Chapter 7: The Father Who Never Died
For seventeen years, I had imagined what it would feel like to discover my father was still alive.
I had pictured a warm embrace, an apology, and an explanation for all the birthdays he had missed.
I had never imagined standing in a hidden room beneath a billionaire's mansion, watching two men who looked almost identical stare at each other like enemies.
Nathaniel stood motionless.
The older man beside Dr. Thomas Sterling had the same dark eyes, the same straight nose, and the same sharp jawline.
He looked like Nathaniel might look in thirty years.
Except his face carried something Nathaniel's never had.
Fear.
Robert Callaway slowly rose from his chair.
"Alexander. It's been a long time.""
The older man didn't look at him.
"Not long enough.""
Nathaniel stepped forward.
"Who are you?""
Alexander's eyes moved toward him.
"I'm Alexander Sterling.""
Nathaniel shook his head.
"No. That's impossible.""
"I know.""
"You're supposed to be dead.""
Alexander gave a bitter smile.
"Your grandfather has been very good at convincing people of that.""
Robert struck his cane against the floor.
"Watch your mouth.""
Alexander finally turned toward him.
"You took my children. You destroyed Grace's life. You imprisoned me for nearly three decades. And you still expect respect?""
I looked at Dr. Thomas Sterling.
"Where is my mother?""
Thomas adjusted his jacket.
"Your mother is safe.""
"Then take me to her.""
"After the trust documents are signed.""
I stared at him.
"What documents?""
Robert smiled.
"The inheritance agreement. The two heirs must voluntarily transfer their interests to the Sterling family holding company.""
Nathaniel laughed.
"You expect us to sign away nine hundred million dollars?""
Robert's expression hardened.
"I expect you to do what your family has always done. Protect the family name.""
Nathaniel stepped toward him.
"You stole my name.""
Robert lifted his chin.
"I gave you a life.""
"You gave me a lie.""
For a moment, the room was silent.
Then Alexander moved toward Nathaniel.
"Son, don't sign anything.""
Nathaniel looked at him.
"Don't call me that.""
Alexander stopped.
The hurt on his face was immediate.
"I understand.""
"No, you don't. You weren't there when I broke my arm at seven and waited for my father to come home. You weren't there when I graduated. You weren't there when I buried the man I thought was my father.""
Alexander lowered his eyes.
"I know.""
"Then don't stand there pretending we're family.""
Alexander swallowed.
"I won't ask you to forgive me. But I need you to understand something. I didn't abandon you.""
Robert laughed.
"Here we go again. Another tragic story.""
Alexander ignored him.
"I was working as a junior executive at Sterling Holdings when I discovered that Robert had arranged the hospital switch. I confronted him three days after your birth.""
He looked at me.
"Grace was terrified. She wanted to take both children and disappear. I promised her I would protect you.""
"What happened?""
"Robert invited me to his estate. He said he wanted to negotiate.""
Alexander's voice became rough.
"When I arrived, Thomas was waiting. They drugged my drink. I woke up in a private medical facility outside New York.""
I stared at Thomas.
"You helped imprison your own brother?""
Thomas shrugged.
"Alexander was unstable. He had become obsessed with a nurse and her children.""
Alexander shook his head.
"That's the story they told everyone.""
He continued.
"For years, they kept me under medical supervision. When I tried to escape, they threatened Grace. Eventually, I stopped fighting because I believed she and the children were safe.""
My chest tightened.
"And you never knew where we were?""
"Not until recently.""
Nathaniel stared at him.
"How did you get out?""
Alexander looked toward Thomas.
"He made one mistake.""
Thomas frowned.
"What?""
"You assumed I had no friends left.""
Alexander reached into his jacket and removed a small recording device.
"Three weeks ago, one of the nurses who cared for me contacted an attorney. She helped me escape and gave me copies of the medical records.""
Robert lunged toward him.
"Give me that!""
Marcus appeared behind Robert and blocked him.
"Don't move, sir.""
Alexander pressed the device.
A recording filled the room.
Thomas's voice emerged.
"Once the children sign, the trust is ours. Robert will have no reason to keep Grace alive.""
Then another voice.
Victoria.
"And what about Eleanor?""
Thomas laughed.
"She'll be dealt with before the wedding.""
Nathaniel closed his eyes.
Everything was there.
The plan.
The murder attempt.
The kidnapping.
The financial conspiracy.
Thomas suddenly stopped pretending to be calm.
"Turn that off!""
He reached for the device.
Marcus seized his wrist.
"You're under arrest.""
Thomas struggled.
"You have no idea who you're dealing with!""
Robert slammed his cane against the floor.
"Enough!""
He turned toward Nathaniel.
"You think you're going to destroy this family because of a few recordings?""
Nathaniel stared at him.
"This family destroyed itself.""
Robert's face twisted.
Then he pressed another button on the desk.
A heavy metallic sound echoed through the corridor.
The steel door began closing.
Marcus rushed toward it.
"Everyone out!""
But the door slammed before he could reach it.
Red lights flashed along the ceiling.
Robert smiled.
"Welcome to the part of the house nobody knows exists.""
I ran toward the door and pulled at the handle.
It wouldn't move.
Nathaniel struck the metal with his shoulder.
"Marcus!""
No response.
Alexander examined the keypad.
"There's an emergency release.""
Robert chuckled.
"Not anymore.""
I turned toward the monitors.
One screen showed Grace sitting in the small room.
Another showed Daniel lying unconscious in the hospital bed.
And a third displayed a countdown.
*00:14:59.*
Nathaniel stared at it.
"What happens when that reaches zero?""
Robert adjusted his cufflinks.
"The medical facility where Grace and Daniel are being held will be evacuated.""
Alexander's face changed.
"You're going to destroy the evidence.""
Robert smiled.
"Among other things.""
I rushed toward him.
"Where is my mother?""
Robert looked at me.
"Would you like to see her?""
He tapped another screen.
A video appeared.
Grace was standing now, arguing with someone outside the camera's view.
Then the door opened.
Victoria entered.
She was holding a syringe.
My mother backed away.
"Don't touch me!""
Victoria smiled.
"Your daughter should have stayed away.""
I screamed.
"NO!""
Nathaniel grabbed Robert's collar.
"Stop this!""
Robert looked directly into his grandson's eyes.
"Sign the agreement.""
Nathaniel released him.
Then he turned toward me.
"Rose, whatever happens, don't sign anything.""
I nodded.
But the countdown kept moving.
And on the screen, Victoria was approaching my mother with the syringe.
Alexander suddenly looked toward the ventilation panel.
"There's another way out.""
Robert's smile disappeared.
"What?""
Alexander grabbed a metal chair and smashed it against the wall.
Behind the panel was a narrow maintenance passage.
"Move!"" he shouted.
Nathaniel helped Eleanor into the opening.
I followed.
But just as I reached the passage, Robert grabbed my wrist.
His fingers dug painfully into my skin.
"Your mother should have stayed quiet.""
I stared at him.
"She was braver than you.""
Then I pulled free.
The panel slammed behind us.
And as we crawled through the darkness, Nathaniel's phone suddenly rang.
The caller ID showed one name.
*VICTORIA.*
He answered.
Her voice was calm.
"Congratulations, darling. You've found your father.""
A pause.
"Now come find your wife.""
The call ended.
Nathaniel looked at the phone.
Then he looked at me.
We both understood.
May you like
Victoria hadn't been arrested.
And she was still holding my mother.
