Chapter 8: The Child in the Photograph
Dad finally spoke after nearly a minute.
“You were the fourth.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“You were the fourth child.””
“That makes no sense.””
He shook his head.
“It does if you understand what happened that night.””
Elise stepped closer.
“Tell her.””
Dad looked at her.
“You weren't there.””
“I remember enough.””
“You were four.””
“So was Sophia.””
He closed his eyes.
Then he sat.
“The fire started in the basement.””
I listened.
“Your grandfather was away. Your mother was upstairs. You and Elise were in the playroom.””
He swallowed.
“Your cousin Michael was staying with us.””
“Michael?””
“My brother's son.””
“And the fourth?””
Dad looked at me.
“You.””
“You said I was the fourth.””
“You were.””
“Then who was the third?””
“Elise.””
“And Michael?””
“The fifth.””
I stared.
“Evelyn said four.””
“She was lying.””
“Why?””
Dad looked at the archive.
“Because there was another child.””
My skin prickled.
“Who?””
He didn't answer.
Elise did.
“Her name was Nora.””
I turned.
“Who is Nora?””
Dad's face collapsed.
“My brother's daughter.””
“But you said Michael was your brother's son.””
“He had two children.””
“Where are they?””
Dad whispered, “Michael died in the fire.””
I looked at Elise.
“And Nora?””
Nobody answered.
My phone buzzed.
A photograph.
From the unknown number.
A little girl stood beside the old house.
Dark curls.
Red sweater.
Beside her was another child.
A girl.
Maybe six.
The message beneath it read:
*You remember her.*
I stared.
Something inside my head cracked open.
A swing.
A garden.
A little girl shouting my name.
“Nora!””
The memory came so suddenly I staggered.
Elise caught me.
“What happened?””
“I remember.””
“What?””
“She was there.””
Dad covered his face.
I turned toward him.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Nora survived.””
“I thought she did.””
“Where is she?””
“I don't know.””
“Why didn't you look?””
“I did.””
“When?””
“For years.””
“Then why did you tell everyone she was dead?””
“Because I was told she was.””
“By whom?””
He whispered:
“Evelyn.””
I stepped back.
Everything pointed toward her.
The fire.
The forged signature.
The trust.
The missing children.
My father.
My grandfather.
And somehow, my restaurant.
Daniel opened another folder.
“There is something else.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He removed a corporate filing.
“Bennett Holdings changed ownership structure five years ago.””
“Because of me?””
“Yes.””
I scanned the document.
There was a controlling share held by the family trust.
Then a second shareholder.
My stomach tightened.
“Who is this?””
Daniel looked at me.
“That name is the reason Evelyn wants the trust.””
I read it.
*Nora Vale.*
I looked up.
“Vale?””
Elise's face went white.
“Thomas.””
We all turned toward the door.
Thomas stood there.
He looked at Elise.
Then at me.
He said nothing.
I held up the document.
“Who is Nora Vale?””
His expression changed.
He closed the door behind him.
“Nora is my daughter.””
Silence.
I stared.
“You have a daughter?””
“Yes.””
“Is she alive?””
Thomas nodded.
“She's alive.””
“Where?””
He looked at Elise.
“She was never supposed to be found.””
“Why?””
“Because Evelyn wasn't protecting the trust.””
“What was she protecting?””
Thomas walked to the desk.
He placed a file down.
“She was protecting herself.””
He opened it.
Inside were photographs.
Evelyn.
My grandfather.
My father.
And a fourth person.
A man.
I recognized him immediately.
Bradley.
Clara's fiancé.
My stomach dropped.
“No.””
Thomas nodded.
“Bradley wasn't supposed to marry Clara.””
“What does that mean?””
“He approached your family because of the trust.””
My mind raced.
“That makes no sense.””
“Your sister's engagement wasn't a coincidence.””
I thought about the dinner.
Bradley's questions.
The way he asked what I did.
The way he had stared at the restaurant.
The way he seemed almost amused when my family criticized my career.
“What does he want?””
“The trust.””
“Why?””
“Because he represents the people who lost control of Bennett Holdings.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Who?””
He hesitated.
“Your father's former business partners.””
Dad stood.
“No.””
Thomas looked at him.
“You know them.””
Dad shook his head.
“They're gone.””
“They're not.””
I looked at Clara's engagement ring.
The diamond.
The smile.
The reservation at Ellen.
The timing.
Everything suddenly looked different.
“Clara knows?””
Thomas shook his head.
“No.””
“Then Bradley is using her.””
“Yes.””
I grabbed my phone.
“I need to call her.””
Thomas stopped me.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because if Bradley knows you discovered this, he'll disappear.””
“Then what should I do?””
“Let him think you know nothing.””
I stared at him.
“You want me to sit through their wedding?””
“I want you to let them make the mistake of believing they've won.””
Elise nodded.
“Your grandfather did the same thing.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“He knew Evelyn was watching him.””
“So?””
“He pretended not to know.””
“And?””
“He caught her.””
“How?””
Elise pointed at the documents.
“By leaving something she couldn't resist stealing.””
I looked down.
The trust documents.
The corporate records.
The property.
The restaurant.
“Me.””
Elise nodded.
“You're the bait.””
I looked at Thomas.
“Then what's the trap?””
He smiled grimly.
“The person Evelyn thinks is dead.””
I stared at him.
“Nora?””
“No.””
He closed the file.
“Your grandfather.””
My heart stopped.
“That’s impossible.””
Thomas looked at Dad.
“Isn't it?””
Dad's face went completely white.
I turned.
“Dad?””
He didn't answer.
Thomas said quietly:
“Your grandfather's death certificate was filed six days after the fire.””
I frowned.
“So?””
“He died three years later.””
The room went silent.
I couldn't move.
My grandfather had been alive.
For three years.
And someone had lied about when he died.
Then Dad whispered:
“I knew.””
I turned toward him.
“You knew?””
He nodded.
“He made me promise.””
“What promise?””
Dad looked at me.
“To pretend he was dead.””
“Why?””
His eyes filled with tears.
“Because he was trying to find out who betrayed him.””
My phone buzzed.
A new message.
From Clara.
*Sophia, Bradley just asked me where you keep the restaurant's original ownership documents.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
*I think he's been lying to me.*
I looked up.
“Clara knows.””
Thomas shook his head.
“No.””
“What?””
“She suspects.””
He glanced at the clock.
“And if Bradley realizes she told you, she'll be in danger.””
My phone rang.
Clara.
I answered.
Her voice was trembling.
“Sophia?””
“Yes.””
“Don't come to my apartment.””
“Why?””
May you like
“I think someone is already inside.””
The line went dead.
