Chapter 9: Two Children
Nathan stared at the photograph.
The newborn looked impossibly small.
Wrapped in a white hospital blanket, his tiny face was barely visible beneath the edge of the fabric.
But the name beneath the photograph was unmistakable.
BABY BOY — NATHAN COLE
Nathan looked up.
“That's not possible.”
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
“I know.”
“You told me Lily was my only child.”
“She is.”
Nathan pointed at the photograph.
“Then who is that?”
Nobody answered.
Victoria looked toward the floor.
Nathan's father slowly sat down.
The color had drained from his face.
Nathan noticed.
“You know.”
His father shook his head.
“I knew there was another baby.”
Nathan's voice became cold.
“But you didn't know where he was.”
“No.”
“Is he alive?”
His father hesitated.
“I don't know.”
Nathan stared at the photograph again.
The date.
The hospital.
The name.
Everything matched.
Lily and the boy had been born on the same day.
Nathan turned toward Grace.
“Did you know about him?”
Grace nodded.
“When?”
“The night they took him.”
Nathan's heart dropped.
“Who took him?”
Grace's voice trembled.
“Your mother.”
Nathan went completely still.
“My mother was there?”
“Yes.”
“She took my son?”
Grace looked down.
“I tried to stop her.”
“What happened?”
Grace wiped a tear from her cheek.
“She told me the baby had a heart condition.”
Nathan frowned.
“Was that true?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because she said the boy would destroy your future.”
Nathan's fists clenched.
“What future?”
“The company.”
Victoria suddenly spoke.
“That's not the whole story.”
Nathan turned toward her.
“Then tell me the rest.”
Victoria took a shaky breath.
“Your mother discovered that your grandfather had secretly changed the succession agreement.”
Nathan listened.
“She wanted control of Cole Holdings.”
“She couldn't have it because of you.”
Nathan frowned.
“So she used my children.”
Victoria nodded.
“Lily was supposed to be removed from the records.”
“And the boy?”
Victoria looked at the photograph.
“He was supposed to disappear completely.”
Nathan felt sick.
“Why?”
“Because the agreement gave priority to a male heir.”
Nathan looked at Grace.
“So they took my son to protect the company.”
Grace whispered,
“They told me he was dead.”
Nathan's expression changed.
“They lied.”
“Yes.”
“Did you believe them?”
“For years.”
Nathan looked back at the photograph.
“What was his name?”
Grace hesitated.
“They didn't give him one.”
Nathan stared at her.
“Then what did you call him?”
Grace's lips trembled.
“I called him Noah.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
“Noah.”
The name felt strangely familiar.
Then his father suddenly stood.
“Where did you get that photograph?”
Nathan looked at him.
“It was sent to me.”
His father took the phone.
His face changed instantly.
“What?”
Nathan noticed.
“You recognize it.”
His father looked at the image for several seconds.
Then he whispered,
“This was taken in my private hospital.”
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
“Your hospital?”
“The one your grandfather owned.”
“Where was it?”
His father hesitated.
“Boston.”
Nathan's mind raced.
Grace had always told him Lily was born at a small private hospital outside the city.
Not Boston.
Nathan looked at her.
“Why did you lie about the hospital?”
Grace shook her head.
“I didn't.”
“Then who changed the record?”
Grace looked toward Victoria.
Victoria whispered,
“Charles.”
Nathan's jaw tightened.
Again.
Always Charles.
But something still didn't make sense.
Nathan looked at his father.
“You said the boy disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“Then how did this photograph survive?”
His father stared at the screen.
“Because someone wanted you to find him.”
A notification appeared.
NEW MESSAGE.
Nathan opened it.
One sentence.
NOAH IS ALIVE.
His heart slammed against his ribs.
A second message appeared.
AND HE'S CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.
Nathan looked around the room.
Grace.
Victoria.
His father.
Someone else was missing.
Daniel.
Nathan suddenly realized it.
“Where is Daniel?”
Nobody answered.
He checked the security feed.
Nothing.
He called Daniel.
Straight to voicemail.
Then the television flickered.
A live video appeared.
Daniel was sitting in a dark room.
His hands were tied behind his back.
Blood covered the corner of his mouth.
Nathan stepped toward the screen.
“Daniel?”
Daniel looked directly at the camera.
“Nathan.”
“What happened?”
Daniel shook his head.
“You need to leave the house.”
“Where is Lily?”
Daniel's eyes moved to someone standing behind the camera.
“I don't know.”
Nathan's voice hardened.
“Who's there?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Your mother.”
Nathan froze.
“My mother is dead.”
Daniel looked terrified.
“I know.”
A woman's voice came from behind him.
“Hello, Nathan.”
Nathan stopped breathing.
He knew that voice.
It was impossible.
But he knew it.
His mother's voice.
The television went black.
Then the front door slowly opened.
Everyone in the kitchen turned.
A woman stood outside in the darkness.
Her face was hidden beneath a black hood.
Nathan took one step forward.
Victoria began to cry.
His father whispered,
“No…”
The woman lowered her hood.
Nathan stared at her face.
Older.
Paler.
But unmistakable.
His mother.
The woman Nathan had buried twelve years ago.
She looked directly at him.
Then she smiled.
“I'm sorry, Nathan.”
She raised one hand.
Behind her stood Lily.
And beside Lily was a teenage boy.
Nathan stared at him.
The boy had his eyes.
His jaw.
His exact dimple.
The same one Nathan had seen on Lily.
The boy looked at Nathan and said,
“Dad?”
Nathan couldn't move.
His mother stepped aside.
“This is Noah.”
Nathan's eyes filled with tears.
May you like
But before he could reach either child, his mother spoke again.
“You have five minutes to choose which one comes home with you.”
