Chapter 11: The Woman Who## Chapter 11: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
"Tell me who the proxy is.""
Jonathan Was Supposed to Be Dead
"Tell me who the proxy is.""
Jonathan didn't answer immediately.
He walked to the door, checked that it was locked didn't answer immediately.
He walked to the door, checked that it was locked, and returned to the desk.
"Your father appointed someone he trusted completely, and returned to the desk.
"Your father appointed someone he trusted completely. Someone who could exercise your mother's beneficiary rights if the need ever arose.""
"Who?""
Jonathan opened his briefcase and. Someone who could exercise your mother's beneficiary rights if the need ever arose.""
"Who?""
Jonathan opened his briefcase and removed a sealed legal envelope.
The wax seal bore my father's initials.
"I've kept this for removed a sealed legal envelope.
The wax seal bore my father's initials.
"I've kept this for eleven years," he said.
"He made me promise that I would only open it if someone attempted to challenge your eleven years," he said.
"He made me promise that I would only open it if someone attempted to challenge your ownership.""
I looked at Rebecca.
She seemed just as confused as I was.
Jonathan broke ownership.""
I looked at Rebecca.
She seemed just as confused as I was.
Jonathan broke the seal.
Inside was a notarized declaration and a photograph.
I recognized the woman immediately.
She was standing beside my father outside a hospital, holding a bouquet of white roses.
It was my mother.
But the photograph was dated eight years after the date on her death certificate.
My knees nearly gave way.
"That's impossible.""
Jonathan placed the seal.
Inside was a notarized declaration and a photograph.
I recognized the woman immediately.
She was standing beside my father outside a hospital, holding a bouquet of white roses.
It was my mother.
But the photograph was dated eight years after the date on her death certificate.
My knees nearly gave way.
"That's impossible.""
Jonathan placed the declaration beside it.
"Your mother was declared dead eleven years ago. But according to this document, she was alive when your father executed the amendment.""
Rebecca the declaration beside it.
"Your mother was declared dead eleven years ago. But according to this document, she was alive when your father executed the amendment.""
Rebecca covered her mouth.
"Are you saying she faked her death?""
Jonathan shook his head.
"I'm saying the legal records don't tell the whole story.""
I grabbed covered her mouth.
"Are you saying she faked her death?""
Jonathan shook his head.
"I'm saying the legal records don't tell the whole story.""
I grabbed the declaration.
The document stated that Evelyn Hayes had voluntarily relinquished her public identity and entered a protected arrangement following threats against her family.
the declaration.
The document stated that Evelyn Hayes had voluntarily relinquished her public identity and entered a protected arrangement following threats against her family.
She had not died.
She had disappeared.
I read the final paragraph.
**The designated legal proxy shall act on Evelyn Hayes's behalf until suchShe had not died.
She had disappeared.
I read the final paragraph.
*The designated legal proxy shall act on Evelyn Hayes's behalf until such time as she chooses to resume her identity.*
The proxy's name was typed beneath the signature.
Jonathan Reed.
I looked up.
"You?""
He nodded.
" time as she chooses to resume her identity.**
The proxy's name was typed beneath the signature.
Jonathan Reed.
I looked up.
"You?""
He nodded.
"Your father asked me to protect her interests.""
"All these years?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
His expression softened.
"Because your father believed that anyone who knew she wasYour father asked me to protect her interests.""
"All these years?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
His expression softened.
"Because your father believed that anyone who knew she was alive could become a target. He was afraid Martin would use her to control the company.""
I stepped away from the desk.
"My mother is alive could become a target. He was afraid Martin would use her to control the company.""
I stepped away from the desk.
"My mother is alive?""
Jonathan didn't answer immediately.
Then he reached into his briefcase and removed a second photograph.
It showed a woman sitting beside a window in a small garden.
Her hair was shorter alive?""
Jonathan didn't answer immediately.
Then he reached into his briefcase and removed a second photograph.
It showed a woman sitting beside a window in a small garden.
Her hair was shorter. There were faint lines around her eyes.
But I knew that face.
I had dreamed about it for eleven years.
"Where. There were faint lines around her eyes.
But I knew that face.
I had dreamed about it for eleven years.
"Where is she?"" I whispered.
"Under a protected identity.""
"Where?""
"I can't disclose is she?"" I whispered.
"Under a protected identity.""
"Where?""
"I can't disclose her location until we establish that the threat has been contained.""
I stared at him.
"You've been speaking to my mother while I was grieving her?""
Jonathan her location until we establish that the threat has been contained.""
I stared at him.
"You've been speaking to my mother while I was grieving her?""
Jonathan lowered his eyes.
"Only through a secure intermediary.""
"And you never thought I deserved to know?""
"Your father made me promise.""
lowered his eyes.
"Only through a secure intermediary.""
"And you never thought I deserved to know?""
"Your father made me promise.""
I turned away.
My father had hidden another daughter.
My mother had been alive while I attended her funeral.
AndI turned away.
My father had hidden another daughter.
My mother had been alive while I attended her funeral.
And the man who had helped arrange all of it was standing in front of me, asking me to trust him.
"Did my the man who had helped arrange all of it was standing in front of me, asking me to trust him.
"Did my mother know about Daniel?""
Jonathan nodded.
"She knew he was involved in the financial irregularities. Your father told her everything.""
"Did she know what happened the mother know about Daniel?""
Jonathan nodded.
"She knew he was involved in the financial irregularities. Your father told her everything.""
"Did she know what happened the morning he died?""
"She suspected Martin had arranged something, but she never obtained proof.""
I turned sharply.
"Then why didn't she come morning he died?""
"She suspected Martin had arranged something, but she never obtained proof.""
I turned sharply.
"Then why didn't she come forward?""
"Because Martin sent her a photograph of you leaving university. There was a message on the back.""
"What message forward?""
"Because Martin sent her a photograph of you leaving university. There was a message on the back.""
"What message?""
Jonathan handed me a photocopy.
Three words.
*Your daughter next.*
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Rebecca reached for my hand.
Jonathan?""
Jonathan handed me a photocopy.
Three words.
*Your daughter next.*
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Rebecca reached for my hand.
Jonathan continued.
"Your mother believed disappearing was the only way to keep you safe. Your father agreed to maintain the arrangement while continued.
"Your mother believed disappearing was the only way to keep you safe. Your father agreed to maintain the arrangement while he investigated Martin.""
"And when Dad died?""
"She was devastated. But Martin had already begun monitoring the family. She couldn't risk exposing herself he investigated Martin.""
"And when Dad died?""
"She was devastated. But Martin had already begun monitoring the family. She couldn't risk exposing herself.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Eleven years.
Eleven years of birthdays without her.
Eleven Christmas mornings.
Eleven years of believing.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Eleven years.
Eleven years of birthdays without her.
Eleven Christmas mornings.
Eleven years of believing I would never hear her voice again.
I pressed the photograph against my chest.
"Can I speak to her?""
Jonathan nodded.
"I can arrange a secure call.""
"Now I would never hear her voice again.
I pressed the photograph against my chest.
"Can I speak to her?""
Jonathan nodded.
"I can arrange a secure call.""
"Now.""
He took out his phone.
It took nearly twenty minutes to establish the connection.
When the call finally came through, Jonathan handed me the phone.
A.""
He took out his phone.
It took nearly twenty minutes to establish the connection.
When the call finally came through, Jonathan handed me the phone.
A woman's voice answered.
"Hello?""
I couldn't speak.
There was a small intake of breath.
"Nia?""
My knees weakened.
"Mom?""
Silence.
Then I heard her crying woman's voice answered.
"Hello?""
I couldn't speak.
There was a small intake of breath.
"Nia?""
My knees weakened.
"Mom?""
Silence.
Then I heard her crying.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
I pressed my hand over my mouth.
"You're alive.""
"Yes, baby.""
"Why?""
"I wanted to come.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
I pressed my hand over my mouth.
"You're alive.""
"Yes, baby.""
"Why?""
"I wanted to come home so many times.""
"Then why didn't you?""
Her voice broke.
"Because I was afraid they would hurt you.""
I sank into a chair.
"I buried home so many times.""
"Then why didn't you?""
Her voice broke.
"Because I was afraid they would hurt you.""
I sank into a chair.
"I buried you.""
"I know.""
"I stood beside your coffin.""
"I know, darling.""
"Do you know what that did to me?""
She began you.""
"I know.""
"I stood beside your coffin.""
"I know, darling.""
"Do you know what that did to me?""
She began sobbing.
"I am so sorry.""
I couldn't stop the tears.
For eleven years, I'd kept one photograph of her beside my bed. I'd sobbing.
"I am so sorry.""
I couldn't stop the tears.
For eleven years, I'd kept one photograph of her beside my bed. I'd spoken to it on difficult nights. I'd imagined what she might say whenever life became unbearable.
And she spoken to it on difficult nights. I'd imagined what she might say whenever life became unbearable.
And she had been alive.
Somewhere.
Watching from a distance.
"Did Dad know you were alive?""
"Yes.""
"Did Daniel?""
had been alive.
Somewhere.
Watching from a distance.
"Did Dad know you were alive?""
"Yes.""
"Did Daniel?""
A long silence followed.
Then my mother answered.
"Daniel knew I hadn't died.""
I closed my eyes.
"How long?""
"FromA long silence followed.
Then my mother answered.
"Daniel knew I hadn't died.""
I closed my eyes.
"How long?""
"From the beginning.""
I felt something inside me break.
"Did he know where you were?""
"Not exactly. But he knew enough to understand that your father had protected me.""
I swallowed.
"Mom the beginning.""
I felt something inside me break.
"Did he know where you were?""
"Not exactly. But he knew enough to understand that your father had protected me.""
I swallowed.
"Mom, did Daniel have anything to do with Dad's death?""
Her breathing changed.
"I don't know what happened that morning. But I remember something your, did Daniel have anything to do with Dad's death?""
Her breathing changed.
"I don't know what happened that morning. But I remember something your father told me.""
"What?""
"He said Martin had found a way to make Daniel dependent on him.""
"How?""
"Martin had evidence that Daniel had been involved in an father told me.""
"What?""
"He said Martin had found a way to make Daniel dependent on him.""
"How?""
"Martin had evidence that Daniel had been involved in an earlier financial scandal. He threatened to expose him unless Daniel cooperated.""
I looked at Jonathan.
My mother continued.
"But there was something else. Patricia knew about my earlier financial scandal. He threatened to expose him unless Daniel cooperated.""
I looked at Jonathan.
My mother continued.
"But there was something else. Patricia knew about my disappearance. She helped Martin arrange it.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why would Patricia help?""
"Because she wanted your father to believe that disappearance. She helped Martin arrange it.""
I gripped the phone.
"Why would Patricia help?""
"Because she wanted your father to believe that he had lost control of his family. She thought he would eventually surrender the company.""
I wiped my tears.
"Mom, where are you?""
She hesitated he had lost control of his family. She thought he would eventually surrender the company.""
I wiped my tears.
"Mom, where are you?""
She hesitated.
"Close enough to come home.""
My heart began racing.
"Then come home.""
"I will. But not until I know you're.
"Close enough to come home.""
My heart began racing.
"Then come home.""
"I will. But not until I know you're safe.""
A sudden noise interrupted the call.
My mother gasped.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
There was movement on her safe.""
A sudden noise interrupted the call.
My mother gasped.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
There was movement on her end.
Then a man's voice.
"Mrs. Hayes?""
My mother's breathing became rapid.
"Nia, listen to me. If Jonathan has end.
Then a man's voice.
"Mrs. Hayes?""
My mother's breathing became rapid.
"Nia, listen to me. If Jonathan has the original trust document, check the final page. Your father left something else.""
"What?""
"The name of the person who arranged the medication.""
I the original trust document, check the final page. Your father left something else.""
"What?""
"The name of the person who arranged the medication.""
I sat upright.
"Who?""
Before she could answer, the call disconnected.
I immediately called back.
No answer.
Jonathan stood sat upright.
"Who?""
Before she could answer, the call disconnected.
I immediately called back.
No answer.
Jonathan stood.
"I'll contact the security team.""
Rebecca looked at me.
"Do you think someone found her?""
I stared at the phone.
Then a message appeared.
It was from my.
"I'll contact the security team.""
Rebecca looked at me.
"Do you think someone found her?""
I stared at the phone.
Then a message appeared.
It was from my mother's number.
*Don't trust the man who answers my calls.*
I looked at Jonathan.
He was already holding his phone.
But he wasn't calling mother's number.
*Don't trust the man who answers my calls.*
I looked at Jonathan.
He was already holding his phone.
But he wasn't calling security.
He was deleting something.
And when he noticed me watching, his expression changed.
"Nia," he said quietly, "I can security.
He was deleting something.
May you like
And when he noticed me watching, his expression changed.
"Nia," he said quietly, "I can explain.""
