Chapter 4: The Voice From Bellmore
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
The phone was still against my ear.
“Hello?””
Nothing.
“Hello?””
Only static.
Then the call ended.
I lowered the phone slowly.
My father stared at me.
“Who was it?””
I looked at Ethan.
He was watching the phone.
Not me.
The color had vanished from his face.
“Someone who says he was at Bellmore the night my grandmother died.””
Ethan’s eyes snapped to mine.
“What did he say?””
“He knows who killed Thomas Sterling.””
Olivia took one sharp step backward.
It was small.
Almost invisible.
But I saw it.
So did Nadia.
Nadia whispered, “You knew.””
Olivia glared at her.
“I knew nothing.””
“You just reacted.””
“I reacted because Clara is being manipulated by a stranger.””
I looked at Ethan.
“What happened to your father?””
He swallowed.
“He died of a heart attack.””
“That's what you told me.””
“It’s true.””
“Then why did that man say he was killed?””
“I don't know.””
His answer came too quickly.
I stepped closer.
“You don't know?””
“No.””
“Then look me in the eyes and say it.””
He did.
“I don't know.””
I wanted to believe him.
God, I wanted to.
But there was something different in his face.
He wasn't confused.
He was calculating.
Behind him, Olivia was whispering furiously to one of the security guards.
I raised my voice.
“Everyone stays here.””
Olivia spun around.
“This is private family business.””
“No.””
I looked around at the guests.
“It stopped being private when you threw my parents into a pool.””
Nobody laughed this time.
A few people lowered their phones.
Others held them higher.
The photographer looked like he wanted to disappear.
My mother stepped beside me.
Her hair was still wet.
Her makeup had begun to run beneath her eyes.
But her voice was steady.
“Clara, you don't have to do this in front of everyone.””
I turned toward her.
“Yes, I do.””
She shook her head.
“Come home with us.””
“I will.””
“Now.””
I squeezed her hand.
“I need answers first.””
My father looked at Ethan.
“You're not getting married today.””
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“That’s not your decision.””
My father gave him a tired look.
“You lost that decision when you let your mother put her hands on us.””
Ethan looked away.
I watched him.
The man I had planned to marry was standing beneath the floral arch where we were supposed to exchange vows.
White roses surrounded him.
A wedding band gleamed in his pocket.
And suddenly, the whole scene looked obscene.
I took the ring off my finger.
Gasps moved through the crowd.
Ethan stared at it.
“Clara.””
I placed it in his palm.
His fingers closed around it.
“You don't get to wear my future.””
He shook his head.
“Please don't do this.””
“You should have thought about that before Bellmore.””
He looked at me sharply.
I caught it.
That flicker of fear.
“Tell me what happened there.””
“I already told you.””
“No. You told me what your mother wanted you to tell me.””
His lips parted.
Nothing came out.
Olivia stepped in.
“Enough.””
I turned to her.
“You've said that all day.””
She approached me slowly.
“You are making a terrible mistake.””
“What mistake?””
“You're trusting strangers over family.””
I laughed softly.
“Family?””
I glanced at my parents.
“My family is standing right here.””
Olivia's smile tightened.
“And you think they can protect you?””
My father stepped forward.
“They've protected her every day of her life.””
Olivia's eyes narrowed.
“From what?””
“From people like you.””
A murmur spread through the guests.
I saw Olivia's hand tremble.
Then she looked at Ethan.
“We're leaving.””
He didn't move.
“Ethan.””
Still nothing.
She grabbed his arm.
He pulled away.
“No.””
Olivia stared at him.
“What did you just say?””
“No.””
For the first time, Ethan was resisting her.
My heart almost broke at the sight.
I had waited eighteen months for him to choose a side.
And now he finally had.
But too late.
He looked at me.
“I'll tell you everything.””
Olivia's voice became a whisper.
“You promised.””
“I know.””
“You promised your father.””
Ethan closed his eyes.
My stomach dropped.
“Your father?””
Olivia looked at him like she had just made a mistake.
I stepped forward.
“What did your father make you promise?””
Ethan said nothing.
I raised the microphone.
“Tell me.””
The DJ's speakers carried my voice across the terrace.
Nobody moved.
Finally, Ethan whispered, “I promised him I'd protect the family.””
“What does that mean?””
“That whatever happened before he died would stay buried.””
My chest tightened.
“What happened?””
“I don't know all of it.””
“You know enough.””
He looked at Olivia.
“Mom knows.””
Olivia shook her head violently.
“No.””
Ethan continued.
“She knows what happened at Bellmore.””
Olivia slapped him.
The crack echoed across the terrace.
Everyone froze.
Ethan touched his cheek.
I stared at Olivia.
She realized what she'd done.
Her breathing turned ragged.
I took a step toward her.
“Now we're getting somewhere.””
She glared at me.
“You don't understand what you're asking.””
“Then explain it.””
“You think your grandmother was innocent?””
“I know she was.””
Olivia laughed.
“You don't know anything about her.””
“My grandmother loved me.””
“Your grandmother destroyed everything.””
I felt my pulse pounding.
“What did she do?””
Olivia looked at Nadia.
Then at Ethan.
Then finally at me.
“She took what belonged to the Sterling family.””
“The inheritance?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“She had an affair with Thomas.””
The words stunned me.
My mother inhaled sharply.
My father looked at me.
I shook my head.
“No.””
Olivia continued.
“For years, Thomas supported your grandmother secretly.””
“That's a lie.””
“He planned to leave her half of Bellmore.””
“Why?””
“Because Bellmore wasn't just a property.””
She paused.
“It contained the Sterling family accounts.””
Nadia stepped closer.
“What accounts?””
Olivia ignored her.
“Thomas discovered that his father had been moving money through shell companies for decades.””
I frowned.
“Why does that matter to me?””
“Because your grandmother found out.””
My father said, “And?””
Olivia looked at him.
“She threatened to expose him.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn't explain anything.””
“It does if you understand what happened next.””
She leaned toward me.
“Thomas was going to leave the family.””
Silence.
“To your grandmother.””
My breathing slowed.
“Was he?””
“Yes.””
“And then?””
Olivia’s eyes went cold.
“Then he died.””
I looked at Ethan.
“Your mother killed him?””
Ethan looked horrified.
“No.””
Olivia whispered, “Watch what you accuse people of.””
I pointed toward the phone.
“Then who killed him?””
She didn't answer.
Nadia suddenly spoke.
“Mara.””
Olivia's head snapped toward her.
“Don't.””
“Mara told me.””
“Told you what?””
Nadia looked at me.
“The night Thomas died, Mara heard an argument.””
“Between who?””
“Thomas and Olivia.””
Olivia went still.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“About what?””
Nadia hesitated.
“The money.””
My father frowned.
“What money?””
“Ten million dollars.””
The guests erupted in whispers.
I stared at Nadia.
“Ten million?””
She nodded.
“Thomas wanted to move it into an account your grandmother controlled.””
My hands went cold.
“Why would my grandmother get ten million dollars?””
“She didn't.””
Nadia looked at Olivia.
“Not for herself.””
I understood.
“What was it for?””
Nadia's face tightened.
“To expose the Sterling family.””
Olivia turned pale.
My father stepped closer.
“Expose what?””
Nadia pulled out another page.
“The money came from victims.””
My stomach turned.
“What victims?””
“Families.””
She swallowed.
“Hundreds of them.””
I looked at Ethan.
“You knew?””
“No.””
“Your family stole from people?””
“I didn't know.””
“You didn't know anything?””
His voice cracked.
“I didn't.””
Olivia suddenly screamed.
“Stop!””
Everyone jumped.
She pointed at Nadia.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
Nadia held up the documents.
“I have bank statements.””
Olivia lunged.
Security grabbed her before she reached Nadia.
“Let me go!””
She fought against them.
“Olivia!”” Ethan shouted.
She looked at him.
Then at me.
And suddenly she stopped struggling.
Her expression became frighteningly calm.
“You're asking for the truth?””
I nodded.
“Yes.””
She smiled.
“You already know half of it.””
“What does that mean?””
She looked at Ethan.
Then at my father.
Then directly at me.
“Your grandmother didn't die naturally.””
The air left my lungs.
My mother gripped my hand.
“What?””
Olivia continued.
“Neither did Thomas.””
I stared at her.
“What are you saying?””
She leaned closer.
“Bellmore was locked for a reason.””
“Why?””
“Because someone was inside when they died.””
My father asked, “Who?””
Olivia's eyes settled on me.
“Your grandmother.””
I stopped breathing.
“My grandmother was there?””
“Yes.””
“But she died years later.””
Olivia shook her head.
“No, Clara.””
Her voice dropped.
“She died that night.””
My mind went blank.
I looked at my mother.
My mother was crying now.
“That isn't possible.””
Olivia smiled.
“The woman your family buried was not Evelyn Morgan.””
My knees weakened.
“What?””
Nadia covered her mouth.
Ethan whispered, “Mom, stop.””
Olivia ignored him.
“She was a woman who looked like her.””
I stared at her.
“Why would anyone do that?””
Olivia's expression hardened.
“Because the real Evelyn had seen too much.””
My father moved forward.
“You're lying.””
Olivia looked at him.
“Then ask yourself why your mother never let anyone see her after September 14, 1998.””
My father went completely still.
I looked at him.
He looked back at me.
And I saw something in his eyes.
Not disbelief.
Recognition.
“Dad?””
He swallowed.
“There was something.””
“What?””
He looked toward the ground.
“Your grandmother changed after that year.””
I felt sick.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because she made me promise.””
“To whom?””
Before he could answer, the ballroom doors behind us suddenly opened.
Everyone turned.
An elderly man in a dark suit stood there.
His face was lined.
His hands were shaking.
And in one hand, he held a small leather case.
He looked directly at me.
“Clara Morgan?””
“Yes.””
He took one step forward.
“I was Thomas Sterling's attorney.””
Olivia whispered, “No.””
The man opened the leather case.
“I kept the original Bellmore file for twenty-eight years.””
He looked at Ethan.
“Your father ordered me to destroy it.””
Then he looked at me.
“I didn't.””
He removed a key from his pocket.
And placed it in my hand.
“Because your grandmother told me to save it for you.””
I stared at the tiny brass key.
Engraved across its surface were four words.
*Bellmore. Room 17. Basement.*
Ethan suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Clara, don't go there.””
I looked at his hand.
Then at his face.
“Why?””
May you like
His voice was barely audible.
“Because that's where I found my father's blood.””
