The Woman Hanging Over Manhattan

Nathaniel was already moving before the call ended.

"Marcus, get the car.""

I followed him toward the elevator.

"What's the second baby?""

He shook his head.

"I don't know.""

"Your mother said Victoria found the second baby.""

"I heard her, Rose.""

"Then what does that mean?""

Nathaniel turned toward me.

"It means my family has been hiding more than one secret.""

We reached the underground garage.

Marcus opened the rear door of the Mercedes, but Nathaniel stopped him.

"Take the security SUV. Bring two men. Call Detective Harris and tell him we're heading to the Callaway estate.""

Marcus nodded.

"Understood.""

As we drove through Manhattan, I kept staring at my phone.

No new messages.

No photographs.

Nothing.

I wanted to call my mother, but I didn't even have a number.

The thought that she might be sitting somewhere, waiting for me, was almost unbearable.

Nathaniel noticed my expression.

"Rose.""

I looked up.

"What?""

"When we find her, you won't have to face her alone.""

I swallowed.

"You don't know that she'll want to see me.""

He looked confused.

"She's your mother.""

"Seventeen years is a long time. What if she left because she didn't want me?""

Nathaniel shook his head.

"Nobody disappears for seventeen years because they don't love their child.""

I turned toward the window.

"Then why did she?""

He had no answer.

The Callaway estate stood on twenty acres outside Greenwich, Connecticut.

It was an enormous stone mansion with towering windows, a private lake, and gardens that looked as though they had been designed for royalty.

I had never seen anything like it.

Nathaniel's father had built it to impress people.

Now it looked like a prison.

Two security vehicles were parked near the entrance.

The front doors were open.

We rushed inside.

"Mom!""

Eleanor sat in the library beside the fireplace.

Her injured shoulder was wrapped, and her silver cane rested against the chair.

Victoria stood near the window, wearing a cream-colored silk dress.

She was holding a glass of red wine.

"Well," she said.

"The missing children have arrived.""

Nathaniel stepped forward.

"Where is my mother?""

Eleanor lifted her hand.

"I'm here.""

He hurried toward her.

"Are you hurt?""

"Only my pride.""

Victoria laughed.

"She insists on being dramatic.""

Nathaniel turned.

"Get out of this house.""

Victoria slowly set down her glass.

"This is my home.""

"Not anymore.""

She raised an eyebrow.

"Careful, darling. You haven't inherited everything yet.""

Nathaniel looked at Marcus.

"Remove her.""

Two guards moved forward.

Victoria lifted a hand.

"Before you do that, perhaps you should ask Eleanor why she kept a third birth certificate in her private safe.""

Everyone stopped.

Eleanor's face went white.

Nathaniel turned toward her.

"Mom?""

Victoria smiled.

"Go ahead. Tell him.""

Eleanor looked down at her hands.

"Victoria, please.""

"Don't pretend you're protecting him. You've had twenty-nine years to tell the truth.""

I stepped closer.

"What third birth certificate?""

Victoria turned toward me.

"Your mother gave birth to twins, Rose.""

The words struck like a physical blow.

I stared at Eleanor.

"Twins?""

Eleanor nodded slowly.

"Yes.""

My voice broke.

"Where is the other baby?""

She closed her eyes.

"Your brother was taken from the hospital.""

Nathaniel looked stunned.

"Taken by whom?""

Eleanor looked at Victoria.

Victoria raised her wine glass.

"Ask my father.""

Nathaniel's expression hardened.

"Thomas Sterling.""

"Exactly.""

I couldn't think.

My mother had given birth to two children.

One was me.

The other had been stolen.

"Why?"" I whispered.

Victoria walked toward the fireplace.

"Because your father was inconvenient.""

I looked at her.

"My father?""

"Your biological father. The man in the photograph with his face scratched out.""

She smiled.

"His name was Alexander Sterling.""

I stared at her.

"Sterling?""

Victoria nodded.

"My uncle.""

The room went silent.

Nathaniel took a step backward.

"Your uncle?""

"Alexander was my father's younger brother. He had an affair with Grace Carter. When she became pregnant, my grandfather threatened to disown him.""

Eleanor spoke quietly.

"Alexander wanted to marry Grace. He wanted to raise both children.""

Victoria's smile disappeared.

"My father wouldn't allow it. He believed Grace was after the Sterling money.""

"And what happened to Alexander?"" I asked.

Victoria looked toward the window.

"He died before the babies were born.""

"How?""

"Car accident.""

Eleanor shook her head.

"No.""

Victoria's eyes flashed.

"Be quiet.""

Nathaniel moved between them.

"Don't speak to her like that.""

Victoria laughed.

"You still think you're some kind of hero, don't you? You have no idea what your mother did to keep you.""

Eleanor gripped her cane.

"Victoria, stop.""

But Victoria had already begun.

"Robert Callaway discovered the affair. He knew Alexander was the real father of Grace's children. He also knew that if the truth became public, the Sterling and Callaway families would be destroyed.""

Nathaniel frowned.

"Why would my father care who fathered Rose?""

"Because Alexander had inherited a controlling interest in the Sterling company before he died. His will named his unborn children as beneficiaries.""

I stared at her.

"What?""

Victoria smiled.

"Two children. Equal shares. A fortune worth hundreds of millions.""

Nathaniel looked at Eleanor.

"Is that true?""

Eleanor nodded.

"Alexander's estate was placed in trust. But Robert and Thomas wanted control of it.""

Victoria continued.

"They arranged the hospital switch. One child was placed with Eleanor and Robert. The other was sent home with Grace.""

I felt sick.

"But you said my mother had twins.""

"She did," Eleanor whispered.

"Your brother was taken from the nursery before she could hold him.""

I turned toward her.

"Why didn't you stop them?""

Eleanor began crying.

"I tried. I swear I tried. Robert threatened to have you both taken away. He said Grace would be charged with kidnapping if she told anyone.""

Nathaniel knelt beside her.

"Mom, why didn't you tell me?""

"Because I was afraid.""

"Of my father?""

"Of what he was capable of.""

I stared at Victoria.

"And you knew all this?""

Victoria nodded.

"My father raised the other baby.""

My heart stopped.

"Where is he?""

Victoria's expression changed.

For the first time, she looked uncomfortable.

"He grew up in the Sterling family.""

I stepped forward.

"What's his name?""

She hesitated.

Then she looked directly at Nathaniel.

"Daniel Sterling.""

Nathaniel froze.

I turned toward him.

"Who is Daniel Sterling?""

Nathaniel slowly lowered his head.

"My best friend.""

The room seemed to spin.

Daniel had been Nathaniel's closest friend since college. He had attended the wedding. He had toasted the happy couple. He had stood beside Nathaniel in countless family photographs.

He was the man who had helped Nathaniel choose the engagement ring.

And he was my twin brother.

Nathaniel looked at Victoria.

"Where is Daniel now?""

Victoria smiled.

"That's the interesting part.""

She reached into her handbag and removed her phone.

Then she showed us a photograph.

Daniel was sitting in a hospital bed, his face bruised, his wrists restrained.

A handwritten message was taped to his chest.

*THE HEIR RETURNS TO THE FAMILY THAT STOLE HIM.*

I covered my mouth.