Chapter 8: The Brother in the Shadows
Nathan stared at his father.
“Your brother is alive.”
Victoria's final words echoed in his mind.
His father didn't move.
For the first time since Nathan had found him in the basement, the older man's composure completely disappeared.
Nathan stepped closer.
“Who is she talking about?”
His father remained silent.
“Dad.”
Still nothing.
Nathan grabbed his father's arm.
“Who is alive?”
His father finally looked at him.
“Your uncle.”
“Matthew?”
“No.”
Nathan froze.
“There were two of them?”
His father nodded slowly.
“Matthew had a twin.”
Nathan's expression changed.
“Another Whitmore?”
“Yes.”
“What's his name?”
His father looked toward the dark basement window.
“Jonathan.”
Nathan shook his head.
“I've never heard that name.”
“You weren't supposed to.”
“Why?”
“Because Jonathan was the reason your grandfather created the trust.”
Nathan's mind raced.
“What did he do?”
His father swallowed.
“He tried to kill me.”
Silence.
Nathan stared at him.
“You've been hiding an attempted murder for decades?”
“I was hiding the person who committed it.”
“Where is Jonathan?”
“I don't know.”
“You just said he's alive.”
“I said I don't know where he is.”
Nathan's phone buzzed.
A new message.
THE LAKE HOUSE. 28 MINUTES.
Then another.
COME WITHOUT THE POLICE.
Nathan looked at his father.
“We're going.”
His father nodded.
Grace stepped forward.
“I'll come.”
Nathan looked at her.
“Yes.”
Victoria suddenly appeared in the basement doorway.
Nobody had heard her approach.
Her face was wet with tears.
“You can't go.”
Nathan turned.
“You're not exactly in a position to give me orders.”
Victoria looked at Grace.
“I need to talk to her.”
Grace shook her head.
“There's nothing left to say.”
“There is.”
Victoria stepped into the room.
“I know where Lily came from.”
Nathan's expression tightened.
“She came from a hospital.”
“You know what I mean.”
Victoria looked at him.
“You think this is about money.”
Nathan said nothing.
“You think Matthew wants the trust.”
“Doesn't he?”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
“Then what does he want?”
Victoria's voice became barely audible.
“Revenge.”
Nathan frowned.
“Revenge for what?”
She looked at his father.
“For what your family did to mine.”
Nathan turned toward his father.
“What is she talking about?”
His father closed his eyes.
“Your grandfather destroyed the Whitmore family.”
Victoria shook her head.
“That's not what happened.”
She stepped closer.
“Your grandfather stole everything from Jonathan.”
Nathan stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because Jonathan discovered the truth.”
“What truth?”
Victoria hesitated.
Then she looked at Grace.
“The truth about Lily's birth.”
Grace's face went pale.
Nathan noticed.
“What truth?”
Victoria answered.
“Lily wasn't supposed to be born.”
Nathan's blood ran cold.
“Why?”
“Because before she was born, someone ordered the doctor to terminate the pregnancy.”
Nathan stared at her.
“Who?”
Victoria looked at Grace.
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
“Charles.”
Nathan's jaw tightened.
“Why would Charles want my child dead?”
Victoria shook her head.
“He wasn't trying to kill Lily.”
Nathan's expression hardened.
“Then what?”
“He was trying to kill the bloodline.”
Nathan didn't understand.
Victoria continued.
“Your grandfather had changed the succession plan.”
“What succession plan?”
“He wanted Grace's child to inherit everything.”
Nathan looked at Grace.
“You knew?”
Grace nodded.
“I found out the night before Lily was born.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Charles threatened to kill you.”
Nathan went silent.
Victoria continued.
“Your grandfather believed the company was safer under your child than under any of his sons.”
Nathan looked at his father.
“Did you know?”
His father nodded.
“Yes.”
“And you still let me believe Grace abandoned me.”
“I thought it would keep you alive.”
Nathan stepped back.
“All of you keep using the same excuse.”
His father looked at him.
“Because it was true.”
Nathan shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Grace.
“You were threatened.”
“Yes.”
He looked at Victoria.
“You were threatened.”
“Yes.”
He looked at his father.
“You were threatened.”
His father nodded.
Nathan's eyes hardened.
“But somebody was giving the orders.”
Nobody spoke.
Then a voice came from the basement speaker.
“You're finally beginning to understand.”
Everyone froze.
Nathan slowly looked up.
The speaker crackled.
The voice was distorted.
But Nathan recognized something beneath it.
A familiar rhythm.
A familiar pause between words.
He whispered,
“Jonathan.”
The speaker went silent.
Then the voice returned.
“Very good, Nathan.”
Nathan stepped toward the speaker.
“Where is Lily?”
“Safe.”
“Let me speak to her.”
A pause.
Then Lily's frightened voice came through.
“Daddy?”
Nathan's chest tightened.
“Lily.”
“Daddy, Mommy said you're coming.”
“I am.”
“Are you mad at me?”
Nathan closed his eyes.
“No, sweetheart.”
“I'm scared.”
“I know.”
“Can you come get me?”
Nathan's voice broke.
“Yes.”
He opened his eyes.
“I promise.”
The line went silent.
Then Jonathan returned.
“You have twenty minutes.”
Nathan looked at the clock.
“We'll be there.”
“One condition.”
“What?”
“Bring the man who raised you.”
Nathan looked toward his father.
Jonathan continued.
“And bring Grace.”
Grace's eyes widened.
“Why me?”
Jonathan's voice became colder.
“Because she knows what really happened five years ago.”
The line disconnected.
Nathan stared at Grace.
“What happened five years ago?”
Grace looked at him.
“I thought you already knew.”
“I know nothing.”
Grace's lips trembled.
“Five years ago, I wasn't running away from you.”
Nathan waited.
“I was running from someone.”
“Who?”
Grace looked toward Victoria.
“Your mother.”
Nathan froze.
“My mother was dead.”
Grace nodded.
“I know.”
“Then how could I be running from her?”
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
“Because she wasn't dead when I disappeared.”
Nathan felt the room tilt.
“What are you saying?”
Grace whispered,
“Your mother came to see me the night before Lily was born.”
Nathan stared at her.
“What did she want?”
Grace's voice broke.
“She wanted me to give Lily to her.”
Nathan's face went pale.
“Why?”
Grace looked at the basement door.
“Because she told me Lily wasn't the only child.”
Nathan's eyes widened.
“What other child?”
Grace whispered,
“Your mother said you had a son.”
Silence filled the room.
Then Nathan's phone buzzed.
A photograph appeared on the screen.
It showed a newborn baby.
Underneath was a name.
BABY BOY — NATHAN COLE
Nathan stared at the photograph.
His hands began to shake.
Because the date on the photograph was the same date Lily was born.
Two babies.
May you like
One father.
And someone had spent five years making sure Nathan never knew the second child existed.
