Chapter 12: The Twin Nobody Was Allowed to Remember
Ethan took the photograph from my mother's hand.
His fingers trembled.
He examined the hospital bracelet.
Then he looked at Arthur's empty chair.
"That's impossible.""
My mother shook her head.
"I'm sorry.""
"I grew up knowing Michael. I knew every member of my family. There was never another child.""
"Your father made sure of that.""
Rachel moved closer.
"Ethan, perhaps we should sit down.""
He barely heard her.
"Who is he?""
My mother hesitated.
"His name is Andrew.""
Ethan looked up.
"Where is he?""
"Charles Caldwell raised him.""
The room fell silent.
I watched Ethan's face change.
First confusion.
Then disbelief.
Finally, anger.
"My father gave his own child to Charles Caldwell?""
My mother nodded.
"Andrew was born six minutes after you. Your mother died during childbirth. Arthur believed he couldn't raise two boys while managing the family business.""
Ethan stared at her.
"That's not a reason to give away a child.""
"No," my mother whispered.
"It isn't.""
Rachel reached for his hand.
"Why would Arthur do that?""
My mother sat down.
"Charles wanted an heir who could be raised outside the Harrison family. He offered to take Andrew and provide him with everything he needed.""
Ethan laughed bitterly.
"So Charles raised my brother to destroy us?""
"Not initially. But as Andrew grew older, Charles taught him that the Harrison family had rejected him.""
I looked at the photograph.
The baby had a small birthmark near his left temple.
My mother pointed to it.
"Andrew had that same mark when he was a child.""
Ethan shook his head.
"How do you know all this?""
"Because Michael discovered the arrangement. He confronted Arthur and demanded that Andrew be brought home.""
"Was he?""
"No.""
My mother looked down.
"Charles refused. He had spent years convincing Andrew that Arthur had abandoned him deliberately.""
Ethan rubbed his face.
"Then what happened?""
"Andrew became involved in Charles's businesses. Eventually, he helped Richard Collins and Vanessa manipulate the foundation.""
Rachel's eyes filled.
"So Andrew was involved in my accident?""
My mother nodded.
"He arranged the meeting with Dr. Whitmore. He supplied the medication instructions.""
Ethan stood abruptly.
"Where is he now?""
"I don't know.""
"Mom, please. I need to know.""
My mother looked at him.
"Last I heard, he was working under a different name.""
Ethan paced across the room.
For the first time since I had met him, he looked completely lost.
Rachel approached him.
"Look at me.""
He stopped.
She took both his hands.
"Whatever your brother did, you aren't responsible for it.""
Ethan lowered his head.
"I spent years wondering why Michael disappeared. I thought I was the only person left who remembered him properly.""
Rachel gently touched his cheek.
"You're not alone anymore.""
I looked at my mother.
"What does Andrew have to do with the eighteen million dollars?""
She stood and opened a drawer.
Inside was a small wooden box.
She removed a photograph of Michael holding me as a newborn.
On the back was a handwritten message.
For my daughter, Isabella. If the family ever turns against itself, remember that the truth belongs to those brave enough to uncover it.
My mother placed the photograph beside the silver key.
"Your father left the original trust agreement in the Harrison Foundation archive room. He also left a second beneficiary instruction.""
I frowned.
"I thought I was the only beneficiary.""
"You are. But the document also identifies the person who can legally release the original medical evidence.""
"Who?""
My mother looked toward Rachel.
"Rachel.""
Rachel blinked.
"Me?""
"Michael knew that the people involved in your accident would eventually try to erase the evidence. He made you the independent custodian of the original medical records.""
Ethan frowned.
"How could Michael arrange that before he disappeared?""
"Because he knew Rachel trusted him. He made arrangements through an independent attorney.""
Rachel stared at the photograph.
"He never told me.""
"He wanted to protect you.""
I looked at my mother.
"Then why is the trust agreement still in the archive?""
"Because only two people can open the secured cabinet. You and Rachel.""
She pointed to the silver key.
"That key is only half of the access mechanism.""
I stared at it.
"What do we need for the other half?""
My mother reached into the wooden box and removed a small envelope.
Inside was a brass token bearing the Harrison family crest.
Rachel recognized it immediately.
"I've seen that before.""
"Where?"" Ethan asked.
"In your father's study. It used to hang beside the old family portrait.""
My mother nodded.
"Arthur gave it to Charles before Michael disappeared. Charles later handed it to Andrew.""
Ethan's expression hardened.
"Then Andrew has it.""
My mother nodded.
"Which means he'll know the moment you try to open the archive.""
I looked at the clock.
It was nearly six in the evening.
"Then we need to get there before he does.""
Ethan picked up his phone.
"I'll contact the security team.""
But Rachel stopped him.
"No.""
He looked at her.
"What do you mean?""
"We can't trust everyone inside the foundation. Someone has been feeding information to our enemies for years.""
My mother nodded.
"Rachel is right.""
I looked toward the window.
A black SUV was parked across the street.
Its headlights were off.
I moved closer to the curtain.
"Mom?""
She came beside me.
The SUV's driver's door opened.
A man stepped out.
He wore a dark coat and held something in his hand.
A photograph.
He raised it toward the house.
Even from the window, I could see the face.
It was Ethan.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
Hello, brother.
A second message followed.
I've been waiting thirty-two years to meet you.
Ethan read it over my shoulder.
His face turned white.
Then the final message arrived.
Bring Isabella to the foundation archive tonight. Come alone. Or I'll make sure your mother disappears for good.
I turned toward my mother.
She was already crying.
"That's Andrew," she whispered.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"Isabella, he's not just your father's killer's accomplice.""
May you like
She looked at Ethan.
"He's the reason Michael died. And he knows something about your birth that even I never told you.""
