Chapter 13: The Woman in the Chair
For forty-six years, I had carried a photograph of my mother in my wallet.
For forty-six years, I had visited a grave with her name on it.
And now she was staring at me through my phone.
“Mom?””
Her smile trembled.
“Hello, Eleanor.””
I couldn't move.
Daniel stepped beside me.
“Who is that?””
“My mother.””
He stared at the screen.
Richard stood behind her.
My husband looked exhausted.
Older.
Broken.
But alive.
“Richard,” I whispered.
He looked into the camera.
“Eleanor, listen to me.””
My mother turned toward him.
“You've had enough chances.””
Richard closed his eyes.
“I know.””
I stepped closer to the screen.
“Where is my grandson?””
My mother answered.
“He's safe.””
“Put him on.””
She nodded.
A moment later, my grandson appeared.
“Grandma?””
My heart broke.
“Are you hurt?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
I pressed my hand against the screen.
“I love you.””
“I love you too.””
My mother took the phone back.
“Eleanor, you need to understand what happened.””
“No. You need to explain why I buried an empty coffin.””
Her face tightened.
“Your father wanted you to believe I was dead.””
“Why?””
“Because I was trying to expose him.””
Daniel looked at Margaret.
Margaret lowered her head.
My mother continued.
“Your father wasn't the man you thought he was.””
I shook my head.
“I don't understand.””
“He didn't create Thorne Meridian.””
My breath caught.
“He stole it.””
Margaret stepped closer.
“I told you your father built the company.””
My mother laughed sadly.
“He told everyone that.””
She looked directly at me.
“The original company belonged to my family.””
Silence.
“My grandfather founded it. Your father married me, gained access to the accounts, and slowly transferred control.””
I felt dizzy.
“So he stole it from you?””
“Yes.””
“And Daniel?””
My mother looked at him.
“He was born before I met your father.””
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“He's your half-brother.””
I stared at Daniel.
My mother continued.
“Your father knew Daniel existed. He hated that another man's child might someday have a legitimate claim to the family assets.””
Daniel whispered, “That's why he erased me.””
My mother nodded.
“Your father offered Daniel's father money to disappear. When he refused, your father destroyed his business.””
I looked at Richard.
“And you?””
Richard's voice came through the phone.
“I found out.””
“When?””
“Before our wedding.””
My mother looked away.
“Richard was working with Daniel's father.””
I stared at my husband.
“You knew Daniel before me.””
“Yes.””
“And you knew my father had stolen everything.””
“Yes.””
“Why did you marry me?””
Richard's eyes filled.
“Because I loved you.””
My mother interrupted.
“At first.””
Richard looked at her.
She continued.
“Then your father discovered Richard's involvement in the financial scheme.””
Richard nodded.
“He threatened me.””
“With what?””
“Prison.””
I stared at him.
“So you became his servant.””
Richard whispered, “I became afraid.””
“And Julian?””
My mother looked down.
“Julian discovered the truth five years ago.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“He knew?””
“Yes.””
“Everything?””
“Enough.””
My mother looked directly at me.
“He believed that if you died, the company would pass to him.””
“But the trust prevented that.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did he try?””
“Because Victor Hale convinced him the trust had been invalidated.””
I remembered Victor's name.
“Victor.””
My mother nodded.
“He has been manipulating your family for decades.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“What about Project Orion?””
My mother's expression changed.
“Your father used Orion to conceal the money he had stolen.””
“Six hundred million dollars?””
She nodded.
“But most of it wasn't his.””
“Whose was it?””
She looked at Daniel.
“His father's.””
Daniel went still.
My mother continued.
“Your father didn't kill me. He imprisoned me.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“He kept me hidden because I knew where the original records were.””
“Where?””
She looked at Richard.
He answered.
“The safe.””
My father's safe.
The one in the old headquarters.
My mother said, “The documents inside prove the entire chain of ownership.””
“And the person behind all of this?””
She hesitated.
“Victor.””
“No.””
My mother shook her head.
“Victor is only the man carrying out the plan.””
I felt cold.
“Then who gave him the orders?””
My mother looked directly into the camera.
“Your father.””
I stared at her.
“He's dead.””
“Yes.””
“Then how?””
She whispered:
“Because the orders began before his death.””
A sound came from outside the control station.
A car door slammed.
Daniel looked toward the window.
My mother heard it too.
“Eleanor, you have to go.””
“Mom—”
“Find the safe.””
“Where?””
“Behind the portrait of your father.””
Then the call ended.
I stared at the blank screen.
Daniel grabbed his jacket.
“We're going to New York.””
Margaret shook her head.
“First, we find your grandson.””
I nodded.
Then my phone buzzed again.
A message appeared.
*The boy isn't with your mother anymore.*
Another message followed.
*Richard took him.*
I looked up.
May you like
Richard was gone from the video.
And my mother was gone too.
