Chapter 7: My Mother Started the Fire
“I was the one who struck the match.””
My mother's words hung in the air.
I stepped backward.
“No.””
Grace covered her face.
“Rose, please let me explain.””
“You told me someone burned your apartment.””
“I told you the fire was deliberately started.””
“You let me believe someone tried to kill you!””
“I was trying to protect you.””
I shook my head.
“From what? The truth?””
Nathaniel moved closer.
“Grace, what exactly happened that night?””
My mother sat down slowly.
For several seconds, she stared at the floor.
Then she began.
“Richard had discovered that I possessed copies of his financial records. He had been stealing money from the Callaway Foundation for years, using shell companies and fake charitable organizations. I threatened to expose him.””
Nathaniel frowned.
“How much money?””
“Nearly six hundred million dollars.””
He looked stunned.
“That's impossible. The foundation's accounts were audited every year.””
“By people your father paid.””
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“I suspected something was wrong, but Richard controlled everything.””
Grace continued.
“Three days before the fire, I received a message. It said Richard knew where Rose was living. He threatened to take her away permanently.””
My throat tightened.
“So you started the fire?””
Grace nodded.
“I knew Richard had installed cameras in my apartment. I wanted him to believe I had destroyed the evidence and died in the fire.””
Nathaniel stared at her.
“You deliberately burned your own apartment?””
“I removed everything important first. I arranged for someone to help me escape through the kitchen. But the fire spread faster than expected.””
“People could have died!”” I cried.
Grace began sobbing.
“I know. I have regretted it every day.””
I turned away.
All my childhood memories suddenly felt different.
The smoke.
The funeral.
The neighbors who whispered about my mother.
The social worker who told me there was nothing left to recover.
“You let me bury an empty coffin,” I whispered.
Grace reached toward me.
“Rose...””
I pulled my hand away.
“Don't.””
She lowered her arm.
“I know you hate me.””
“I don't hate you. I just don't know who you are anymore.””
Nathaniel stepped between us.
“Rose, nobody is asking you to forgive her tonight.””
He looked at Grace.
“But we need the rest of the truth.””
Grace wiped her cheeks.
“After escaping, I discovered that Richard had told everyone I was dead. I tried to contact Eleanor, but Charles had taken control of the family security network. Every message I sent was intercepted.””
Eleanor nodded.
“I received one letter. It contained a photograph of a woman standing beside a hospital bed.””
Grace looked at her.
“That was me.””
Eleanor began crying.
“I thought you were alive, but I couldn't find you.””
“Because Charles moved me every time I got close.””
I looked at my mother.
“Then why were you meeting Victoria?””
Grace hesitated.
“Because she contacted me six months ago.””
Nathaniel's expression hardened.
“What did she want?””
“She said she knew Charles was alive. She promised to help me expose him if I gave her the original birth records.””
“Why would she want those?””
“Because the trust cannot be activated without them.””
Nathaniel laughed bitterly.
“So she wanted the trust?””
“Yes. She told me she had evidence that Charles was planning to steal the entire company.””
I looked at the wedding photograph again.
“And you believed her?””
Grace lowered her head.
“I wanted to believe her.””
Eleanor suddenly stood.
“Grace, did you give her anything?””
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
Grace reached inside her coat.
She pulled out a small leather pouch.
“I gave her a copy. The original is here.””
Nathaniel examined it.
“Then why did she push Eleanor?””
Grace's expression changed.
“Because Eleanor discovered something about Victoria's identity.””
Everyone turned toward Eleanor.
She looked frightened.
“Not just her identity,” she whispered.
“Her birth.””
Nathaniel approached his mother.
“What does that mean?””
Eleanor swallowed.
“Richard had another child before you were born.””
Nathaniel went completely still.
Grace nodded.
“Victoria.””
I stared at the photograph of the little girl beside Richard.
“But she said she was adopted.””
“She was,” Eleanor replied.
“Her mother died shortly after giving birth. Richard brought her into the family and raised her under another name.””
Nathaniel looked confused.
“Why hide that?””
“Because Victoria was born from an affair,” Grace explained.
“Richard never wanted the public to know.””
I felt sick.
“So she's your sister?””
Nathaniel shook his head.
“Half-sister.””
Eleanor looked down.
“And Richard promised her that if she helped him separate the twins, she would inherit part of the company.””
Nathaniel's face hardened.
“That's why she agreed to marry me.””
“She wanted access to your shares,” Grace said.
“And the trust.””
A police officer entered the room.
“Mr. Callaway, we have located the vehicle registered to Victoria's security company.””
“Where?””
“An abandoned warehouse near the East River.””
Nathaniel grabbed his jacket.
“I'm going.””
Marcus blocked his path.
“Sir, that's dangerous.””
“My mother nearly died. My sister is threatening us. I'm not sitting here.””
Grace stood.
“Don't go after her.””
Nathaniel turned.
“Why?””
“Because Victoria isn't working alone.””
Grace reached into her pouch and removed a small photograph.
It showed Victoria standing with a man outside the warehouse.
A man wearing a police uniform.
Nathaniel studied his face.
Then his expression turned cold.
“That's Detective Miller.””
The same detective assigned to investigate the rooftop attack.
Before anyone could respond, the penthouse phone rang.
Marcus answered.
His face went pale.
He slowly handed the receiver to Nathaniel.
A woman's voice came through.
“Hello, brother.””
Victoria.
Nathaniel tightened his grip.
“What do you want?””
“Bring me the original trust documents.””
“And if I refuse?””
Victoria laughed.
“Then your mother will be the second woman to disappear tonight.””
A scream erupted through the receiver.
I recognized the voice immediately.
Eleanor.
May you like
The call ended.
And when we turned toward her chair, it was empty.
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