Chapter 9: The Woman Who Came Back From the Dead
Emily's words hung in the study.
*"Julian just found her.""*
My first thought was that she meant someone else.
Because Rachel was dead.
Or missing.
Or a ghost from a story my father had been too afraid to tell me.
But Emily looked terrified.
Not guilty.
Terrified.
"Where is she?"" I asked.
Emily shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"Then how do you know Julian found her?""
"Because he called me.""
"When?""
"Twenty minutes ago.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"What did he say?""
Emily looked at him.
"He said, 'It's over.''"
Marcus's expression hardened.
"That's bad.""
I turned to him.
"Why?""
"Because Julian only says that when he's already decided what happens next.""
My phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
A photograph appeared.
A woman was sitting inside what looked like a motel room.
Dark hair.
Older.
Tired eyes.
A small scar crossed her left cheek.
But I recognized her immediately.
Rachel.
Alive.
My breath caught.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
*He found me because of you.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message.
*Come alone.*
Daniel tried to take the phone.
I pulled it away.
"No.""
"Nora, it's a trap.""
"Maybe.""
"Definitely.""
I looked at Rachel's face.
She looked frightened, but she was alive.
"She knows something.""
Marcus nodded.
"She knows everything.""
I turned to him.
"How do you know?""
"Because I spent twenty-seven years trying to find her.""
My heart stopped.
"Twenty-seven?""
He nodded.
"Your father and I thought she was dead.""
"Then how did she survive?""
Marcus's eyes lowered.
"Your father helped her disappear.""
I thought about the old photographs.
The hidden documents.
The strange warning.
All the pieces were fitting together, but not cleanly.
"What did she discover?""
Marcus answered.
"That Richard Blackwood had another daughter.""
I froze.
"Who?""
He looked at me.
"You.""
I couldn't speak.
Emily stepped closer.
"Richard knew you were his daughter.""
"No.""
"He did.""
"Then why was it hidden?""
Marcus's voice was quiet.
"Because Richard's wife was dangerous.""
I remembered the photograph of Julian's mother.
Cold eyes.
Perfect smile.
A woman Julian rarely spoke about.
"She knew?""
"Eventually.""
"And she knew about me?""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't she come after me?""
Marcus looked away.
"She did.""
A shiver passed through me.
"When?""
"When you were a child.""
My mother covered her face.
I turned toward her.
"What happened?""
She looked at me through tears.
"Someone tried to take you.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who?""
"Richard's wife.""
"She knew?""
"She believed you were a threat to her children.""
"Julian?""
"Yes.""
I shook my head.
"But Julian was adopted.""
"That was the story.""
"What really happened?""
My mother looked at Marcus.
He answered.
"Julian wasn't adopted.""
I stared.
"What?""
"Richard's wife had a son," Marcus said.
"But he died as an infant.""
My heart pounded.
"Julian replaced him?""
Marcus nodded.
"Richard took another child.""
"Whose child?""
"We never found out.""
Silence.
I looked at Emily.
She was crying.
"How does this connect to Rachel?""
Emily wiped her cheek.
"Rachel found records showing that Richard had been buying identities.""
I frowned.
"Identities?""
"For children.""
My skin prickled.
"Why?""
"To hide inheritance.""
Marcus nodded.
"Richard wanted to create legal heirs who weren't biologically connected to him.""
I looked at the photograph of Rachel.
"So Julian...""
"May not be Richard's biological son at all," Marcus said.
My heart hammered.
"Then why did Julian know about me?""
"Because he knew what your father knew.""
"Which was?""
Marcus hesitated.
"That your father had legally established your claim before Richard died.""
I looked down at my hands.
"That doesn't explain why Julian married me.""
Marcus gave me a sad look.
"It explains everything.""
My phone buzzed again.
Rachel.
*I have proof.*
Then:
*Bring the original will.*
I looked up.
"She wants the will.""
Daniel shook his head.
"No.""
I turned toward him.
"Why?""
"Because that's exactly what Julian would want.""
"You don't know that.""
"I know Julian.""
I looked at the message again.
Then I noticed something.
Rachel hadn't asked me to come alone.
She had asked me to bring the original will.
That meant she needed something from it.
Maybe something only I could verify.
I handed the phone to Marcus.
He read the messages.
Then his expression changed.
"She's telling the truth.""
"How do you know?""
"Rachel used a code.""
"What code?""
"Your father's.""
He pointed to one line.
*I have proof.*
"Your father taught her that phrase.""
"What did it mean?""
"That she had physical evidence.""
Daniel sighed.
"When you meet her, we need protection.""
I looked at him.
"You're coming.""
He shook his head.
"She said alone.""
"Then I'll go alone.""
"No.""
I stepped closer.
"Daniel, my entire life has been a collection of people telling me where I can and can't go.""
"Nora—"
"I am done.""
My mother stood.
"So am I.""
Everyone turned.
She crossed the room and picked up the original will.
She held it out to me.
"I kept this because your father asked me to protect you.""
I took it.
"Why didn't you?""
She started crying.
"Because I was scared.""
"Of Julian?""
"Of the people behind him.""
I froze.
"There are people behind him?""
My mother nodded.
"Julian isn't the one who started this.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"Who?""
She looked at him.
"Your father knew.""
"Knew what?""
"That Julian was being controlled.""
I frowned.
"By whom?""
My mother whispered one name.
"Clara.""
I looked at her.
"Who is Clara?""
Nobody answered.
Then Emily whispered:
"Julian's mother.""
My pulse quickened.
"But you said she died.""
My mother looked at me.
"That's what Julian wants everyone to believe.""
Silence.
"She's alive?""
"Yes.""
Marcus's face became grim.
"And she's been running everything.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Then where is she?""
My mother reached into a drawer.
She removed a small photograph.
It showed an elderly woman sitting in a wheelchair.
Dark sunglasses.
White hair.
The date on the back was recent.
She was alive.
My mother's hand shook.
"She's in this city.""
My heart began pounding.
"Where?""
"At Saint Mary's hospice.""
I stared.
"Hospice?""
"She is dying.""
I didn't know what to say.
A woman dying in a hospice had apparently spent years manipulating my marriage, my father, my husband, and an entire company.
Then my phone buzzed one more time.
Rachel.
*Nora, don't come to me.*
I frowned.
A second message arrived.
*Go to Saint Mary's instead.*
Then:
*Your mother has been lying about one thing.*
I looked at her.
"Mom?""
She went pale.
"What?""
I showed her the message.
Her lips parted.
"What does she mean?""
My phone buzzed again.
*Your mother knows who killed your father.*
I looked at my mother.
She couldn't meet my eyes.
"Mom.""
She stepped backward.
"I couldn't tell you.""
"Tell me now.""
"I was trying to protect you.""
"No.""
I felt tears burning behind my eyes.
"You were trying to protect yourself.""
She started crying.
"Your father made me promise.""
"What promise?""
She looked at the original will in my hands.
"That if he died, I would never tell you the truth unless Julian forced me to.""
I stared.
"Why would he make that promise?""
"Because he knew who would come after you.""
"Who?""
My mother's face collapsed.
"Me.""
The room went silent.
I didn't understand.
"You?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
Her voice broke.
"Your father believed I was the person who would eventually betray you.""
I stared at her.
"Did you?""
She began crying.
"Once.""
The word was barely audible.
"Once I gave Julian something.""
"What?""
"The location of your father's safe.""
Daniel's face hardened.
"That safe had the death certificate.""
My mother nodded.
"And something else.""
"What?""
She looked at the will.
"Your father's recording.""
My heart stopped.
"What recording?""
"The one that explains everything.""
I could barely breathe.
"Where is it?""
My mother whispered:
"Saint Mary's.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was already reaching for his coat.
"Then that's where we're going.""
My mother grabbed my wrist.
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because Julian is there.""
I froze.
"How do you know?""
Her eyes filled with terror.
"Because he just called me.""
A new sound came from my phone.
A video call.
Julian.
I stared at his face on the screen.
He smiled.
Behind him was a white hospital corridor.
And at the end of it, an elderly woman sat in a wheelchair.
Clara.
Julian leaned toward the camera.
"Nora," he said softly.
"Come see your grandmother.""
May you like
My blood ran cold.
I had never known I had one.
