Chapter 8: The Boy Who Had Been Waiting for the Truth
I read the message three times.
The photograph showed a boy who looked about thirteen.
Dark hair.
Brown eyes.
A familiar expression that reminded me painfully of Daniel.
He stood outside a brick school building with a backpack hanging from one shoulder.
I turned the phone toward Evelyn.
“Is this Noah?””
She examined the photograph.
Her face went pale.
“Yes.””
Grant reached for my phone.
I pulled it away.
“Don't.””
“Dana, give me that.””
“Who sent it?””
He ignored the question.
“Delete the photograph.””
Caleb stepped between us.
“You're not touching Mom's phone.””
Grant stared at him.
“You have no idea what you're involved in.””
Caleb didn't move.
“I know enough.””
I opened the message again.
The sender had included a location.
Boston.
And beneath the photograph was another line.
I want to meet my sisters.
My eyes filled with tears.
I looked at Tessa and Isabella.
They were standing together now.
Isabella was holding Tessa's hand.
Two girls who had been born together but raised worlds apart.
And somewhere across the country was a boy who had grown up believing he was somebody else's child.
“Who is this number?”” I whispered.
Evelyn shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Margaret's voice came from behind us.
“I do.””
We all turned.
She had entered the mansion without anyone noticing.
She looked at the phone and slowly removed her glasses.
“That's Rachel's number.””
I stared at her.
“Your daughter?””
Margaret nodded.
“Rachel has been trying to contact me for years. I thought she was protecting Noah by keeping him away from the Mercer family.””
“Why didn't you tell us?””
“Because I was afraid of what Grant would do.””
Grant laughed.
“Everyone seems to enjoy blaming me.””
Margaret turned toward him.
“Then explain why you transferred money into Rachel's account every month for thirteen years.””
Grant's expression hardened.
“That was private.””
“Not when the money came from a company trust.””
I felt sick.
He had used Daniel's money to support another family while telling me that Tessa was an unwanted burden.
I looked at Margaret.
“Can Rachel prove Noah is Daniel's son?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Margaret opened her briefcase.
“Daniel left a letter acknowledging the pregnancy. He also arranged for a DNA test before his death.””
She placed a sealed envelope on the table.
The results were inside.
I didn't need to open it to know what it would say.
Grant had already admitted the truth.
But Margaret continued.
“The test confirmed a biological relationship between Daniel and Noah.””
I looked at Grant.
“Why did you pretend he was your son?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“Because Rachel was pregnant when Daniel died. My mother insisted that acknowledging the child would create another inheritance problem.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Another? He was Daniel's son!””
Grant raised his voice.
“Daniel was dead! The company was falling apart! Someone had to protect what was left!””
I stared at him.
“By stealing from three children?””
He looked away.
Marjorie finally spoke.
“Grant was trying to protect the family.””
I turned toward her.
“Which family?””
She lifted her chin.
“The family that built this empire.””
I looked at Isabella.
“Did you know your grandmother had been hiding your sister?””
Isabella shook her head.
“No.””
“Did you know Daniel was your father?””
Another shake.
“Did you know Grant wasn't?””
Her lips trembled.
“No.””
I looked at Marjorie.
“You didn't protect her. You trained her to believe that the people who stole her life were the people she owed everything to.””
Marjorie slapped me.
The sound echoed through the room.
Caleb moved immediately.
“Don't touch my mother!””
Mason stood beside him.
But I raised a hand.
“It's okay.””
I slowly turned back toward Marjorie.
“That's the last time you'll ever touch me.””
She straightened her jacket.
“You think you can take my grandchildren away?””
“No. I think I'm going to let them decide who deserves to be in their lives.””
Tessa looked at her.
“I don't want to be near you.””
Marjorie's expression cracked.
“Tessa, darling—”
“Don't call me darling.””
The little girl stepped closer to Isabella.
“You told me I wasn't family. But she's my sister. So you lied about both of us.””
Marjorie looked toward Grant.
He remained silent.
Then Isabella did something none of us expected.
She removed the silver bracelet from her wrist.
She placed it on the table.
“I don't want this if it came from a lie.””
Tessa looked down at her own bracelet.
Then she reached for Isabella's hand.
“You can keep it. It's yours.””
Isabella began crying.
For the first time, I saw the two girls embrace.
I turned away to hide my tears.
A few minutes later, Margaret helped arrange a secure video call with Rachel.
The screen lit up.
A woman appeared.
She looked exhausted, with dark circles beneath her eyes.
“Mom?””
Margaret's voice broke.
“Rachel.””
Rachel covered her mouth.
Then she saw Evelyn.
And finally me.
“Dana?””
I nodded.
“Hello, Rachel.””
She started crying.
“I'm sorry.””
I shook my head.
“Don't apologize for being afraid. Just tell me where Noah is.””
Rachel wiped her cheeks.
“He's safe. He's with the people who've raised him since he was a baby.””
“Does he know about Daniel?””
“He found out last month. He discovered the old documents in my storage unit.””
I leaned forward.
“Does he know about his sisters?””
Rachel nodded.
“He's been looking at their photographs every night.””
Tessa moved closer to the screen.
“Hi.””
Rachel froze.
Tessa smiled nervously.
“I'm Tessa.””
Rachel began sobbing.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
Isabella leaned toward the camera.
“And I'm Isabella.””
Rachel pressed a hand against her chest.
“You're both beautiful.””
The girls exchanged a glance.
Then Tessa asked:
“Can we meet Noah?””
Rachel nodded.
“He wants that more than anything.””
Margaret arranged a meeting for the following weekend.
But before we could end the call, Rachel's expression changed.
“Dana, there's something else.””
I leaned closer.
“What?””
“Before Daniel died, he sent me a recording. He told me to keep it until all three children were old enough to understand.””
My heart pounded.
“Do you still have it?””
“Yes.””
“What's on it?””
Rachel hesitated.
“Daniel talking about the night of the accident.””
The room went silent.
Grant suddenly stood.
“End the call.””
Rachel looked frightened.
I turned toward him.
“Sit down.””
“Dana, you don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
Rachel's voice trembled through the speaker.
“Daniel said someone had tampered with his car. But he also said the person responsible wasn't his father.””
I felt my blood turn cold.
“Who did he suspect?””
Rachel looked directly at Grant.
Then she whispered:
“He said the person who wanted him dead was the man who would eventually marry you.””
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Grant's face went completely blank.
May you like
Then Rachel added:
“And he said he had proof.””
