Chapter 8: The Mother Who Bought Her Son
My biological mother stepped in front of me.
"Don't listen to her," Grace whispered.
Eleanor walked closer.
Her heels clicked against the concrete.
She wore the same diamond necklace from the Halloween party.
"Still playing the protective mother, Grace?"" she asked.
Grace tightened her grip on her suitcase.
"Leave him alone.""
Eleanor laughed.
"You abandoned him.""
"I was forced to leave.""
"You signed the agreement.""
"You threatened to have him taken away permanently.""
My father stepped between them.
"Enough, Eleanor.""
She turned toward him.
"James, you should be resting in your little hospital room.""
"You should be in prison.""
Her smile disappeared.
For a moment, the three adults stood facing one another beneath the flickering station lights.
I felt like an outsider watching a family argument that had started long before I was born.
"Someone explain," I demanded.
Eleanor looked at me.
"Your biological mother was a poor woman who couldn't afford to raise a child. I gave her a home, money, and a future.""
Grace shook her head.
"You stole my baby.""
"I saved him.""
"You bought him.""
Eleanor's eyes narrowed.
"Be careful.""
Grace opened her suitcase and removed a small folder.
Inside were bank statements.
"These are the original payments," she said.
"The money you transferred to me before Marcus was born. Every payment was conditional on my disappearance.""
I examined the documents.
The dates matched my birth.
The amounts were enormous.
Eleanor didn't deny anything.
"Your father wanted a child," she said.
"I couldn't give him one. Grace agreed to carry the baby.""
I stared at her.
"You're saying I was born through a surrogacy arrangement?""
"No," Grace replied.
"There was no arrangement. I was married to James before he met Eleanor. She offered me money to disappear while I was pregnant.
I refused. Then she threatened my family.""
My father lowered his head.
"Grace...""
She turned toward him.
"You knew.""
He didn't answer.
I looked between them.
"So you both let Eleanor raise me?""
Grace began crying.
"I thought it would keep you safe.""
Eleanor laughed.
"How touching.""
Then she reached into her handbag.
She removed a document and held it toward me.
"There's another reason you should stop asking questions.""
I didn't take it.
"What is it?""
"Your adoption agreement.""
Grace shook her head.
"That document is fraudulent.""
Eleanor ignored her.
"According to the law, I became your legal mother when you were six months old. James and I raised you. We gave you everything.""
"You gave me a lie.""
"I gave you a life.""
I stepped closer.
"Where is Emily?""
Eleanor's expression changed.
"Emily is dead.""
"Then why was she in a photograph taken six months ago?""
For the first time, she looked genuinely surprised.
Grace grabbed my arm.
"Marcus, don't.""
I turned toward her.
"Why?""
"Because the girl in that photograph isn't Emily.""
I froze.
"What?""
Grace opened her folder again.
She showed me a recent photograph.
It depicted a young woman with curly brown hair, standing outside a pharmacy.
The face was almost identical to the girl in the earlier picture.
But something was different.
The young woman had a small tattoo behind her ear.
A crescent moon.
Grace pointed to it.
"Emily had that tattoo.""
My father stared at the photograph.
"She was only five when she disappeared.""
Grace nodded.
"She had it added later.""
"Where is she?""
Grace looked at Eleanor.
"Ask the woman who changed her name.""
Eleanor's face became rigid.
I turned toward her.
"What name?""
She didn't answer.
Grace spoke quietly.
"Emily was sent to a private boarding school under a different identity. When she turned eighteen, she was moved again.""
"Why?""
"Because she inherited something your mother wanted.""
I pulled out the original will.
Eleanor saw it.
Her expression changed immediately.
"Where did you get that?""
"Vanessa.""
For the first time, Eleanor looked genuinely angry.
"That ungrateful little parasite.""
I raised the document.
"Emily owns the Carter estate.""
"That will is invalid.""
"Then why are you afraid of it?""
Eleanor took one step forward.
"Because you don't understand what you're holding.""
"Then explain.""
She looked at Grace.
"Tell him what happened on the night Emily disappeared.""
Grace's face went pale.
My father stepped closer.
"Don't.""
But Grace had already begun speaking.
"Emily wasn't kidnapped by Eleanor.""
I stared at her.
"Then who took her?""
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
"Your father.""
The words struck harder than anything Eleanor had said.
I turned toward James.
He didn't deny it.
"Why?"" I whispered.
My father covered his face.
"Because I thought it was the only way to save her.""
Grace continued.
"James took Emily out of the hospital after discovering Eleanor planned to have her transferred somewhere she would never be found. He gave her to a trusted family.""
"Then why did you tell me she was dead?""
Grace looked at me.
"Because Eleanor found out where Emily was living.""
My father nodded.
"She threatened to kill the family protecting her.""
I felt sick.
"So Emily has been hiding for eleven years?""
"Yes," Grace whispered.
"From Eleanor?""
"From everyone.""
Eleanor suddenly laughed.
"You see? Even now, they are lying to you.""
She pulled out her phone.
A video began playing.
It showed a young woman sitting in a dark room.
Her hands were tied.
A crescent moon tattoo was visible behind her ear.
My stomach dropped.
"Emily!""
Eleanor turned the phone toward me.
"She's alive.""
Grace screamed.
"Where is she?""
Eleanor smiled.
"That depends on whether Marcus gives me the original will.""
I tightened my grip on the document.
"Let her go.""
"Bring me the will.""
"First, prove she's alive.""
Eleanor tapped the screen.
A live video appeared.
The girl slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes were red from crying.
She looked directly into the camera.
Then she spoke.
"Marcus?""
I nearly collapsed.
"Emily?""
She swallowed.
"Please don't give her the will.""
Eleanor slapped her across the face.
The video went dark.
I lunged toward my mother.
My father caught me.
"Don't!""
Eleanor stepped backward toward the waiting train.
"Midnight tomorrow," she said.
"The will for Emily.""
Then she looked at Grace.
"And if either of you contacts the police, your daughter disappears forever.""
The train doors opened.
Eleanor stepped inside.
Just before they closed, she turned toward me.
"By the way, Marcus...""
She smiled.
"Ask your father why he chose you instead of Emily.""
May you like
The doors shut.
And the train disappeared into the darkness.
