CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 14
WHAT ETHAN REMEMBERED
Victor stood beneath the portrait, unable to move.
The phone lay on the carpet.
The caller was gone.
But the words remained.
Mara was never your sister.
She was your daughter.
Victor stared at the photograph.
The little girl beside him couldn't have been more than five.
He had seen that face before.
Not in a photograph.
In a dream.
A memory that had always returned in fragments.
A yellow dress.
A red ribbon.
A child's hand slipping from his.
A woman screaming his name.
And then—
fire.
Victor touched the painting.
His fingers trembled.
“No.”
Thomas appeared at the doorway.
“Victor.”
“You knew.”
Thomas stopped.
“You knew who Mara was.”
“I knew some of it.”
“You knew she was my daughter.”
Thomas looked down.
“Yes.”
Victor turned.
“Who was her mother?”
Thomas didn't answer.
“Who?”
Thomas whispered:
“Isabel.”
Victor froze.
“The woman Adrian killed.”
“No.”
Thomas shook his head.
“Isabel didn't die that night.”
Victor's eyes widened.
“She survived?”
“For years.”
“Then where is she?”
Thomas looked toward the staircase.
“She's the reason Eleanor disappeared.”
Victor's breathing changed.
“What are you saying?”
Thomas stepped closer.
“Isabel was Mara's mother.”
Victor stared.
“But Mara was supposed to be my sister.”
“That's what Augustus wanted everyone to believe.”
“Why?”
“Because if anyone knew Mara was your daughter, they would have known you had already produced the heir Augustus wanted.”
Victor's mind raced.
“Mara was Ethan's mother?”
Thomas nodded.
Victor looked toward the ceiling.
“Then Ethan…”
“Is Mara's son.”
Victor's face went pale.
“And my grandson.”
“Yes.”
The truth was so enormous that Victor almost couldn't hold it.
He whispered:
“I thought Ethan was my son.”
Thomas's eyes filled with sadness.
“You were told that.”
“By whom?”
Thomas hesitated.
“Eleanor.”
Victor stared.
“Then why?”
“Because she needed you to protect him.”
Victor looked toward the stairs.
“But if Ethan is Mara's son…”
Thomas nodded.
“He carries your blood.”
Victor understood.
“That's why Augustus wanted him.”
“Yes.”
“And why Mara took him.”
“Yes.”
Victor closed his eyes.
“She was protecting her own child.”
A sound came from upstairs.
A soft knock.
Victor looked up.
“Ethan?”
No answer.
Then another knock.
Three times.
Victor ran upstairs.
The bedroom door was open.
The room was empty.
The window was locked.
Clara stood beside the bed.
Her face was pale.
“He was here.”
Victor stopped.
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“What happened?”
“He woke up.”
“And?”
“He said something strange.”
Victor's heart hammered.
“What?”
Clara swallowed.
“He said he remembered.”
Victor stared.
“Remembered what?”
“Everything.”
We searched the house.
Every room.
Every closet.
Every hallway.
Nothing.
Then we heard Ethan's voice.
From the old nursery.
Victor opened the door.
Ethan was sitting on the floor.
His purple elephant was beside him.
He was drawing.
Victor knelt.
“Ethan.”
The boy looked up.
“Daddy.”
Victor pulled him into his arms.
“I thought I'd lost you.”
Ethan hugged him.
“I wasn't lost.”
“Where were you?”
“Here.”
Victor looked around.
“You've been here?”
Ethan nodded.
“I was talking to Mommy.”
Victor froze.
“Mommy?”
Ethan pointed toward the mirror.
“She came out.”
Clara whispered:
“What did she look like?”
Ethan frowned.
“Like me.”
Victor's heart stopped.
“Like you?”
“She had my eyes.”
Victor stared at Clara.
“Did she say her name?”
Ethan nodded.
“Mara.”
Victor closed his eyes.
He already knew.
“Ethan, what did she tell you?”
The boy looked at him.
“She said I shouldn't be scared.”
Victor swallowed.
“Why?”
“Because Daddy would come.”
“I did.”
Ethan smiled.
“She knew.”
Victor's voice became softer.
“What else?”
Ethan thought.
“She said Grandma was lying.”
“Which Grandma?”
“The one in the picture.”
Victor looked at the portrait.
“Eleanor?”
Ethan shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Grandma Mara.”
Victor froze.
Ethan pointed toward the portrait.
“She said that's not her.”
Victor stared at the painting.
“Then who is that?”
Ethan shook his head.
“She didn't say.”
Victor sat beside him.
“Ethan, I need you to tell me something.”
The boy nodded.
“Do you remember the underground house?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I've been there before.”
Victor's blood ran cold.
“When?”
“Before Daddy brought me home.”
Victor stared.
“Who brought you?”
“A lady.”
“What lady?”
“The one with the red shoes.”
Victor's face changed.
“Serena.”
Ethan nodded.
“She told me not to cry.”
“What else?”
“She said I wasn't supposed to be Ethan.”
Victor stopped breathing.
Clara moved closer.
“What were you supposed to be called?”
Ethan whispered:
“Alexander.”
Victor looked at Clara.
“Alexander.”
Clara's face went white.
“That's the name on the original hospital record.”
Victor turned.
“What?”
“The first birth certificate.”
“For Ethan?”
Clara nodded.
“His name was Alexander Victor Vale.”
Victor's stomach dropped.
“Vale.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did they change it?”
Clara looked at Ethan.
“Because the Vale name was dangerous.”
Ethan looked up.
“Daddy?”
Victor forced himself to smile.
“Yes?”
“Am I bad?”
Victor's heart broke.
“No.”
“But Grandma said I was.”
“Grandma was wrong.”
“She said I hurt Mommy.”
Victor froze.
“Who told you that?”
Ethan pointed toward the door.
“She did.”
A woman stood in the hallway.
Serena.
Victor immediately moved between her and Ethan.
“What are you doing here?”
Serena's eyes were filled with tears.
“I came to tell you the truth.”
“You've told enough lies.”
“I know.”
“You hurt Ethan.”
“I know.”
“You helped them.”
“I know.”
“Then why should I listen?”
Serena looked at the boy.
“Because I was there the night Mara disappeared.”
Victor froze.
“What happened?”
Serena swallowed.
“Mara didn't take Ethan.”
Victor frowned.
“Then who did?”
Serena looked toward the mirror.
“She gave him away.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew someone was coming.”
“Who?”
Serena whispered:
“Eleanor.”
Victor's face hardened.
“My mother?”
“No.”
Serena shook her head.
“The woman you called your mother.”
Victor stared.
“She wasn't Eleanor.”
“I know.”
“She was Isabel.”
Victor's eyes widened.
“Isabel was Mara's mother.”
“Yes.”
“Then she was Ethan's grandmother.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she pretend to be Eleanor?”
Serena answered:
“Because the real Eleanor was dead.”
Victor stared.
“But Mara said—”
“Mara was wrong.”
Serena's voice broke.
“She was lied to too.”
The room became silent.
Victor looked at Ethan.
Then Serena.
“Start from the beginning.”
Serena nodded.
“Twenty-three years ago, Eleanor discovered the underground rooms.”
Victor listened.
“She tried to expose Augustus.”
“Yes.”
“She was captured.”
“Yes.”
“Then what?”
“Isabel helped her escape.”
“Isabel?”
“Yes.”
“But Isabel was Adrian's wife.”
“She was.”
“And Mara's mother.”
“Yes.”
“Why would she help Eleanor?”
“Because they had the same enemy.”
“Augustus.”
Serena nodded.
“Augustus wanted to control the Blackwood estate.”
Victor said:
“And Adrian?”
“Adrian wanted revenge.”
“For what?”
“Because Augustus had killed his father.”
Victor frowned.
“Then why work for him?”
“Because Adrian didn't know.”
Victor stared.
“What?”
“Augustus told Adrian that his father had abandoned him.”
Victor closed his eyes.
Another lie.
Another stolen life.
Serena continued.
“Every person in this family was given a different version of the truth.”
Victor looked at Ethan.
“And Mara?”
“She discovered the truth.”
“What did she do?”
“She took Ethan and ran.”
“Where?”
“The chapel.”
Victor remembered.
“The old chapel.”
“Yes.”
“She knew someone would follow.”
“Who?”
“Augustus.”
Victor's face hardened.
“And then?”
“Mara left Ethan with me.”
Victor stared.
“With you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she trusted me.”
Victor laughed bitterly.
“You nearly killed him.”
“I know.”
Serena's eyes filled with tears.
“I was afraid.”
“Of Augustus?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
She whispered:
“Of Mara.”
Victor stared.
“Why?”
“Because she knew what I had done.”
“What did you do?”
Serena lowered her head.
“I switched the babies.”
Victor froze.
Again.
“The babies.”
“Yes.”
“Which babies?”
“Ethan and Alexander.”
Victor's face went pale.
“You said Ethan was Alexander.”
“He was.”
“Then who was the other baby?”
Serena began crying.
“Mara's first child.”
Victor stared.
“She had another child?”
“Yes.”
“Who was the father?”
Serena looked at him.
“You.”
Victor couldn't speak.
Clara whispered:
“That isn't possible.”
Serena nodded.
“It is.”
Victor looked at Ethan.
Then back at Serena.
“You're saying Mara had two children?”
“Yes.”
“And both were mine?”
“Yes.”
“Where is the other one?”
Serena closed her eyes.
“Dead.”
Victor felt the room tilt.
“Who killed him?”
Serena whispered:
“Augustus.”
Victor's voice broke.
“Why?”
“Because he wasn't the heir.”
“What?”
“Ethan was.”
Victor stared.
“Why?”
“Because Ethan carried all three bloodlines.”
“Blackwood.”
“Vale.”
“Black.”
“Yes.”
Victor looked at Ethan.
The boy was quietly holding his purple elephant.
He looked too small to carry the weight of any of this.
Victor knelt beside him.
“Ethan.”
The boy looked up.
“Yes, Daddy?”
Victor hugged him.
“No matter what anyone tells you, you are not responsible for any of this.”
Ethan nodded.
“Okay.”
Then he whispered:
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“I remember the man who killed my brother.”
Victor froze.
Clara covered her mouth.
Serena went completely still.
Victor looked into Ethan's eyes.
“Who?”
Ethan pointed toward the doorway.
“Grandpa.”
Victor turned.
Thomas was standing there.
His face was white.
Ethan whispered:
“He wore Daddy's face.”
Victor stared.
“What?”
“He looked like Daddy.”
Thomas stepped backward.
“No.”
Ethan continued.
“He took the baby.”
Thomas's voice shook.
“Ethan, stop.”
“He said the baby wasn't important.”
Victor stood.
“Thomas.”
Thomas shook his head.
“I never touched that child.”
Ethan looked at him.
“Yes, you did.”
Victor stared between them.
Thomas's eyes filled with tears.
“I swear…”
Ethan interrupted.
“He gave the baby to Grandpa.”
Thomas went silent.
Victor's voice became cold.
“Which Grandpa?”
Ethan pointed upstairs.
“To the man in the portrait.”
Victor looked at the painting.
Augustus.
Dead for decades.
Except the caller had claimed to be him.
Thomas whispered:
“It's impossible.”
Ethan suddenly smiled.
“He's not dead.”
Victor's blood ran cold.
“Where is he?”
Ethan pointed toward the mirror.
“Behind it.”
Everyone turned.
The mirror was old.
Cracked.
Its frame was carved with the Blackwood crest.
Victor approached.
He touched the glass.
Nothing.
Then Ethan said:
“Push the left side.”
Victor did.
The mirror moved.
A hidden doorway opened.
Behind it was a narrow staircase.
Victor looked at Ethan.
“How did you know?”
Ethan shrugged.
“He showed me.”
“Who?”
The boy whispered:
“Grandpa.”
Victor descended first.
Clara followed.
Serena stayed with Ethan.
Thomas came last.
At the bottom was a small room.
No windows.
One chair.
One desk.
And a photograph.
Victor picked it up.
It showed Augustus.
Alive.
Taken that morning.
Victor's heart pounded.
“He's here.”
A voice came from the darkness.
“Yes.”
Victor turned.
Augustus stepped into the light.
Older.
Thinner.
But alive.
He smiled.
“Hello, grandson.”
Victor raised his gun.
Augustus laughed.
“Still so predictable.”
Victor's finger tightened.
“You killed my family.”
Augustus shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed toward Thomas.
“He did.”
Thomas went pale.
Victor turned.
Augustus smiled.
“Ask your father what happened the night Mara disappeared.”
Thomas whispered:
“Don't.”
Victor stared at him.
“What happened?”
Thomas closed his eyes.
“I killed her.”
Silence.
Victor's face went blank.
“You killed Mara.”
“No.”
Thomas looked at Ethan.
“I killed the woman everyone thought was Mara.”
Victor frowned.
“What woman?”
Thomas looked at Augustus.
Then whispered:
“Your real mother.”
Victor's blood froze.
Augustus smiled.
“Now you're finally ready for the last truth.”
The lights went out.
And Ethan began screaming.
“Daddy!”
A gunshot exploded in the darkness.
Then another.
When the emergency lights came on, Thomas was on the floor.
Blood spread across his chest.
And Augustus was gone.
Victor ran to Thomas.
“Dad!”
Thomas grabbed his wrist.
His breathing was weak.
“Victor…”
“Who shot you?”
Thomas looked toward the empty doorway.
“Your mother.”
Victor froze.
“Eleanor?”
Thomas shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who?”
Thomas whispered:
“Mara.”
Victor's heart stopped.
“But she's dead.”
Thomas smiled weakly.
“No.”
He coughed.
“She never died.”
Victor stared.
“Then where is she?”
Thomas pointed toward the wall.
A hidden door slowly opened.
And standing behind it was a woman holding a gun.
Clara gasped.
Ethan whispered:
“Mommy.”
Victor looked at the woman.
Mara.
Alive.
She looked at Ethan.
Then at Victor.
And said:
“I told you, Dad.”
Victor couldn't move.
“I was never the one you needed to fear.”
Mara lowered the gun.
“You needed to fear the woman who raised you.”
Victor turned.
And behind him stood Eleanor.
Alive.
Smiling.
Holding a knife.
May you like
“Hello, son.”
The last lie had finally found its way into the light.
