Chapter 9: The Last Secret of Harper Estate
The old Harper estate stood on a hill overlooking a narrow river.
Claire had visited it only twice.
The first time was for Nathan's twenty-fifth birthday.
The second was when Margaret hosted a Christmas dinner and spent the entire evening criticizing Claire's cooking.
Now the mansion's windows glowed in the darkness.
A black SUV stood near the entrance.
Brooks parked two streets away.
“Stay behind me,” he instructed.
Claire looked at the building.
“Where would they keep Nathan?””
“Probably inside.””
Emily had insisted on accompanying them, despite Brooks's objections.
Lily remained with two officers at a secure location.
Claire had kissed her forehead before leaving.
“Stay with them. I'll bring Daddy home.””
Lily had nodded.
“Tell him I saved his hand.””
Claire smiled through her tears.
“I will.””
Now she followed Brooks toward the mansion.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, the air smelled of old wood and expensive perfume.
A chandelier illuminated the entrance hall.
On the wall hung a large portrait of Nathan's father.
Claire stopped.
She had never seen the painting before.
The man looked remarkably like Nathan.
Same brown eyes.
Same strong jaw.
Same slight crease between the eyebrows.
Below the painting was a brass plaque.
*Nathaniel James Harper Sr. — Founder of Harper Development.*
Claire stared at the name.
Her biological father.
A man whose existence had been hidden from her.
Brooks touched her shoulder.
“Let's keep moving.””
They entered the study.
A fire burned in the fireplace.
Margaret sat in an armchair, her injured shoulder wrapped in a white bandage.
Thomas Bell stood beside her.
And Nathan sat across from them.
His wrists were tied to the chair.
His face was bruised.
But he was alive.
“Claire!””
She rushed forward.
Brooks caught her arm.
“Wait.””
Thomas raised both hands.
“There's no need for violence.””
Claire glared at him.
“You put my husband in a coffin.””
Thomas looked uncomfortable.
“I was following instructions.””
“You knew he was alive?””
“Not initially.””
“Don't lie to me!””
Margaret stood.
“Claire, please. We can still resolve this.””
Claire laughed.
“You tried to kill your son.””
“I was trying to protect what your father built.””
“You stole it!””
Margaret's face hardened.
“Your father was weak. He made promises to people who didn't deserve them.””
Nathan struggled against the ropes.
“Shut up, Margaret.””
She turned toward him.
“You've caused enough trouble.””
“You poisoned me.””
“I gave you a chance to cooperate.””
“You put me in a coffin!””
Margaret walked toward him and straightened his hospital blanket.
“Do you know how much I sacrificed to build this family?””
Nathan pulled away.
“You destroyed it.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“Mrs. Harper, perhaps we should discuss the documents.””
Claire looked at him.
“Why did you help them?””
Thomas sighed.
“My daughter needed surgery. Margaret offered to pay for it.””
“So you helped her fake my husband's death?””
“I thought he was already dead.””
“You knew the paperwork was false.””
Thomas looked down.
“I made a mistake.””
Claire stepped closer.
“You let my four-year-old daughter climb into a coffin with her father.””
Thomas's face crumpled.
“I never imagined—”
“Don't.””
Her voice was quiet.
“Don't you dare pretend you didn't know what could happen.””
Margaret clapped her hands once.
“Enough. We have more important matters.””
She pointed toward a table.
A stack of legal documents lay beneath a black leather folder.
“Sign the transfer agreement, Claire.””
Claire looked at the papers.
“What happens if I refuse?””
“Your husband goes back to the place he belongs.””
Nathan shook his head.
“Don't sign anything.””
Margaret pulled a small remote control from her pocket.
A television mounted above the fireplace flickered on.
A video appeared.
Elizabeth sat in a dimly lit room.
Her hands were tied.
Her face was bruised.
Claire gasped.
“Mom!””
Elizabeth looked directly into the camera.
“Claire, don't do it.””
Margaret smiled.
“Your mother is very stubborn.””
Claire turned toward her.
“Where is she?””
“Somewhere safe.””
“You kidnapped her?””
“I kept her from interfering.””
Nathan's face turned pale.
“Margaret, leave her out of this.””
Margaret laughed.
“Why? You've spent years protecting everyone except yourself.””
She placed a pen on the table.
“Sign.””
Claire looked at the agreement.
The first page transferred all controlling shares of Harper Development to a company registered overseas.
The second page transferred ownership of the estate.
The third page contained a declaration that Claire voluntarily surrendered all claims to the family trust.
She looked at Margaret.
“You want me to give you everything.””
“I want what belongs to this family.””
“I'm part of this family.””
Margaret's eyes narrowed.
“Unfortunately.””
Nathan suddenly leaned forward.
“Claire, look at the signature.””
She glanced down.
“What?””
“The last page.””
Claire turned it over.
There was a signature at the bottom.
Her own.
It looked exactly like the one she used on official documents.
But she had never signed it.
“This is forged.””
Margaret shrugged.
“You'd be surprised how easy it is to obtain someone's signature.””
Thomas looked uncomfortable again.
Claire noticed his eyes moving toward the hallway.
He was nervous.
Very nervous.
“Thomas,” she said.
He looked up.
“Where is my mother?””
“I don't know.””
Margaret turned sharply.
“Thomas.””
He swallowed.
“I'm sorry.””
Claire's heart raced.
“Tell me where she is.””
Thomas glanced at Margaret.
Then he spoke.
“There's a cellar beneath the east wing.””
Margaret's expression changed.
“Don't.””
Thomas continued.
“Robert brought her here two nights ago.””
Claire felt her knees weaken.
“Is she alive?””
Thomas nodded.
“She was when I last saw her.””
Margaret grabbed his arm.
“You idiot!””
Brooks moved immediately.
“Step away from him!””
But Margaret was already reaching into her handbag.
Nathan shouted.
“Claire! Get down!””
A gunshot shattered the room.
The bullet struck the wall behind the fireplace.
Brooks tackled Margaret to the floor.
Thomas ran toward the hallway.
Claire rushed to Nathan and began cutting the ropes with a letter opener.
“Are you hurt?””
“I'm fine.””
“You're bleeding!””
“Claire, listen to me.””
He grabbed her hand.
“The cellar.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
They hurried through the east corridor.
A narrow staircase descended beneath the mansion.
The air grew colder with every step.
At the bottom was a heavy wooden door.
Claire pushed it open.
“Mom?””
Silence.
Then a weak voice answered.
“Claire?””
She ran toward it.
Elizabeth sat on a mattress in the corner.
Her hair was gray at the temples. Her face was bruised, and one wrist was wrapped in a dirty bandage.
But she was alive.
“Mom!””
Claire fell to her knees and embraced her.
Elizabeth held her daughter tightly.
“Oh, my baby.””
Claire sobbed.
“I thought you were dead.””
“I know.””
“Why didn't you come home?””
Elizabeth closed her eyes.
“I was afraid they'd hurt you.””
Nathan entered behind them.
Elizabeth looked up.
“Nathan?””
He nodded.
“I'm sorry I couldn't find you sooner.””
Elizabeth began crying.
“You look just like your father.””
Claire pulled back.
“Mom, we need to get you out of here.””
Elizabeth grabbed her hand.
“Wait.””
She reached beneath the mattress and pulled out a small metal box.
“This is what Margaret wanted.””
Claire opened it.
Inside was the original trust agreement.
But beneath it lay another document.
A birth certificate.
Claire stared at the name printed at the top.
*Elizabeth Carter.*
Below it was the name of the father.
Nathaniel James Harper Sr.
She already knew that.
But then she noticed the second page.
It was an old hospital record.
A handwritten note appeared in the margin.
Twin pregnancy. Two female infants delivered. Second infant transferred to private care at the request of Nathaniel Harper Sr.
Claire looked up.
“Mom?””
Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears.
“There were two of you.””
Claire couldn't speak.
“Your father arranged for your sister to be taken to a different family because he believed Margaret would never stop hunting the inheritance.””
“Lily?””
Elizabeth nodded.
“Lily isn't the only sister you have.””
Claire stared.
“Then who?””
Elizabeth reached into the box and removed a faded photograph.
Two newborn babies lay side by side.
One had a small birthmark near her left ear.
Claire touched her own ear.
She had the same birthmark.
“Where is the other baby?”” she whispered.
Elizabeth began shaking.
“I don't know.””
Nathan stepped closer.
“Margaret knows.””
Elizabeth nodded.
“She always knew.””
Claire looked at the photograph again.
For eleven years, she had believed Lily was her only sister.
Now she was learning that her family had been divided into pieces long before she was born.
A noise sounded above them.
Footsteps.
Then a man's voice.
“Elizabeth?””
Everyone froze.
It was Robert.
He appeared at the top of the stairs, holding a folder.
Behind him stood a young woman wearing a dark coat.
Claire couldn't see her face clearly.
Robert smiled.
“Well, this is a touching reunion.””
Nathan stepped in front of Claire.
“Stay away from them.””
Robert ignored him.
He looked directly at Claire.
“You've finally found your mother.””
Claire tightened her grip on the trust agreement.
“Where is my other sister?””
Robert smiled.
Then the young woman beside him stepped forward.
She removed her hood.
Claire stopped breathing.
The woman had her mother's eyes.
The same birthmark near her left ear.
And a familiar silver heart necklace.
Elizabeth screamed.
“Anna!””
The young woman looked at Claire.
Then she spoke.
“Hello, big sister.””
Robert raised the folder.
“Now that everyone is together, we can finally discuss who really owns Harper Development.””
He opened it.
Inside was a document bearing the seal of a private adoption agency.
May you like
And the name of the person who had legally adopted Anna.
*Margaret Harper.*
