Chapter 5: The Baby in the Hospital Photograph
The video began circulating before we even reached the elevator.
Nathaniel's phone wouldn't stop vibrating.
Messages arrived from journalists, investors, relatives, and people whose names I recognized from television.
The headline was already spreading.
*CALLAWAY FAMILY MATRIARCH ACCUSED OF STEALING HER OWN GRANDCHILD.*
I watched the recording on Nathaniel's phone.
It was grainy.
A woman walked through a hospital corridor carrying a newborn wrapped in a white blanket.
The timestamp showed November 14, 1997.
The woman was Eleanor.
I recognized her silver hair, even though it was darker then.
She approached an elevator, looked over her shoulder, and disappeared inside.
Then the recording ended.
Nathaniel replayed it.
“Why were you carrying Rose?””
Eleanor's hands shook.
“Because Grace asked me to.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
Eleanor looked at me.
“Your mother was being watched. Richard had ordered his men to take both children. Grace knew she couldn't protect you if she stayed in the hospital.””
“So you took me?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
“To a private clinic outside the city.””
I frowned.
“But my mother raised me.””
“She did. I brought you to her two days later.””
Nathaniel looked confused.
“Then what's the scandal?””
Eleanor's expression changed.
“Because the recording doesn't show what happened afterward.””
“What happened?””
She looked toward the window.
“Richard intercepted us.””
The room went silent.
“He took Rose from me. He said Grace would never see her again unless she signed a document surrendering all parental rights.””
My throat tightened.
“What document?””
“A statement claiming that she had abandoned both children.””
I shook my head.
“My mother would never have signed that.””
“She didn't.””
Eleanor looked at me.
“She threatened to expose him. She told him she had copies of the original hospital records.””
“And?””
“He let her leave with you. But he kept Nathaniel.””
Nathaniel stared at her.
“Why me?””
“Because he wanted an heir he could control.””
I sat down.
All my life, I had believed my mother had protected me from a terrible world.
Now I was discovering that she had been fighting a war I hadn't even known existed.
Nathaniel put the phone away.
“We need to get those records.””
The police officer nodded.
“We've received authorization to search the chapel.””
We left through a private service entrance.
Outside, black police vehicles were waiting beneath the building.
The wedding guests had been moved into the ballroom, where officers were taking statements.
I noticed Victoria standing near the entrance.
Her wedding dress was now covered by a dark coat.
A female officer held her arm.
When she saw me, she smiled.
Not nervously.
Not apologetically.
She smiled as though she knew something I didn't.
“Rose,” she called.
I stopped.
Nathaniel stepped in front of me.
“Don't speak to her.””
Victoria ignored him.
“You really should ask Eleanor about the first DNA test.””
My stomach tightened.
“What DNA test?””
Victoria tilted her head.
“Oh, she didn't tell you that either?””
The officer pulled her away.
“Keep moving.””
Victoria laughed.
“Enjoy your family reunion!””
I watched her disappear into the police vehicle.
Nathaniel opened the car door.
“Don't listen to her.””
“What DNA test?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why are you telling me not to listen?””
He looked at me.
“Because she's trying to make us distrust each other.””
I got into the car without answering.
The drive to the Callaway estate took forty minutes.
The mansion stood behind enormous iron gates, surrounded by winter-bare trees and carefully maintained gardens.
I had seen photographs of it in magazines.
It looked less like a home and more like a place where people went to hide from the rest of the world.
As we entered the property, Eleanor pointed toward a smaller stone building behind the main house.
“The chapel.””
We followed her inside.
It smelled of dust, old wood, and extinguished candles.
A stained-glass window showed an angel holding a child.
Eleanor approached the altar.
“Richard built this place after Grace disappeared.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“He wanted somewhere to remember the family he believed he had lost.””
Nathaniel gave a bitter laugh.
“He built a chapel to honor the daughter he destroyed?””
Eleanor didn't answer.
She knelt and reached beneath the altar.
Her fingers found a small metal latch.
With Nathaniel's help, she pulled away a wooden panel.
A safe was embedded in the stone.
Eleanor inserted the brass key.
The lock clicked.
Inside were three folders, a sealed envelope, and a small velvet box.
Nathaniel picked up the folders.
The first contained the original hospital records.
The second contained photographs.
The third was labeled:
*DANIEL STERLING — INCIDENT REPORT.*
I opened the sealed envelope.
My mother's handwriting appeared across the front.
For Rose and Nathaniel. Only to be opened when you are both old enough to understand.
My fingers trembled.
I unfolded the letter.
My beautiful children,
If you are reading this together, then somehow the world has given us another chance.
I want you to understand something before you learn anything else.
I never gave either of you away.
I never stopped loving either of you.
And I never willingly surrendered my children to Richard Callaway.
I stopped reading.
Tears blurred the words.
Nathaniel moved beside me.
He placed one hand on my shoulder.
I continued.
There is something else. One of you was not born into the family the way everyone believes.
I looked up.
“What?””
Eleanor leaned closer.
I read the next paragraph.
The hospital records were changed. One of the twins was registered under a different father's name. Richard knew the truth, and he used it to control Eleanor.
Nathaniel took the letter from me.
“What does that mean?””
I shook my head.
“I don't know.””
He read the final lines.
If Richard ever returns, do not believe the story about Daniel's death. The fire was not an accident. And the person who helped Richard arrange it was someone I trusted more than anyone.
Below the letter was a name.
Eleanor Callaway.
Nathaniel slowly looked at his mother.
“Did you help Richard?””
Eleanor shook her head violently.
“No.””
“Your name is right here.””
“Grace wrote that because she believed I had betrayed her.””
“Did you?””
Eleanor began crying.
“I made a terrible mistake. But I did not help him kill Daniel.””
Nathaniel held up the incident report.
“Then explain this.””
He opened the folder.
Inside was a photograph of a burned car.
A police report.
A signed insurance statement.
And a document authorizing the removal of Daniel Sterling's body from the scene.
The signature belonged to Eleanor.
I stared at her.
“You signed the paperwork?””
She nodded.
“Richard told me Daniel was dead.””
“But you never saw the body?””
“No.””
Nathaniel's voice was cold.
“Then why did you sign?””
“Because he threatened to have you killed if I didn't.””
Before he could respond, Marcus rushed into the chapel.
“Mr. Callaway, we have a serious problem.””
Nathaniel closed the folder.
“What now?””
“Victoria's attorney just contacted the police. He's claiming she has evidence that Eleanor arranged Daniel's murder.””
Eleanor gripped the altar.
“That's impossible.””
Marcus continued.
“There's another development. The police have identified the person who sent the photograph of Grace.””
I stood.
“Who?””
Marcus hesitated.
“Someone inside this estate.””
Nathaniel's face hardened.
“Who?””
Marcus looked toward the chapel entrance.
Then he said, “Your personal assistant, sir. Daniel Price.””
Nathaniel stared at him.
“Daniel has worked for me for eleven years.””
Marcus nodded.
“Apparently, he has also been working for Richard.””
I looked toward the open safe.
One folder was missing.
The folder containing Daniel's incident report.
“Where is it?”” I asked.
Marcus looked at the empty space.
“Someone took it.””
Then the chapel doors slammed shut.
The lights went out.
And a man's voice came through the darkness.
“I'm afraid you've all misunderstood who this family belongs to.””
A match struck.
A small flame illuminated a familiar face.
Daniel Price.
He stood near the entrance, holding the missing folder.
May you like
And behind him stood Richard Callaway.
Alive.
