Chapter 6: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Nathaniel stared at the hidden door.
"My grandfather died fifteen years ago.""
Eleanor slowly shook her head.
"That's what everyone was told.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"You're saying Robert Callaway is alive?""
Eleanor nodded.
"He's been living under another name.""
Victoria picked up her wine glass again.
"Well, this has been a lovely family reunion.""
Nathaniel turned toward her.
"You knew?""
"Of course I knew.""
"You married me knowing your family helped destroy my life?""
Victoria tilted her head.
"Darling, I married you because you were useful.""
Nathaniel looked as though she had slapped him.
"Useful?""
"You had the Callaway name, the company, and access to the Sterling trust. My father needed all three.""
She took a sip of wine.
"Unfortunately, you turned out to be less obedient than your father.""
Nathaniel stepped closer.
"You pushed my mother because she knew the truth.""
Victoria smiled.
"She should have kept her mouth shut.""
Marcus moved forward.
"That's enough. You're coming with us.""
Victoria laughed.
"Do you think your security guards can stop what's coming?""
She reached into her handbag.
Marcus immediately drew his weapon.
"Hands where I can see them!""
Victoria slowly raised both hands.
But she wasn't holding a gun.
She was holding a small black remote.
Her thumb pressed a button.
Somewhere beneath the mansion, an alarm began to sound.
Nathaniel looked toward the ceiling.
"What did you do?""
Victoria smiled.
"Your grandfather doesn't like unexpected visitors.""
The lights went out.
For several seconds, the mansion was swallowed by darkness.
Then emergency lighting flickered on.
Marcus shouted.
"Secure the entrances!""
One guard rushed toward the front door.
Another ran upstairs.
I turned toward Eleanor.
She was no longer in her chair.
"Mrs. Callaway?""
A movement came from behind the fireplace.
Eleanor stood beside the hidden door, holding a small key.
"Rose," she whispered.
"Come here.""
Nathaniel hurried toward her.
"Mom, what are you doing?""
She unlocked the door.
"Showing you what I should have shown you twenty-nine years ago.""
The door opened with a low groan.
Beyond it was a narrow staircase leading underground.
Cold air drifted upward.
I could smell dust and something faintly metallic.
Nathaniel looked at Marcus.
"Stay here. Nobody leaves.""
Marcus nodded.
"Yes, sir.""
Nathaniel turned to me.
"Stay behind me.""
We followed Eleanor down the stairs.
At the bottom was a long corridor lined with photographs.
Every photograph showed the Callaway family.
Robert Callaway receiving an award.
Robert standing beside the mayor.
Robert shaking hands with business executives.
Then the pictures changed.
A young Grace Carter holding a baby.
A hospital corridor.
A photograph of Alexander Sterling.
And finally, a picture of two newborn babies in identical white blankets.
I stopped.
One baby had a small bracelet around its wrist.
The other had a red thread tied around its blanket.
My mother's protection knot.
I reached for the photograph.
"That's me.""
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes.""
Nathaniel examined the second baby.
"And this is Daniel.""
At the end of the corridor was a steel door.
A keypad glowed beside it.
Eleanor entered six numbers.
101797.
The door unlocked.
Inside was a small office.
A desk stood beneath a wall of monitors. Medical files covered the shelves. Several newspaper clippings were pinned to a board.
One headline read:
*REAL ESTATE TYCOON ROBERT CALLAWAY DIES AT 68.*
I approached the desk.
There was a recent photograph lying beneath a folder.
It showed an elderly man sitting in a leather chair.
His hair was white.
His face was thinner.
But the eyes were unmistakable.
Robert Callaway.
Alive.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Why would you keep this room?""
"Because I needed proof.""
She opened a drawer and removed a thick envelope.
"Robert controlled everything for years. Even after the world believed he was dead, he continued controlling the family through Daniel and Victoria.""
Nathaniel opened a folder.
Inside were financial statements, hospital records, and signed documents.
He stopped at one page.
"Mom.""
Eleanor looked at him.
"What?""
Nathaniel held up a document.
It was a birth certificate amendment.
His name appeared at the top.
Nathaniel Alexander Sterling.
His face went white.
"That's not possible.""
Eleanor nodded.
"Robert changed your legal identity.""
Nathaniel stared at the document.
"My entire life...""
"Your name was changed when you were three days old. The original record was destroyed.""
I felt a sudden wave of anger.
"He stole your identity.""
"And yours," Eleanor said.
She pulled another document from the envelope.
It showed my name.
Rose Alexander Sterling.
My biological father's surname had been added to my birth record.
I touched the paper.
"Why was my last name Carter?""
"Because Grace refused to give you up.""
Eleanor's voice trembled.
"She fought them. She threatened to expose everyone. Robert eventually allowed her to leave with you because he believed he had already secured the other child.""
"Daniel.""
"Yes.""
I stared at the document.
My mother had lost one baby and spent the rest of her life protecting the other.
I pressed my hands against my face.
Then Nathaniel found something else.
A handwritten note.
If the children ever discover the truth, separate them before the trust is released.
The note was signed:
*Robert Callaway.*
Nathaniel slammed the folder onto the desk.
"He planned to keep us apart forever.""
Eleanor nodded.
"Because the trust becomes fully accessible when both heirs reach their twenty-ninth birthday.""
I looked at her.
"That's this year.""
"Yes.""
Nathaniel checked the date.
"October seventeenth.""
My birthday.
Our birthday.
The same day the wedding had taken place.
I suddenly understood why Victoria had been so desperate.
She hadn't pushed Eleanor merely because of an old family argument.
She had pushed her because tonight was the night the inheritance became available.
And with both heirs identified, the Sterling trust would belong to us.
Nathaniel looked at the documents.
"How much?""
Eleanor answered quietly.
"Approximately eight hundred million dollars.""
I stared at her.
Eight hundred million.
But before I could process it, a voice came from the doorway.
"Actually, it's closer to nine hundred and twenty million now.""
We turned.
An elderly man stood at the entrance.
He wore a charcoal suit and leaned on a polished wooden cane.
His white hair was neatly combed.
His eyes were cold.
Nathaniel stepped in front of me.
"Robert.""
The old man smiled.
"My grandson.""
Nathaniel's voice shook.
"You're supposed to be dead.""
"Dead people have remarkably little trouble getting things done.""
Eleanor raised her cane.
"You destroyed this family.""
Robert looked at her.
"Don't be dramatic, Eleanor. I gave you everything.""
"You stole my son.""
"I gave you an heir.""
"You stole Grace's children!""
Robert's smile disappeared.
"Grace made her own choices.""
I stepped forward.
"Where is my mother?""
Robert studied me.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he looked at Nathaniel.
"Still protecting her, I see.""
Nathaniel clenched his fists.
"Where is Daniel?""
Robert gestured toward the monitors.
One screen flickered on.
A hospital room appeared.
Daniel lay on a bed, his face bruised.
A man stood beside him.
Dr. Thomas Sterling.
My stomach twisted.
Robert sat down in the leather chair.
"Your brother is alive. For now.""
I took a step toward the screen.
"Let him go!""
Robert smiled.
"Of course. Once we finish our little family discussion.""
Nathaniel looked at the monitors.
"Where is Grace?""
Robert's expression changed.
"Ah. Grace.""
He leaned forward.
"Your mother has been asking about you, Rose.""
My breath caught.
"Then take me to her.""
Robert shook his head.
"Not so quickly.""
He pressed a button on his desk.
The screen changed.
A live video appeared.
My mother was sitting in a small room, her hands resting in her lap.
She looked older than the photograph.
Her cheeks were thinner. Her hair was almost completely silver.
But she was alive.
I moved toward the screen.
"Mom!""
Her head lifted.
For one beautiful second, she looked directly into the camera.
Then she began to cry.
"Rose?""
I pressed my hand against the monitor.
"It's me. Mom, I'm here.""
She shook her head desperately.
"No! You shouldn't have come!""
Robert smiled.
"She's always been stubborn.""
Grace looked past the camera.
"Rose, listen to me. Whatever he tells you, don't believe him.""
Robert stood.
"Enough.""
He reached for the control panel.
My mother suddenly shouted.
"Your father is alive!""
I froze.
"What?""
Grace looked directly into the camera.
"Alexander didn't die in that car accident. Robert has been hiding him all these years.""
Nathaniel turned toward his grandfather.
Robert's face went completely still.
Eleanor whispered.
"Oh, God.""
Then Grace said the words that changed everything.
"Rose, the man standing beside you isn't the only Callaway who knows the truth.""
The screen went black.
Robert slowly turned toward Nathaniel.
And for the first time, the old man's smile returned.
"Well," he said softly.
"I suppose it's time you met your real father.""
A door opened behind us.
Footsteps approached.
Then a familiar voice spoke from the darkness.
"Hello, Nathaniel.""
It was Dr. Thomas Sterling.
But he wasn't alone.
Beside him stood a man whose face looked exactly like Nathaniel's.
Only older.
May you like
And on his left hand was a silver ring bearing the Sterling family crest.
*Alexander Sterling was alive.*
