CHAPTER 7 — THE OTHER COLE
The call ended.
Nathan remained frozen with the phone pressed against his ear.
For several seconds, he heard nothing except his own breathing.
Then Grace touched his shoulder.
“Nathan.”
He turned.
“What?”
“Who was it?”
Nathan looked at the phone.
“I don't know.”
“You heard his voice.”
“I've never heard it before.”
Grace stared at him.
“You're sure?”
Nathan hesitated.
The hesitation was enough.
Grace's face tightened.
“What?”
“I don't know.”
Reeves stepped closer.
“Give me the phone.”
Nathan handed it over.
Reeves examined the device.
“Old encryption.”
“Can you trace it?”
“Maybe.”
“Do it.”
Reeves looked at the screen.
Then frowned.
“There is no network connection.”
Nathan stared.
“Then how did it ring?”
Reeves didn't answer.
Grace looked around the corridor.
“He was inside the building.”
Nathan's eyes moved toward the walls.
The archive suddenly felt much smaller.
They weren't alone.
Maybe they hadn't been alone for hours.
A metallic sound echoed somewhere behind them.
Reeves raised his weapon.
“Everybody stay close.”
Nathan pulled Lily toward him.
Emma moved beside Grace.
Then the lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
A monitor came alive.
A man's face appeared.
Older.
Sharp jaw.
Silver at the temples.
And the same gray-blue eyes Nathan saw every morning in the mirror.
Nathan stopped breathing.
Grace whispered:
“No.”
The man on the screen smiled.
“Hello, Nathan.”
Nathan stepped closer.
“Who are you?”
The man leaned toward the camera.
“Your uncle.”
Nathan stared.
“My father had no brother.”
“That was the first lie.”
“You're lying.”
“Perhaps.”
The man smiled.
“But you have the face of a man who has finally learned how expensive ignorance can be.”
Nathan's fists tightened.
“Where is my daughter?”
“Which one?”
Nathan's face hardened.
“Elena.”
The man's smile disappeared.
“You remembered her name.”
“I know she's alive.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“Not with you.”
Nathan stepped closer to the screen.
“You touch her, and—”
The man laughed.
“You sound exactly like your father.”
“I am nothing like him.”
“That's what he wanted you to believe.”
Grace stared at the screen.
“Who are you?”
The man looked at her.
For the first time, his expression softened.
“Grace Bennett.”
“You know me.”
“I knew your mother.”
Grace froze.
“You knew Eleanor Bennett?”
“Yes.”
“Who are you?”
The man paused.
Then answered:
“Daniel Cole.”
Nathan stared.
“My father's name was Nathaniel.”
“I know.”
“Then who are you?”
“His brother.”
Nathan shook his head.
“My father was an only child.”
Daniel smiled.
“That's the story he told you.”
Grace stepped forward.
“What happened to him?”
Daniel's expression darkened.
“He stole my identity.”
Nathan frowned.
“Your identity?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because our father chose me.”
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
“Chose you for what?”
“To inherit everything.”
The room fell silent.
Daniel continued.
“Your grandfather believed I was the better son.”
Nathan looked at the photograph.
The two brothers looked almost identical.
“What happened?”
“My brother couldn't accept it.”
“So he killed you?”
Daniel laughed.
“No.”
“He made everyone believe you were dead.”
“Yes.”
Nathan felt a chill.
“When?”
“When I was twenty-four.”
“Why didn't you come back?”
“Because your father had something I couldn't fight.”
“What?”
“My mother.”
Nathan froze.
“Eleanor?”
Daniel nodded.
“She was his weapon.”
Nathan's jaw tightened.
“My mother wouldn't help him.”
“She didn't have a choice.”
Grace looked at Nathan.
“This is what she meant.”
Nathan looked back at the screen.
“Why are you calling now?”
“Because the game has changed.”
“What game?”
“Your father died.”
Nathan stared.
“And Victoria took his place.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“She thinks she can control the children.”
“Why?”
“Because she knows the truth.”
“What truth?”
Daniel looked directly at Nathan.
“You are not the rightful heir.”
Nathan went still.
“What?”
“The Cole inheritance belongs to the firstborn child of the Bennett line.”
Nathan looked at Grace.
“Lily?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“Emma?”
“No.”
“Then Elena.”
Daniel smiled.
“Exactly.”
Grace stepped forward.
“Then why did your family take her?”
“Because she was inconvenient.”
“Inconvenient?”
“She was proof that your father stole the Bennett inheritance.”
Nathan's voice hardened.
“Where is she?”
Daniel didn't answer.
Nathan grabbed the edge of the desk.
“Where is my daughter?”
Daniel looked at him.
“She's closer than you think.”
“What does that mean?”
The screen went black.
Nathan stared at it.
Then the old phone rang again.
This time, a video appeared.
A little girl sat on a bed.
Dark curls.
Gray-blue eyes.
A small birthmark beneath her left eye.
Elena.
Grace covered her mouth.
“My baby.”
Elena looked toward the camera.
“Mommy?”
Grace stepped forward.
“I'm here.”
The little girl smiled.
“I knew you'd come.”
Nathan stared at the screen.
“Where is she?”
Daniel's voice came through the speakers.
“Bring me the original Bennett trust.”
Nathan frowned.
“I don't have it.”
“You do.”
“Where?”
Daniel smiled.
“Your father gave it to you the day you inherited Cole Meridian.”
Nathan's memory flashed.
The inheritance ceremony.
A black leather folder.
His father's final instructions.
He had never opened it.
He had assumed it contained corporate documents.
Nathan looked at Reeves.
“It's at my house.”
Reeves shook his head.
“No.”
Nathan turned.
“What?”
“That's exactly where they'll expect you to go.”
Daniel interrupted.
“Agent Reeves is correct.”
Nathan looked at the screen.
“You're still here.”
“I'm always here.”
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
“Then tell me everything.”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because the truth will get someone killed.”
Grace stared at him.
“Who?”
Daniel looked directly at the camera.
“Your mother.”
The screen went black.
They left the underground archive through a service tunnel.
Reeves insisted on changing vehicles twice before reaching a safe location.
Nathan barely spoke.
Lily slept against his shoulder.
Emma sat beside Grace.
Eleanor had disappeared.
Victoria was missing.
Daniel Cole was alive.
And Elena was alive.
The impossible had become ordinary.
They reached a safe apartment shortly before dawn.
Nathan placed Lily on a bed.
She stirred.
“Daddy?”
“I'm here.”
“Are you leaving?”
“No.”
She closed her eyes.
“Promise?”
Nathan touched her forehead.
“Promise.”
Lily fell asleep.
Nathan stood.
Grace was watching him.
“You should sleep.”
“I can't.”
“Neither can I.”
They stood in silence.
Then Grace spoke.
“Do you hate me?”
Nathan looked at her.
“No.”
“You should.”
“Why?”
“Because I kept Lily from you.”
“You were protecting her.”
“I should have told you.”
“Maybe.”
Grace looked down.
“I was afraid.”
“Of my father.”
“And of you.”
Nathan's face tightened.
“Why?”
“Because if I told you the truth and you believed him instead of me, Lily would have been taken.”
Nathan nodded.
“I understand.”
Grace looked at him.
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you look angry?”
“Because I am.”
“At me?”
“No.”
Nathan looked toward the sleeping children.
“At the people who made us choose between silence and survival.”
Grace's eyes filled.
Nathan took a breath.
“I want to know what happened that night.”
Grace knew immediately.
“When I disappeared.”
“Yes.”
She sat down.
“I went to the summer estate.”
Nathan sat opposite her.
“My father told me you were there.”
“I was.”
“He told me you were trying to steal money.”
Grace laughed bitterly.
“I didn't know what money he meant.”
“He said you were dangerous.”
“I wasn't.”
“I know.”
Grace looked at him.
“You know now.”
Nathan nodded.
She continued.
“Your father showed me photographs.”
“Of what?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“You with Victoria.”
Nathan frowned.
“I barely knew her.”
“I know.”
“He told me you were planning to marry her.”
“I didn't believe him.”
Grace's voice became softer.
“Then he showed me the hospital records.”
Nathan froze.
“What records?”
“Emma's.”
“What about them?”
“He told me she had been born with a condition.”
Nathan frowned.
“What condition?”
“None.”
Grace's eyes filled.
“He fabricated the diagnosis.”
“Why?”
“To convince me she needed special treatment.”
Nathan stared.
“Where?”
“An Ashford clinic.”
“Victoria's family.”
“Yes.”
Grace continued.
“They told me Emma would die if I didn't surrender custody.”
Nathan's fists tightened.
“You believed them?”
“I was twenty-two.”
“You were scared.”
“I was terrified.”
“What happened?”
“I ran.”
“With Emma?”
Grace nodded.
“And then?”
“They caught me.”
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
“Your father.”
“Did he take Emma?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Grace hesitated.
“Eleanor.”
Nathan froze.
“My mother.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“She told me she could protect Emma.”
“And did she?”
“For a while.”
Nathan looked toward the sleeping girls.
“What happened next?”
Grace's voice broke.
“Emma was moved.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then how did she end up with your father?”
Grace looked at him.
“She didn't.”
Nathan frowned.
“What?”
“Emma was never with your father.”
“Then who had her?”
Grace whispered:
“Victoria.”
Nathan stood.
“That woman lied.”
“Yes.”
“She said she never touched Emma.”
“She lied.”
Nathan paced.
“And Elena?”
Grace shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Nathan looked at the clock.
“We have to find the trust.”
Reeves entered the room.
“I've been listening.”
Nathan turned.
“Then tell me where we go.”
Reeves placed a file on the table.
“Your father's estate.”
Nathan stared.
“My house?”
“No.”
“Then where?”
“Your grandfather's house.”
Nathan frowned.
“He died thirty years ago.”
“Officially.”
Nathan looked at Reeves.
“Everyone in my family has a habit of being dead.”
Reeves almost smiled.
“Your grandfather left something behind.”
“What?”
“A vault.”
Nathan stared.
“What's inside?”
“The original Bennett trust.”
Grace's eyes widened.
“Then why hasn't anyone found it?”
“Because the vault isn't registered under Bennett.”
“Whose name?”
Reeves looked at Nathan.
“Yours.”
Nathan stared.
“Why?”
“Because your grandfather knew your father would eventually try to steal it.”
Nathan shook his head.
“This makes no sense.”
“It will.”
Reeves handed him a key.
Old.
Brass.
Stamped with a single letter.
E.
Nathan stared at it.
“Eleanor.”
Reeves nodded.
“Your mother had it.”
“Where did you get it?”
“She gave it to me.”
Nathan froze.
“When?”
“Last year.”
Nathan stared.
“My mother has been alive for years.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew.”
“I suspected.”
“You let me believe she was dead.”
Reeves looked at him.
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
Nathan's expression hardened.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Because it's true.”
Nathan looked away.
Then Emma spoke.
“Daddy?”
Nathan turned.
Emma stood in the doorway.
She was holding something.
A small envelope.
“I found this.”
Nathan crouched.
“Where?”
“Under the bed.”
“Was it there before?”
She nodded.
“Who put it there?”
Emma shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Nathan opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Daniel Cole.
Standing beside Victoria.
And between them—
Elena.
Nathan stared.
On the back was a date.
Two days earlier.
Grace's face went white.
“He has her.”
Nathan looked at the photograph.
“Daniel.”
Reeves shook his head.
“Not necessarily.”
Nathan turned.
“What do you mean?”
“Look at the background.”
A building appeared behind them.
Nathan recognized it.
The old Ashford children's clinic.
Abandoned for fifteen years.
Reeves stared.
“That's impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because that building burned down.”
Nathan looked at him.
“When?”
“Five years ago.”
Grace whispered:
“The night I disappeared.”
Nathan looked at her.
The puzzle suddenly shifted.
The clinic hadn't burned down.
Someone had made it look like it had.
Daniel had been there.
Victoria had been there.
Grace had been there.
And the children—
all three—
had been there.
Nathan looked at the photograph again.
A tiny detail caught his eye.
Behind Daniel was a sign.
ROOM 17.
Nathan's heart began pounding.
“That's where Elena is.”
Reeves nodded.
“Maybe.”
Nathan turned toward the door.
“We're going.”
Grace stood.
“So am I.”
Nathan shook his head.
“No.”
“I am her mother.”
“And that's exactly why you're staying.”
Grace stepped closer.
“You don't get to decide that.”
Nathan stared at her.
“I can't lose you too.”
Grace froze.
Nathan realized what he had said.
Neither moved.
Then Grace whispered:
“Don't say things you don't mean.”
“I mean it.”
Her eyes filled.
“I've spent five years believing you hated me.”
“I never did.”
“You didn't even know where I was.”
“I searched.”
Grace looked stunned.
“What?”
“I searched for you.”
“When?”
“Everywhere.”
Grace shook her head.
“My father told me you didn't.”
“He lied.”
Nathan's voice broke.
“I looked for you until I couldn't breathe.”
Grace closed her eyes.
For the first time, five years of anger began to crack.
Nathan reached for her hand.
She allowed him.
Just for a moment.
Then Reeves interrupted.
“We need to leave.”
Nathan nodded.
They prepared to go.
But before they could reach the door, the television switched on.
Victoria appeared.
Her face was calm.
She looked directly at Nathan.
“You're going to the clinic.”
Nathan stopped.
Victoria smiled.
“You're predictable.”
“Where is Elena?”
“Waiting.”
“For me?”
“For all of you.”
“What do you want?”
Victoria leaned closer.
“The original trust.”
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
“You know where it is.”
“Yes.”
“Then why don't you take it?”
“Because it won't open for me.”
“Who can open it?”
Victoria smiled.
“Your mother.”
Nathan's expression changed.
“You have Eleanor.”
“Yes.”
“And Elena.”
“Yes.”
Nathan stepped toward the screen.
“If you hurt either of them—”
“I won't.”
Victoria smiled.
“Because I need them alive.”
“Why?”
“Because your father made one mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“He believed blood was enough.”
Nathan frowned.
Victoria continued:
“It isn't.”
The screen went black.
A message appeared.
ROOM 17. MIDNIGHT.
Then another.
BRING GRACE.
Nathan stared.
Grace whispered:
“They want me.”
Reeves shook his head.
“They want something only you can provide.”
Nathan looked at her.
“Your blood.”
Grace's face went pale.
“The Bennett trust.”
Reeves nodded.
“And the children.”
Nathan looked toward Lily and Emma.
The answer was suddenly obvious.
Victoria didn't want the money.
She wanted the bloodline.
She wanted control over whoever legally inherited it.
Nathan clenched his fists.
“Then we'll go.”
Grace looked at him.
“Together?”
Nathan nodded.
“Together.”
At midnight, the old Ashford clinic stood beneath a moonless sky.
The building looked abandoned.
Broken windows.
Burned walls.
Collapsed sections.
But one light remained.
Room 17.
Nathan stopped outside.
Grace stood beside him.
Reeves remained several yards behind.
Lily and Emma were hidden in a secured vehicle.
Nathan looked at Grace.
“If anything happens—”
“I know.”
“Stay behind me.”
Grace gave him a faint smile.
“You're still trying to protect everyone.”
“Yes.”
“Even after everything?”
“Especially after everything.”
They entered.
The hallway smelled of ash.
Old medical equipment lay overturned.
A child's drawing hung from one wall.
Grace stopped.
She recognized it.
Three little girls holding hands.
Underneath were three names.
ELENA.
EMMA.
LILY.
Grace touched the paper.
“This was drawn five years ago.”
Nathan looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“Because Lily drew it.”
Nathan stared.
“You remember?”
“She always drew three girls.”
Grace's voice trembled.
“I thought it was imaginary.”
They reached Room 17.
The door was open.
Inside stood Victoria.
Beside her was William Ashford.
Blood covered his shirt.
And tied to a chair was Eleanor.
Nathan raised his weapon.
“Let her go.”
Victoria smiled.
“Not yet.”
Grace stepped forward.
“Where is Elena?”
Victoria pointed toward another door.
“She is here.”
Grace rushed toward it.
Nathan grabbed her.
“Wait.”
Victoria laughed.
“Still cautious.”
“Open it.”
“You first.”
Nathan looked at her.
“What?”
Victoria held up a small device.
“One question.”
“What?”
“Who is Lily's biological mother?”
Grace went pale.
Nathan stared.
Victoria smiled.
“You know the answer.”
Nathan looked at Grace.
Grace whispered:
“I don't.”
Victoria laughed.
“Exactly.”
William suddenly spoke.
“Victoria.”
She turned.
“You promised.”
“I promised him.”
She pointed at Nathan.
“I never promised you.”
William's expression changed.
Victoria shot him.
Grace screamed.
Nathan moved instantly.
Reeves fired from the hallway.
Chaos erupted.
Victoria ran.
Nathan rushed toward Eleanor.
William collapsed.
Grace opened the second door.
A child screamed.
“Elena!”
Grace ran inside.
But the room was empty.
Only a small bed remained.
And on the pillow was a photograph.
Three babies.
Three names.
And beneath them:
THE DNA REPORT WAS SWITCHED.
Nathan picked it up.
His eyes widened.
Grace stared at him.
“What?”
Nathan turned the photograph over.
There was a handwritten message.
LILY IS YOUR DAUGHTER.
EMMA IS YOUR DAUGHTER.
ELENA IS YOUR DAUGHTER.
Then one final sentence:
BUT NONE OF THEM WAS BORN TO GRACE.
Grace collapsed against the wall.
Nathan stared at the words.
The entire world seemed to stop.
Behind them, Eleanor whispered:
“That's the truth.”
Nathan turned.
His mother was crying.
“You were never the mother they thought you were.”
Grace stared at her.
“What?”
Eleanor's voice broke.
“Your memories were altered.”
Grace couldn't breathe.
Nathan looked at Eleanor.
“What did you do?”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“I saved you.”
Nathan's expression became furious.
“You keep saying that.”
“I know.”
“Tell me the truth.”
Eleanor looked at Grace.
“Your first child was born to someone else.”
Grace shook her head.
“No.”
“And Lily was carried by another woman.”
“No.”
“Emma too.”
Grace's face collapsed.
“Then whose children are they?”
Eleanor looked at Nathan.
“Yours.”
Nathan froze.
“All three.”
“But their mother?”
Eleanor's eyes filled.
“That is the secret your father died to protect.”
A sound came from the doorway.
Victoria.
She was standing there again.
Blood on her sleeve.
A gun in her hand.
She looked at Nathan.
Then Grace.
And smiled.
“Now you're ready for the truth.”
May you like
She raised the weapon.
“But you won't survive long enough to hear it.”
