Chapter 8: The Inheritance Nobody Knew About
"Someone else?""
The words escaped my mouth before I could stop them.
Margaret nodded.
She was visibly exhausted, but her fingers remained wrapped around mine.
"Your father had a plan. He wanted to divide the company fairly between his children.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"How many children did Frank have?""
She hesitated.
Margaret answered.
"Three.""
I stared at her.
"Three?""
"Yes.""
Anthony.
Me.
And another child.
I felt dizzy.
"Who?""
Margaret looked toward the window.
"A little girl.""
The room became silent.
I sat down slowly.
"Where is she?""
Margaret closed her eyes.
"That's what I've been trying to find out.""
I turned toward Eleanor.
She looked as though she might collapse.
"You knew about another child?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"How long?""
"Since before your father died.""
I stood again.
"How many secrets can one family have?""
Eleanor began sobbing.
"Marcus, please.""
"No. Not anymore.""
Margaret reached for my hand.
"Your father called her Grace.""
I frowned.
"Grace Russo?""
"Grace Carter.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"Who was her mother?""
Margaret shook her head.
"Not me.""
I stared at her.
"Then who?""
She swallowed.
"Her mother was a woman named Claire Bennett.""
The surname made my stomach tighten.
Vanessa's maiden name had been Bennett.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Is that a coincidence?""
My mother didn't answer.
Margaret continued.
"Claire worked for your father. She was his assistant for many years. She became pregnant when he was still using the name Frank Russo.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Where is Grace now?""
"I don't know.""
"How old would she be?""
"Thirty-one.""
I calculated quickly.
She would have been born four years after Anthony and four years before me.
"Did my father know where she was?""
Margaret nodded.
"He kept track of her. He paid for her education. He made sure she was safe.""
"Then why didn't he bring her into the family?""
Margaret's eyes filled.
"Because Claire died.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"How?""
She lowered her head.
"An accident.""
"What kind?""
"A car accident.""
Margaret gave a small, bitter laugh.
"That's what the police report said.""
I turned toward her.
"What do you mean?""
She reached into the wooden box again.
This time, she removed a photograph.
It showed a young woman standing outside a brick apartment building.
She had dark hair and a warm smile.
On the back was written:
Claire and Grace. Christmas, 1995.
I studied the photograph.
Something about the young woman seemed familiar.
Not her face.
Her eyes.
They were the same eyes I had seen in the photograph of the woman holding me as a baby.
"Why are you showing me this?""
Margaret looked at Eleanor.
"Because Claire didn't die in a car accident.""
My mother suddenly stood.
"That's enough.""
Margaret's voice became stronger.
"No. He deserves to know.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"You don't understand what you're doing.""
Margaret ignored her.
"Claire was investigating Frank's business dealings. She had discovered that someone was transferring money out of the company.""
"Who?""
Margaret's eyes moved toward Eleanor.
My mother looked away.
I felt my heart pounding.
"Mom?""
She didn't answer.
Margaret continued.
"Claire had proof. She wanted to take it to the police. Two days later, her car went off a bridge.""
I stared at Eleanor.
"Was that an accident?""
My mother began crying.
"I don't know.""
"Did you investigate?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because Frank told me to leave it alone.""
I stepped back.
My entire family seemed to have been built around people disappearing.
Margaret touched my arm.
"There's something else.""
She lifted the photograph again.
"Grace survived the accident.""
I froze.
"What?""
"She wasn't in the car. She was staying with a neighbor.""
"Where did she go?""
"Frank arranged for her to be adopted by another family.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"Who?""
She whispered something.
I leaned closer.
"What?""
"Your aunt.""
I stared at her.
"My aunt?""
"Your father's younger sister. Helen Carter.""
I shook my head.
"I don't have an aunt Helen.""
"You do.""
"Where is she?""
Eleanor looked down.
"She lives in Boston.""
I took out my phone.
"Then we're going to Boston.""
Margaret suddenly tightened her grip around my wrist.
"Wait.""
I turned.
She looked frightened.
"Don't go to Helen without understanding why Frank hid Grace.""
"Why?""
Margaret leaned closer.
"Because Grace wasn't just his daughter.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"She was the only person who knew where the original company records were kept.""
I remembered the flash drive.
The bank documents.
The trust.
"Original records?""
Margaret nodded.
"Frank created a second company before he disappeared. It owned the majority of Carter Development Holdings.""
I stared at her.
"Who controlled it?""
"Grace.""
The room fell silent.
I looked at Eleanor.
"Did you know?""
She slowly nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then why did you let me believe I inherited everything?""
"Because Frank wanted it that way.""
"Why?""
My mother covered her face.
"Because you were supposed to protect Grace.""
I stepped closer.
"From Anthony?""
She shook her head.
"From everyone.""
Margaret looked at me.
"Anthony has spent years searching for her. He believes she controls the money that was taken from him.""
"Does she?""
"Not exactly.""
Margaret reached beneath her pillow and pulled out a small envelope.
Inside was a photograph of a silver key.
Beneath it was a handwritten address.
A storage facility in Boston.
"Your father left something there," she whispered.
"Something that will prove who really owns the company.""
I took the envelope.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?""
"Because I was afraid you would come before you were ready.""
I looked at the photograph of Grace.
Then at my mother.
"How long have you known where she is?""
Eleanor wiped her face.
"Since she was twenty-one.""
"And you've been keeping her hidden?""
"Yes.""
"From Anthony?""
She nodded.
I turned toward Daniel, who had been standing quietly near the doorway.
"We're going to Boston.""
He nodded.
"I'll arrange transportation.""
Margaret reached for my hand again.
"Marcus.""
I looked down.
She was crying.
"Please bring Grace home.""
I squeezed her fingers.
"I will.""
Then she whispered something else.
"One more thing. When you find her, don't trust the first person who tells you she is your sister.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
Margaret looked at Eleanor.
"Because Claire's daughter may not be who you think she is.""
I stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
But before she could answer, her heart monitor began beeping faster.
The nurse rushed into the room.
"Mr. Carter, I need you to step outside.""
I backed away.
Margaret's hand slipped from mine.
As the nurse adjusted the equipment, my mother grabbed my arm.
"Marcus, we have to leave.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
She glanced toward the hallway.
At the far end, a man in a black jacket was standing near the nurses' station.
He was holding a phone.
And when he saw me looking, he turned and walked away.
Daniel stepped into the hallway.
"I'll check.""
He returned less than a minute later.
His face was tense.
"Marcus, we have a problem.""
"What?""
"Someone has accessed Margaret's medical records.""
"Who?""
Daniel held up his phone.
"The request came from a law firm representing Anthony Russo.""
I looked toward Margaret's room.
Then back at Eleanor.
"Why would Anthony need her medical records?""
My mother whispered:
"Because he wants to prove she isn't competent to change her will.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
"Her will?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Margaret owns something Anthony wants more than the company.""
"What?""
May you like
My mother looked directly into my eyes.
"Your biological identity.""
