Chapter 15 - THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
I thought I had reached the limit of what I could believe.
I hadn't.
Grant Hale was alive.
The man whose death had been mentioned repeatedly.
The man whose photograph connected Julian, Victoria, and my father.
The man Victoria had believed was dead.
The man who apparently knew the truth about my family.
And somehow...
He was Noah's grandfather.
Victoria couldn't speak.
I stared at her.
"You knew?"
"No."
"You swear?"
"I swear."
"Then why would Julian say that?"
"Because Grant told him."
"Where is Grant?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice said:
"Claire."
I knew immediately.
Grant.
"Where is my son?"
"Safe."
"Where are you?"
"Somewhere your father can't reach."
"What do you want?"
"To correct a mistake."
"What mistake?"
"Leaving you alive."
I froze.
Victoria grabbed my arm.
Grant continued.
"Your father stole my company."
"My father?"
"Your grandfather."
I said nothing.
"Your mother tried to expose him."
"Then why did she disappear?"
"Because she discovered the truth."
"What truth?"
"You're not a Vance."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
"Your mother was my wife."
Victoria stared at me.
Grant continued.
"Your father raised you because he believed you were his."
I couldn't breathe.
"You're saying I'm your daughter?"
"Yes."
"No."
"Your mother told me she was pregnant."
I shook my head.
"My mother was married to my father."
"That came later."
"Then why did my father raise me?"
"Because your grandfather threatened him."
I felt sick.
"Why?"
"Because he wanted control of my company."
I looked at Victoria.
Her face was pale.
Grant continued:
"Your grandfather took everything from me."
"My family."
"My company."
"My daughter."
I whispered:
"Me."
"Yes."
The call went silent.
Then Grant said:
"And now I want it back."
I closed my eyes.
"What do you want?"
"The trust."
"You can't have it."
"Then Noah dies."
I froze.
"Don't touch my son."
"Bring me the trust documents."
"Where?"
"The courthouse."
"When?"
"One hour."
"How do I know Noah is safe?"
"You don't."
The call ended.
Victoria stared at me.
"Claire..."
I turned toward her.
"I have to go."
"No."
"I have to save my son."
"You're walking into a trap."
"I know."
She grabbed my hand.
"Then don't go alone."
I looked at her.
For the first time, I saw something different in Victoria's eyes.
Not jealousy.
Not ambition.
Fear.
She reached into her purse.
"I have one more thing."
"What?"
She pulled out a photograph.
It showed Grant.
Standing beside Noah.
But the photograph had been taken only three days earlier.
I stared.
"How?"
Victoria pointed to the corner.
There was a date.
Three days ago.
Then I noticed something else.
Behind Grant stood another person.
My mother.
Alive.
And holding a newborn baby.
I looked at the photograph again.
My hands began to tremble.
"That's impossible."
Victoria whispered:
"Claire..."
I turned the photograph over.
There was a message.
THE BABY WASN'T NOAH.
My blood ran cold.
I looked at Victoria.
"What does that mean?"
She stared at the photograph.
"I think..."
Her voice broke.
"I think Noah has a twin."
And somewhere in the distance, my phone began ringing again.
This time, the caller ID showed a name I had never expected to see.
NOAH VANCE.
But my son was already standing beside his grandfather.
May you like
So who was calling me?
To be continued.
