Chapter 3 - THE DAUGHTER NO ONE MENTIONED
Eleanor sat down.
For several seconds, the room seemed to disappear.
“My husband's daughter?”
Daniel nodded.
“Before your marriage.”
Eleanor looked at the photograph again.
Sophie.
She remembered her.
A brilliant young woman.
Kind.
Ambitious.
She had worked beside Eleanor's husband when Hawthorne Care Group was still a small company with three facilities.
Then one morning, Sophie simply left.
Eleanor had been told she wanted a new life.
She never questioned it.
Now she realized the truth had been buried.
“What happened to her?”
Daniel sighed.
“She discovered financial irregularities.”
“Whose?”
“Your husband's business partner.”
Eleanor's expression hardened.
“Richard Vale?”
Daniel nodded.
Richard had been her husband's closest friend.
He had attended every family holiday.
Every birthday.
Every major business celebration.
“He was stealing from the company?”
“For years.”
Eleanor looked at Marcus.
“What does this have to do with my son?”
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he played another recording.
A younger Marcus's voice came through.
“I need the company.”
An older man's voice replied.
“Then wait.”
“I've waited long enough.”
“You can't control it while your mother is alive.”
Marcus laughed.
“She trusts me.”
“Then make her distrust herself.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
The recording continued.
“Get the doctors involved.”
“What if she refuses?”
“Then make everyone believe she's losing her mind.”
The recording ended.
Brielle covered her mouth.
Eleanor looked at Marcus.
“Was that you?”
He remained silent.
Daniel answered.
“Yes.”
Eleanor felt no anger.
Only disappointment.
“How long?”
Marcus finally spoke.
“Three years.”
Three years.
He had been slowly convincing everyone that she was becoming incapable.
He had moved appointments.
Hidden bills.
Changed passwords.
Intercepted mail.
Even canceled meetings without telling her.
He had manufactured the illusion of decline.
And Eleanor had believed him because she trusted her own son.
She whispered:
“You made me doubt myself.”
Marcus looked at her.
“You wouldn't give me what I deserved.”
“What did you deserve?”
“The company.”
“You never built it.”
“I was your son!”
“That doesn't make you an owner.”
Marcus's face twisted.
“You always loved the company more than me.”
Eleanor stared at him.
“No.”
She paused.
“I loved you enough to believe you were better than this.”
Marcus looked away.
Daniel opened another folder.
“There is still the matter of Sophie.”
Eleanor looked up.
“Where is she?”
“She lives in Seattle.”
“Does she know?”
“She knows everything.”
“Then why hasn't she contacted me?”
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“Because she believed you were part of the conspiracy.”
Eleanor felt a sharp pain in her chest.
“Why?”
“Your husband made sure she believed that.”
“He lied to her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To keep her away from Hawthorne.”
Eleanor stared at the photograph.
The child in Sophie's arms was now an adult.
A man.
Daniel placed another picture beside it.
The man was standing beside Sophie.
Eleanor recognized him immediately.
Her grandson.
Her husband had never told her she had a grandson.
“What is his name?”
Daniel said:
“Lucas.”
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
“My grandson.”
“Yes.”
Marcus suddenly laughed.
“You think they're going to save you?”
Eleanor turned.
“What do you mean?”
Marcus smiled.
“They don't even know the real reason Dad left them.”
Daniel's face changed.
“Marcus.”
But Marcus continued.
“Ask him about the fire.”
Eleanor froze.
“What fire?”
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Tell her.”
Daniel was silent.
Eleanor's voice trembled.
“What fire?”
Daniel finally answered.
“The fire that destroyed your husband's first care facility.”
“I remember.”
“It wasn't an accident.”
Eleanor's heart stopped.
“What happened?”
Daniel looked at Marcus.
“Your husband believed someone set it deliberately.”
“Who?”
Daniel took a breath.
“The person who ordered it was never charged.”
“Why?”
“Because the evidence disappeared.”
Eleanor stared at the table.
Then she noticed something.
The date.
May you like
The fire happened exactly one month before Sophie disappeared.
And exactly one month after Marcus was born.
