Chapter 3: My Dead Mother Was Inside His Penthouse
“Lock down the building.””
Nathaniel's voice was calm, but his hands were shaking.
Marcus immediately spoke into his radio.
“Security team to the executive penthouse. Nobody enters or exits until further instructions.””
I couldn't take my eyes off the frozen image.
My mother.
Alive.
After sixteen years of believing she had died in a fire, I was looking at a recording of her walking into the home of the wealthiest man in Manhattan.
And she had been meeting Victoria.
“Rose,” Nathaniel said gently.
“We need to find out what's happening.””
I turned toward him.
“I'm coming with you.””
He hesitated.
“You don't have to.””
“She is my mother.””
He nodded.
“Then let's go.””
Eleanor struggled to stand.
Nathaniel immediately helped her.
“Mom, you're staying here. The paramedics are coming.””
“No,” Eleanor said firmly.
“I'm coming too.””
“Mom, you nearly died.””
“And I spent sixteen years allowing people to believe Grace was dead. I'm not sitting in another room while the truth disappears again.””
Nathaniel looked at Marcus.
“Bring a medical team upstairs.””
We entered the private elevator.
Victoria tried to follow.
Marcus stepped in front of her.
“I'm afraid you need to remain here, ma'am.””
She grabbed his sleeve.
“Do you know who I am?””
“Yes,” Marcus replied.
“You're the woman who appears to have pushed an elderly lady off a building.””
The elevator doors closed.
I stood between Nathaniel and Eleanor.
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
Then Nathaniel looked at me.
“Did you really grow up in foster care?””
I nodded.
“After the fire, I stayed with a neighbor for a few months. Then social services moved me. I was twelve.””
“Didn't anyone try to find your family?””
“My mother was listed as deceased. My father was unknown.””
Nathaniel lowered his eyes.
“I grew up in a mansion with everything.””
I looked at him.
“I grew up wondering why nobody wanted me.””
He swallowed.
“I'm sorry.””
I didn't know what to say.
We reached the eighty-ninth floor.
The penthouse corridor was silent.
Two guards stood outside the private residence.
“Any movement?”” Nathaniel asked.
“No, sir.””
“Did anyone leave?””
“No, sir. The elevator records show no exit.””
Nathaniel entered his access code.
The doors opened.
The penthouse was enormous.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked Central Park. A crystal chandelier hung above a staircase of white marble. Fresh flowers stood in enormous vases.
And on the dining table sat two untouched cups of coffee.
One was still warm.
I stepped forward.
“Mom?””
My voice echoed through the empty living room.
Nothing.
Then I noticed something.
A photograph stood on the piano.
I approached it.
It showed a young Grace Carter holding two newborn babies.
The same photograph Eleanor had shown us.
But this one was framed.
And someone had written a message beneath it.
Some secrets are worth protecting.
My fingers went numb.
Nathaniel came beside me.
“That's impossible. I've never seen this picture before.””
Eleanor touched the frame.
“Your father kept it hidden.””
“Why would he have it here?””
Before Eleanor could answer, a sound came from the hallway.
A door closing.
We all turned.
“Mom?”” I called again.
A woman's voice answered.
“Rose?””
My heart stopped.
She appeared at the end of the hallway.
She wore a dark green coat, black trousers, and a pair of worn leather shoes.
Her silver hair was tied loosely behind her head.
There were wrinkles around her eyes.
A small scar crossed her left cheek.
But it was her.
The woman who used to sing me lullabies.
The woman who kissed my forehead before putting me to bed.
The woman I had cried for every birthday since I was twelve.
“Mom?””
She took one step forward.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, my baby.””
I ran.
I didn't care about the expensive furniture or the people watching.
I threw my arms around her.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
I could smell her perfume.
The same lavender scent I remembered from childhood.
Then I began hitting her shoulder with my fists.
“YOU WERE ALIVE!””
She held me tighter.
“I know, sweetheart.””
“You let me believe you were dead!””
“I know.””
“I looked for you!””
“I know, Rose.””
I pulled away, tears streaming down my face.
“Why didn't you come back?””
She reached for my cheek.
“I wanted to.””
“Then why?””
Her eyes moved toward Nathaniel.
Then Eleanor.
Finally, they settled on me.
“Because your father threatened to kill both of you.””
Nathaniel stepped forward.
“My father?””
Grace nodded.
“Richard Callaway.””
“He's been dead for twelve years.””
“He may be dead, but the people who helped him are still alive.””
Eleanor covered her mouth.
“Grace...””
Grace looked at her.
“You knew I survived.””
Eleanor began crying.
“I thought you were somewhere safe.””
“You thought wrong.””
Nathaniel moved between them.
“Stop. All of you. I need answers.””
Grace took a deep breath.
“Twenty-eight years ago, I gave birth to twins. Your father wanted Nathaniel because he believed his son would inherit the company. He didn't want a daughter complicating the family arrangement.””
Nathaniel frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
“Your father arranged for you to be taken from me. He paid hospital administrators to falsify the records. Then he told me Rose had died during delivery.””
My stomach twisted.
“What?””
Grace nodded.
“I was recovering from surgery. They showed me a death certificate. They told me my baby girl hadn't survived.””
I covered my mouth.
“But I was alive.””
“Yes. Eleanor helped me discover that.””
Eleanor stepped forward.
“I found Rose's hospital file. By then, she had already been placed with another family.””
“Why didn't you tell me?”” Nathaniel asked.
“Your father had threatened to destroy Grace if I did.””
Grace continued.
“I found out the truth months later. I tried to get both of you back. Richard discovered what I was doing, and three men came to my apartment.””
Her voice cracked.
“They started the fire while I was inside.””
I stared at her.
“How did you survive?””
“Someone pulled me out through the kitchen window. I spent months recovering under another name. By the time I could return, I learned Richard had told everyone I was dead.””
Nathaniel looked sick.
“Who helped you?””
Grace hesitated.
Then she looked toward the elevator.
“Someone who works for this family.””
A loud sound came from the hallway.
Marcus rushed toward the entrance.
“Sir! We have a problem!””
Nathaniel turned.
“What now?””
“Victoria has escaped the rooftop.””
“How?””
“One of the wedding guests distracted security. She took a service elevator.””
Grace suddenly went pale.
“No.””
Nathaniel approached her.
“What is it?””
Grace grabbed my wrist.
“Victoria wasn't working alone.””
“Who was she working with?””
Grace looked directly at Eleanor.
Then she whispered:
“The person who helped Richard steal your children is the same person who has been paying Victoria to marry Nathaniel.””
Nathaniel's face hardened.
“Who?””
Grace opened her handbag and removed a small black envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Victoria standing beside a man outside a private bank.
I recognized the man immediately.
He was in every Callaway family portrait.
The man who had raised Nathaniel after Richard died.
The man Nathaniel trusted with his entire fortune.
His uncle.
*Charles Callaway.*
Nathaniel stared at the photograph.
“My uncle has been dead for six months.””
Grace shook her head.
“No, Nathaniel. Charles is very much alive.””
She turned the photograph over.
There was a handwritten message on the back.
The wedding is only the beginning. Once Nathaniel signs the inheritance transfer, both twins must disappear.
And beneath it was a date.
May you like
Tomorrow.
Twenty-four hours away.
