Chapter 7: The Woman Who Knew My Name
Adrian read the message three times.
Then he placed his phone on the table.
"Nobody moves.""
I stared at him.
"That's my father. We have to go.""
"It's a trap.""
"What if it isn't?""
Adrian looked directly at me.
"Vincent has spent ten years manipulating everyone around him. You think he's suddenly going to arrange a happy family reunion?""
I swallowed.
"But Rose said he's alive.""
Daniel moved closer.
"She's telling the truth about one thing. Rose knows where Thomas is.""
Adrian turned toward him.
"How do you know?""
"Because she contacted me six months ago. She said she had information about the fire.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Daniel looked ashamed.
"She threatened to disappear again if I involved you.""
Adrian laughed without humor.
"Apparently, everyone in this family has been keeping secrets.""
Marco stood near the window, still holding the DNA report.
He hadn't spoken since learning Vincent was his biological father.
I approached him.
"Are you all right?""
He looked at the report.
"My entire life, I thought I was protecting Adrian from his enemies.""
He raised his eyes.
"Now I find out my father was the man trying to destroy him.""
"You're not responsible for what Vincent did.""
Marco gave a bitter smile.
"That's easy to say when you aren't his son.""
Adrian interrupted.
"Marco.""
Marco straightened.
"Yes, boss?""
"You're my brother before you're his.""
For the first time since the farmhouse, Marco's eyes filled with tears.
Adrian continued.
"And if Vincent thinks blood makes someone family, he's about to learn otherwise.""
He picked up the phone.
"Find the location.""
Marco nodded and immediately began working.
The address led to an abandoned hotel near the Hudson River.
Adrian studied the map.
"Three entrances. One main road. No obvious security cameras.""
Daniel frowned.
"That's the old Whitmore property.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"The hotel used to belong to your father. He sold it shortly before the fire.""
Adrian's expression darkened.
"Vincent bought it afterward.""
I stared at the screen.
"Then why would Rose send us there?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Because she knows something about that building.""
Adrian turned toward Marco.
"Get a team ready.""
Then he looked at me.
"You're staying here.""
I shook my head immediately.
"No.""
"Wren—"
"Don't.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"This isn't an argument.""
"Then stop treating me like a child.""
Adrian's jaw tightened.
I stepped closer.
"Someone burned my childhood to the ground. Someone stole my identity. Someone made me spend ten years believing I had nobody.""
My voice cracked.
"If my father is alive, I'm going.""
Adrian stared at me for several seconds.
Finally, he nodded.
"Stay beside me. Don't leave my sight.""
We left the motel just before midnight.
The abandoned hotel stood beside the river, its windows dark and its entrance chained shut.
Marco cut the chain.
Inside, the air smelled of dust and damp wood.
A single light glowed at the end of the hallway.
"Rose?"" I called.
No answer.
Adrian signaled for everyone to spread out.
Then a woman's voice came from the staircase.
"Isabella?""
I turned.
A woman stepped into the light.
She was perhaps thirty-five, with dark blond hair and a small scar across her cheek.
Her eyes were familiar.
Not like my mother's.
Like mine.
She took one look at me and began crying.
"You're alive.""
I couldn't move.
"Are you Rose?""
She nodded.
"I've waited ten years to see you.""
I approached slowly.
"Are you my sister?""
She covered her mouth.
"Yes.""
I looked at Adrian.
He was watching us with an expression I couldn't understand.
Rose turned toward him.
"Adrian.""
He didn't move.
"Who are you?""
Her smile disappeared.
"I'm your sister, too.""
Adrian's face hardened.
"That's impossible.""
"I know.""
"Daniel said you were Thomas's daughter.""
"I am.""
"Then why did my mother raise you?""
Rose looked down.
"Because she couldn't have children of her own. Margaret wanted an heir, and Vincent wanted control of the Whitmore estate. They made a deal with my mother.""
I stared at her.
"Your mother?""
Rose nodded.
"Thomas's first wife.""
My mind struggled to catch up.
"Then you're his daughter from his first marriage?""
"Yes.""
She took a small photograph from her coat.
It showed a younger Thomas holding a newborn baby.
On the back was a name.
Rose Mercer.
"My mother died when I was little," Rose continued.
"Thomas eventually remarried Margaret. But he never stopped supporting me.""
Adrian stepped closer.
"Why did Vincent tell us you were Margaret's child?""
"Because he needed everyone to believe there was only one legitimate heir.""
She looked at me.
"Isabella was the key to the estate. I was the secret they wanted buried.""
I felt tears gathering.
"Why didn't you find me?""
Rose looked devastated.
"I tried. Margaret told me you died. Vincent showed me photographs of your supposed grave.""
"Then why contact Daniel?""
"Because I found Thomas.""
My heart stopped.
"Where is he?""
Rose looked toward the second floor.
"He's upstairs.""
I started running.
Adrian caught my arm.
"Wait.""
"Let go!""
"We don't know if it's safe.""
Rose shook her head.
"He doesn't have much time.""
Adrian's grip loosened.
We climbed the stairs together.
At the end of the hallway was a small room with a single lamp.
A man sat beside the window.
His hair had turned almost completely gray.
He was thinner than the man in my memories.
But the scar above his eyebrow was still there.
I stopped breathing.
"Father?""
He turned.
For a moment, he simply stared.
Then he stood so quickly that his chair fell backward.
"Isabella?""
I ran toward him.
He caught me in his arms.
And the moment he held me, ten years of forgotten memories came rushing back.
His laughter.
His hands.
His voice singing beside my bed.
I buried my face against his chest.
"Why didn't you come for me?""
He held me tighter.
"I tried, sweetheart. God knows I tried.""
I cried into his shirt.
"You left me.""
"No.""
He pulled back and held my face.
"I never left you.""
Adrian stood in the doorway.
His eyes were red.
Thomas looked at him.
"Adrian.""
My brother stepped forward.
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Adrian embraced him.
It was an awkward, desperate hug.
The kind of hug between two people who had spent years believing they had lost each other.
But the reunion didn't last.
Thomas suddenly pulled away.
His eyes moved toward the window.
"How did you get here?""
Adrian frowned.
"Rose sent us.""
Thomas grabbed his arm.
"Did anyone follow you?""
Marco entered the room.
"Why?""
Thomas looked terrified.
"Because Vincent knows about this place.""
A loud crash came from downstairs.
Then a man's voice echoed through the hotel.
"Family reunion's over.""
Thomas went pale.
May you like
He whispered:
"That's Vincent.""
