Chapter 3: The Daughter Who Never Left
“They’re Rose’s children,” the elderly woman finished.
The silver-haired man stepped toward her.
“Eleanor, you’re upset.
Give me those papers.”
Eleanor Harcourt folded the statement against her chest.
“You told me my daughter wanted nothing more to do with this family, Victor.”
“She did.”
“Then why does this say she wrote to me every month for twelve years?”
Victor’s gaze moved toward the four boys.
“Because Rose always knew how to manufacture sympathy.”
The doctor took off her coat and placed it around the smallest child’s shoulders.
“My name is Dr.
Naomi Grant.
I have treated Rose for six years.
She signed that statement in front of a hospital attorney.”
“Where is she?” Eleanor demanded.
Naomi glanced at the boys.
“She was taken into emergency surgery this afternoon.”
The smallest boy caught Naomi’s hand.
“Is Mum coming back?”
“We are still waiting, Sam.”
The oldest boy stepped beside him.
“I’m Noah.
Those are Ben and Toby.
Mum said Grandmother Eleanor would protect us.”
Eleanor’s lips parted.
“She called me that?”
“Every Christmas,” Noah said, “she took out your photograph and said, ‘That is your grandmother.
Never believe she stopped loving us.’”
Eleanor turned on Victor.
“You said Rose returned every letter unopened.”
“She did.
This doctor has filled these children’s heads with stories.”
Naomi removed the sealed test report.
“This was performed by an independent laboratory.
It shows a biological grandparent match between Eleanor and all four boys.”
Victor reached for it, but Eleanor pulled it away.
“Don’t touch it.”
“Eleanor, think carefully.
If you accept them, every newspaper in the country will ask why your daughter vanished.”
“No,” she said.
“They’ll ask why you lied.”
Victor’s polite smile disappeared.
“I protected this family after Richard became ill.
I protected the company, the estate and your name.”
“You protected yourself,” Naomi said.
Victor pointed toward the entrance.
“Take the children and leave before I call security.”
“This is my home,” Eleanor said.
“And I control the Harcourt trust that pays for it.”
The words landed harder than a shout.
Several relatives lowered their eyes.
Eleanor held Victor’s stare.
“What did you pay Rose to hide?”
“She took money because she wanted money.”
Noah shook his head.
“Mum sent every payment back.”
Victor looked at him.
“Your mother lied to you.”
“No.
You frightened her.”
“What did he say?” Eleanor asked.
Noah pulled Sam closer.
“He said if Mum ever told you who we were, he would prove she was unfit and have us taken away.
He made her tell us our father connected us to this family because she wasn’t allowed to say it was her.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“Be very careful, boy.”
Eleanor moved in front of Noah.
“You will not threaten my grandson in my house.”
“He is repeating a desperate woman’s fantasy.”
Toby reached inside his sweater and removed a small brass key hanging from a string.
“Mum said to give this to Grandmother Eleanor.”
Eleanor accepted it.
One side carried Richard Harcourt’s initials.
Victor’s hand closed around the back of a chair.
“Where did Rose get that?”
“She said it opens the desk you never let anyone touch,” Toby replied.
May you like
Across the room, the study door stood half open.
Victor moved first.
