor.
Through the glass, I watched the nurses crowd around Margaret.
Then Marcus came running toward us.
"Mr. Callaway!""
Nathaniel turned.
"What?""
Marcus held up his phone.
"Someone just accessed your father's private estate account.""
"Who?""
Marcus looked at me.
"Grace Carter.""
I stared at him.
"That's impossible.""
Marcus shook his head.
"The transaction wasn't a withdrawal.""
He turned the screen toward us.
A payment of ten million dollars had just been authorized.
The recipient's name was:
*ROSE CARTER.*
May you like
And beneath it was a message.
Your mother is waiting. Come alone, or the third child dies.
