Chapter 9: The Granddaughter Nobody Knew
I stared at the photograph.
I couldn’t move.
A baby.
My son holding a baby.
A baby I had never known existed.
“No,” I whispered.
Richard watched my reaction carefully.
“Surprised?””
Victor took the photograph from him.
“Where did you get this?””
Richard smiled.
“From Michael.””
Victor looked closer.
The anger on his face slowly changed.
Confusion.
Recognition.
“This woman…”
He stopped.
“What?””
Victor looked at me.
“She was with Michael the night I saw him last.””
My heart raced.
“Who is she?””
Richard answered.
“Her name was Anna.””
The name meant nothing to me.
But it clearly meant something to Victor.
“You knew her.””
Victor looked uncomfortable.
“I knew of her.””
I turned toward him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
He looked guilty.
“Because Michael made me promise.””
“Promise what?””
“That I wouldn’t reveal anything unless it was safe.””
My chest tightened.
“Safe?””
Victor nodded.
“He was protecting her.””
I looked at the picture again.
“And the baby?””
Richard smiled.
“That baby is why Michael disappeared.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“What does that mean?””
Richard looked at him.
“It means your grandfather had another family.””
The words hurt.
Not because I was angry.
Because I was heartbroken.
My son had lived another life.
And I knew nothing.
Victor shook his head.
“That’s not what happened.””
Richard looked at him.
“You weren’t there.””
“No.””
Victor stepped closer.
“But I knew Michael.””
The two men stared at each other.
Then Victor looked at me.
“Michael would never hide a child from you without a reason.””
I looked at the picture.
The baby’s tiny hand was wrapped around Michael’s finger.
My son looked happy.
Peaceful.
A side of him I hadn’t seen in years.
“Where is she now?”” I asked.
Nobody answered.
That frightened me.
“Where is Anna?””
Richard looked away.
“Gone.””
My stomach dropped.
“What do you mean gone?””
“I mean she disappeared.””
Victor’s expression changed.
“Just like Michael.””
Silence.
The pattern became clear.
Michael.
Anna.
The child.
All connected.
Claire suddenly spoke.
“You need to stop.””
Everyone looked at her.
Her face was wet with tears.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing.””
I stared at her.
“You lied to me for twelve years.””
She shook her head.
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
She looked at Richard.
Then back at me.
“Of what they would do.””
Victor stepped forward.
“Who?””
Claire didn’t answer.
Richard suddenly grabbed her arm.
“Don’t.””
The movement was quick.
But everyone saw it.
Claire looked terrified.
Not of Victor.
Not of us.
Of Richard.
Victor noticed.
And so did I.
“Claire,” I said softly.
“Are you afraid of him?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
And for the first time…
She nodded.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Richard released her.
“You’re making this complicated.””
Victor moved between them.
“You threatened her.””
Richard smiled.
“Everyone has choices.””
I looked at Claire.
The woman I had hated for years.
Suddenly, I wondered if I had only seen one side of the story.
Then my phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
Unknown number.
My hands shook as I opened it.
One sentence.
Only one.
But it changed everything.
“Margaret, don’t trust Victor.””
I looked up.
Victor saw my face.
“What happened?””
I slowly turned the phone toward him.
His expression changed.
Because underneath the message was a name.
The sender.
May you like
Michael Collins.
My son.
