Chapter 13: The Mother Who Was Never Dead
Daniel read the name again.
"Isabella Hale.""
I stared at him.
The name meant nothing to me.
But Marcus looked as though someone had punched him.
"That's impossible," he whispered.
I turned toward him.
"Who is Isabella Hale?""
He swallowed.
"Victor's first wife.""
I frowned.
"His first wife?""
Marcus nodded slowly.
"Victor told me she died years ago. He said she was involved in a car accident shortly after their divorce.""
Daniel examined the archived witness statement.
"According to this document, Isabella Hale was present at St. Catherine's Medical Center on the night Alexander Whitmore died.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Why would Victor's former wife have anything to do with my father's treatment?""
Nobody answered.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He listened briefly before handing it to me.
"Ms. Morris wants to speak with you.""
The retired nurse.
I took the phone.
"Hello?""
A trembling female voice answered.
"Ms. Whitmore, my name is Helen Morris. I was your father's nurse.""
"I know.""
"I'm sorry. I've wanted to speak to you for years.""
I closed my eyes.
"Then tell me what happened.""
There was a long silence.
Finally, she spoke.
"Your father was conscious when I left his room that evening. He was weak, but he was talking. He kept asking for you.""
My throat tightened.
"Why wasn't I allowed inside?""
"Dr. Price told us you had been informed that your father was no longer responsive. That wasn't true.""
I gripped the phone.
"Who gave that instruction?""
Helen's voice dropped.
"A woman.""
"Which woman?""
"She introduced herself as Mrs. Hale.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Was it Isabella?""
"I believe so. She had identification and a legal authorization. Dr. Price treated her as someone with authority over the patient's care.""
I struggled to breathe.
"What did she do?""
"She entered your father's room. They argued. I couldn't hear everything, but I heard her say that he had ruined enough lives.""
"And then?""
"She came out and told Dr. Price that your father had agreed to discontinue further treatment.""
I felt tears burning my eyes.
"Did he?""
"No.""
Helen's voice broke.
"I went back inside. Your father was crying. He told me he wanted to see his daughter.""
I pressed my free hand against my mouth.
"What happened next?""
"Dr. Price ordered me to leave the room. Another nurse took over. A short time later, the resuscitation order was changed.""
"Did my father die immediately?""
"No. He remained alive for several hours, but he was no longer receiving the treatment that might have kept him stable.""
I closed my eyes.
The truth was worse than anything I had imagined.
"Why didn't you report this?""
"I tried. I submitted an internal complaint. Two days later, I was told the hospital had no record of the incident. My supervisor warned me that speaking about it would cost me my nursing license.""
"Who threatened you?""
Helen hesitated.
"Dr. Price.""
Then she added something that made my blood run cold.
"Isabella paid him.""
The call ended shortly afterward.
I handed the phone to Daniel.
He immediately asked the police to locate Helen and arrange a formal statement.
I turned toward Marcus.
"Why did you say Isabella was dead?""
He rubbed his face.
"Because that's what Victor told me. He said she died when I was a teenager.""
"Did you ever meet her?""
He shook his head.
"Once. When I was younger. I remember a woman visiting our house, but my mother told me she was a family friend.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Can we find her?""
He nodded.
"The police are already investigating her identity.""
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
You deserve to know the truth. Meet me at the old Whitmore residence. Come alone.
Beneath the message was a photograph.
A woman standing outside a garden.
She had dark hair, pale skin, and my eyes.
I stared at the photograph.
For the first time, I understood what people meant when they said someone looked exactly like you.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
Daniel looked at the image.
"That could be Isabella.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
"Why?""
I pointed to the woman's face.
"Because that's my mother.""
He looked confused.
I took the photograph closer.
The woman wore a small silver necklace.
A necklace I had seen in one of my childhood photographs.
My mother's necklace.
The one Alexander had told me was lost after her funeral.
"Her name was Elena Whitmore," I whispered.
Daniel stared at me.
"Are you certain?""
I nodded.
"My father told me she died when I was six. He said she had been buried in the family cemetery.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"Maybe Victor changed her identity.""
I looked at the message again.
"She wants to meet.""
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"Not alone. Absolutely not.""
We arranged for police surveillance and a secure meeting.
An hour later, we arrived at the old Whitmore residence.
The house had been empty since my father's death.
The garden was overgrown, and the iron gate creaked in the wind.
I stepped out of the vehicle.
A woman stood beneath the porch light.
She looked older than the woman in the photograph, but there was no mistaking her.
She began crying as soon as she saw me.
"Nia.""
I couldn't move.
She took one step forward.
"My baby.""
I felt anger rise through the shock.
"Don't call me that.""
She stopped.
"I'm sorry.""
"Are you Elena Whitmore or Isabella Hale?""
She looked toward the ground.
"Both.""
I stared at her.
"How?""
She took a shaky breath.
"My name was Elena before I married Alexander. When I discovered that Victor had been using his businesses to move stolen money, I left him. Alexander helped me disappear.""
"Why?""
"Because Victor threatened to take you.""
I shook my head.
"You were my mother. You were supposed to protect me.""
"I did.""
"You let me believe you were dead!""
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Alexander believed it was the only way to keep you safe.""
"Safe from what?""
"From Victor.""
I looked at the woman who had given birth to me.
"Did you know he was my biological father?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you know Alexander adopted me?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know what happened to Alexander in the hospital?""
Her expression collapsed.
"I found out too late.""
I stepped closer.
"Did you order the doctors to stop his treatment?""
She shook her head.
"No. I went there because Victor told me Alexander was asking for me. I thought I could finally make peace with him.""
"And the authorization?""
"Victor had forged my signature.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did you disappear again?""
She looked toward the road.
"Because the following morning, Victor showed me photographs of you leaving the hospital. He threatened to hurt you if I ever contacted you.""
My hands trembled.
"Why didn't you go to the police?""
"I tried.""
She opened her handbag and removed a small envelope.
Inside were photographs, bank records, and copies of letters.
"These are the documents I kept. I have spent eleven years collecting evidence against Victor.""
I looked through them.
One photograph showed Victor entering a hospital room.
Another showed Diane standing beside Dr. Price.
But the final document was the one that made me stop.
It was a bank transfer.
Thirty-five million dollars.
The same amount Richard had mentioned.
The recipient account belonged to Marcus Carter.
But the transfer had been authorized by someone else.
I looked up.
"Who moved the money?""
My mother pointed toward the final line.
"Victor.""
Then she whispered:
"Because the money wasn't meant for your husband.""
I stared at her.
"Who was it meant for?""
She looked directly into my eyes.
"You.""
Before I could respond, a gunshot shattered the quiet.
My mother fell to the ground.
May you like
And from the darkness beyond the garden gate, a man shouted:
"Nobody moves!""
