CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Woman Who Died Twice
The phone rang at 2:17 in the morning.
Willa almost ignored it.
She was sitting alone in Daniel's study, the copy of the Second Will spread across the desk in front of her.
Outside, rain tapped against the windows.
Daniel was asleep upstairs.
At least, she hoped he was.
After everything that had happened, sleep had become something she no longer trusted.
The phone rang again.
Unknown number.
Willa stared at the screen.
She thought about the messages.
The photograph.
The baby.
Her mother's handwriting.
The impossible date on the will.
November 18, 2015.
Three years after Miriam Rowe had officially died.
Willa answered.
“Hello?”
For several seconds, there was only static.
Then breathing.
A woman's breathing.
Slow.
Careful.
Willa sat upright.
“Who is this?”
The woman didn't answer.
Willa's fingers tightened around the phone.
“Who is this?”
A voice finally came through.
Older than Willa remembered.
Softer.
But unmistakable.
“Willa.”
Her heart stopped.
She couldn't breathe.
The voice said her name again.
“Willa, it's Miriam.”
The phone nearly slipped from her hand.
She stood so quickly the chair fell backward.
“No.”
A pause.
Then:
“Yes.”
Willa pressed one hand against her mouth.
“No.”
“Listen to me.”
“My mother is dead.”
“She was.”
Willa froze.
The woman continued.
“But I wasn't.”
Willa's knees weakened.
She grabbed the edge of the desk.
“Where are you?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because they are listening.”
“Who?”
Silence.
“Who is listening?”
“Everyone.”
Willa's voice shook.
“I saw the will.”
“I know.”
“The one you signed in 2015.”
“Yes.”
“You were alive.”
“Yes.”
“You were alive for years.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you come home?”
The answer came quietly.
“Because I was afraid of what would happen if I did.”
“To me?”
“To everyone.”
Willa closed her eyes.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I had to.”
“You let me mourn you.”
“I know.”
“You let me hate you.”
“I know.”
“You let me think you abandoned me.”
“I never abandoned you.”
“Then why?”
Her mother's voice broke.
“Because loving you was the easiest way to get you killed.”
Willa stopped.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I had to become dead.”
“You died twice?”
“Yes.”
“When was the second time?”
“I'll explain.”
“No.”
Willa wiped her tears.
“You've had fourteen years.”
“I know.”
“You've watched me grow up.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me marry Nathan.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I was pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Celeste was trying to hurt me.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you stop her?”
“I tried.”
“You pushed me into this.”
“No.”
“You left me alone.”
“No.”
“You gave Nathan instructions.”
“Yes.”
“You gave Adrian money.”
“Yes.”
“You built the trust.”
“Yes.”
“You created the Second Will.”
“Yes.”
“Then you did all of this.”
Silence.
“I did.”
Willa stared at the rain.
“Why?”
“Because there was no other way.”
“There is always another way.”
“Not when your enemy owns the police, the banks, the hospitals, the courts and half the people you love.”
Willa's blood ran cold.
“Who?”
Her mother didn't answer.
“Who owns them?”
“Someone you already know.”
Willa's stomach tightened.
“Nathan?”
“No.”
“Celeste?”
“No.”
“Adrian?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Miriam whispered:
“Your grandfather.”
Willa froze.
“Calder.”
“Yes.”
“But he's dead.”
“No.”
Willa closed her eyes.
“Everyone in this family is dead except the people who aren't.”
Miriam gave a quiet, humorless laugh.
“That is the problem.”
Willa sat back down.
She was shaking.
“Tell me everything.”
“I can't.”
“You called me.”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me.”
“I can give you pieces.”
“I don't want pieces.”
“You have to understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That if you know everything, you become dangerous.”
“To whom?”
“To them.”
Willa looked at the Second Will.
“You wrote this.”
“Yes.”
“You named the person responsible for your death.”
“Yes.”
“Who was it?”
Silence.
“Mum.”
“Yes?”
“Was it Calder?”
“No.”
Willa's heart raced.
“Then who?”
“I cannot say over the phone.”
“Why?”
“Because the call is not secure.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I'm the one who taught Nathan how to listen.”
Willa froze.
“What?”
“He learned from me.”
“You taught him?”
“Yes.”
“How to spy?”
“How to survive.”
Willa swallowed.
“So Nathan knew you were alive.”
“Yes.”
“For eleven years.”
“Yes.”
“And he never told me.”
“No.”
“Why should I forgive him?”
“You shouldn't.”
The answer surprised her.
“What?”
“You shouldn't forgive him yet.”
“Why?”
“Because there are things he did that I didn't ask him to do.”
Willa went silent.
“What things?”
“I don't know all of them.”
“You don't know?”
“No.”
“Then how do you trust him?”
“I don't.”
Willa frowned.
“You trusted him with me.”
“I trusted him to protect you.”
“That's not the same thing.”
“No.”
“Did he love me?”
Another silence.
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he broke my rules.”
Willa stared.
“What rules?”
“He was never supposed to fall in love with you.”
Her heart twisted.
“But he did.”
“Yes.”
“Did that ruin your plan?”
Miriam's voice softened.
“It changed everything.”
Willa remembered the first time Nathan had told her he loved her.
It had been in a hotel room during a thunderstorm.
She had laughed because he had been nervous.
Nathan Rowe.
The man who could negotiate million-dollar contracts without blinking.
Nervous about three words.
She had believed it was real.
Maybe it had been.
Maybe that was the worst part.
“Mum.”
“Yes?”
“Did you arrange my marriage?”
“No.”
“But you told Nathan to get close to me.”
“Yes.”
“That's the same thing.”
“No.”
“How isn't it?”
“Because I told him to protect you.”
“You knew he'd become my husband.”
“I didn't know.”
“You hoped.”
“No.”
“You expected.”
“No.”
“You manipulated us.”
“Yes.”
Willa closed her eyes.
“At least you're honest now.”
“I've always been honest with you.”
Willa laughed bitterly.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“That was survival.”
“You let Nathan lie to me.”
“That was protection.”
“You hid my inheritance.”
“That was protection.”
“You hid another child.”
Silence.
Willa's eyes opened.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“Who is the child?”
Miriam's breathing changed.
“Willa—”
“Who?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Is it my mother's child?”
“Yes.”
“My sibling?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
Miriam didn't answer.
“He?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
Willa's heart pounded.
“It's a boy.”
“Yes.”
“What's his name?”
“I can't.”
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“Does Nathan know?”
“Yes.”
“Does Celeste know?”
“No.”
“Does Calder?”
Miriam went silent.
“Mum.”
“Yes.”
“Does Calder know about him?”
“Yes.”
Willa felt cold.
“Then he's in danger.”
“He has always been in danger.”
“Why?”
“Because he is the one person who can destroy everything.”
“How?”
“He has the original proof.”
“Proof of what?”
“My death.”
Willa stared at the will.
“Your death?”
“Yes.”
“You said you didn't die.”
“I did.”
“I don't understand.”
“You will.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Willa turned.
“Daniel?”
No answer.
She lowered her voice.
“Are you still there?”
“Yes.”
“I heard something.”
“Where?”
“Outside the study.”
“Leave the house.”
“What?”
“Now.”
“Mum—”
“Willa, listen to me.”
Her voice had changed.
The softness disappeared.
Now she sounded frightened.
“Get out of the house.”
Willa stood.
“Why?”
“Because I made a mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“I called you.”
The study door handle moved.
Willa froze.
“Mum?”
“Run.”
The handle turned again.
Willa backed away.
“Who is there?”
“Willa.”
The voice was male.
Nathan.
She almost collapsed with relief.
She opened the door.
Nathan stood in the hallway.
His face was pale.
“Are you all right?”
Willa stared at him.
The phone was still against her ear.
Nathan looked at it.
His expression changed.
“Who are you talking to?”
Willa couldn't answer.
Then the voice on the phone said:
“Don't tell him.”
Nathan heard it.
His eyes widened.
“Willa.”
She slowly lowered the phone.
Nathan stared at her.
“Who was that?”
Willa whispered:
“My mother.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
For one second, he looked almost relieved.
Then terrified.
“She called you?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Just now.”
“What did she say?”
“That you knew.”
Nathan looked away.
“She told me you knew she was alive.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Eleven years.”
Willa stepped toward him.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I promised.”
“You promised my mother.”
“Yes.”
“You promised her over me.”
“No.”
“That's exactly what you did.”
Nathan shook his head.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because if I tell you, you'll become a target.”
“I already am.”
Nathan looked at her stomach.
“Yes.”
His voice broke.
“You are.”
Willa stared.
“You know about the child.”
Nathan's face changed.
“What child?”
“My mother's child.”
He didn't answer.
“You know.”
“Yes.”
“Who is he?”
“I don't know where he is.”
“But you know who he is.”
“Yes.”
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
“Does he have something?”
Nathan looked at her.
“Who told you?”
“My mother.”
His face went pale.
“Miriam called you.”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
“That her son has proof of her death.”
Nathan stared.
Then he whispered:
“She shouldn't have called you.”
“Why?”
“Because now they know.”
At the same moment, across the city, a man placed a phone on a desk.
“She's been contacted.”
The person sitting across from him looked up.
“By Miriam?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Two minutes ago.”
The man smiled.
“Then it's time.”
“For what?”
“For the second death.”
Willa followed Nathan into the study.
Daniel came running downstairs.
“What happened?”
“Miriam called.”
Daniel stopped.
“What?”
“She said she's alive.”
Daniel stared at Willa.
Then at Nathan.
“You knew.”
Nathan nodded.
Daniel swore under his breath.
“How long?”
“Eleven years.”
Daniel walked toward him.
“You son of a—”
Nathan didn't move.
“Hit me if you want.”
Daniel stopped.
Willa looked between them.
“Enough.”
She turned to Nathan.
“Take me to her.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because she doesn't want you to know where she is.”
“She called me.”
“She made a mistake.”
“She wants to see me.”
“Not yet.”
Willa's eyes narrowed.
“How do you know?”
“Because I know her.”
“You've been lying to me for eleven years.”
“Yes.”
“And you expect me to trust you?”
“No.”
“Then why should I listen?”
Nathan looked at her.
“Because your mother is about to die.”
Silence.
Willa's face went pale.
“What?”
“She called you because she knows they're close.”
“Who?”
Nathan didn't answer.
“Who is coming for her?”
“My father.”
Willa whispered:
“Calder.”
Nathan nodded.
“He knows Miriam is alive.”
“How?”
“Because he was the one who made her disappear the first time.”
Willa stared.
“And the second time?”
Nathan looked toward the window.
“She made herself disappear.”
“Why?”
“To protect the child.”
“The boy.”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
Nathan hesitated.
Willa stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't know if he's still safe.”
“Where is he?”
Nathan looked at her.
Then finally said:
“London.”
Willa's breath caught.
“My mother said he was there?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know?”
“I've been watching him.”
“For how long?”
“Since he was born.”
Willa stared.
“You've known my brother his entire life.”
“Yes.”
“And I never knew he existed.”
Nathan's voice broke.
“Neither did he.”
Morning came slowly.
No one slept.
Daniel made coffee.
Nathan stood by the window.
Willa sat at the table with the Second Will.
She had read it six times.
Each time, something new seemed to emerge.
The condition.
The sealed statement.
The signature.
The impossible date.
Then she noticed something she had missed.
A second signature.
Not a witness.
A beneficiary acknowledgment.
At the bottom was a name.
William Rowe.
Willa stared.
“Who's William?”
Nathan turned.
His face changed.
“Where did you see that?”
“Here.”
She showed him.
He walked closer.
“That can't be there.”
“Why?”
“Because William died before you were born.”
“Who was he?”
“My uncle.”
“Calder's son?”
“Yes.”
“Your father's brother?”
“Yes.”
“What happened to him?”
Nathan's voice became quiet.
“He disappeared.”
“When?”
“1989.”
“Why?”
“He found something.”
“What?”
“The original Rowe ledger.”
Willa looked at the will.
“Was he the one who knew about Miriam?”
“No.”
“Then why is his name here?”
Nathan didn't answer.
Daniel took the document.
He looked carefully.
“This isn't a beneficiary acknowledgment.”
“What is it?”
“A transfer.”
Willa frowned.
“Transfer of what?”
“Control.”
Nathan's face went pale.
“That's impossible.”
“What?”
Daniel pointed to the wording.
“William transferred his rights to Miriam.”
Willa stared.
“When?”
“1989.”
“And Miriam transferred them to me.”
“Yes.”
Nathan shook his head.
“No.”
Willa looked at him.
“What?”
“This means the Rowe inheritance didn't begin with Calder.”
Daniel nodded.
“It began before him.”
“With William.”
“No.”
Willa looked at the signature again.
“Then with whom?”
Daniel turned the page.
There was a name at the very bottom.
Almost invisible beneath the legal seal.
A name none of them had expected.
Miriam Rowe.
Daniel looked at Willa.
“She inherited it from someone.”
“Who?”
He pointed to a handwritten notation.
Original Beneficiary: Eleanor Vale.
Willa's breath stopped.
“Vale.”
Her mother's maiden name.
Daniel looked at her.
“Your mother wasn't born a Rowe.”
“No.”
“She inherited the Rowe fortune.”
Willa stared.
“From whom?”
Daniel read the note.
Then his face changed.
“Her mother.”
Willa's eyes widened.
“My grandmother?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Daniel turned the page.
A photograph was attached to the back.
A woman Willa had never seen before.
Young.
Elegant.
Standing beside a man she recognized immediately.
Calder.
But the woman wasn't Miriam.
She was older.
And beneath the photograph was a single name.
Eleanor Vale.
Willa stared.
“Who is she?”
Nathan whispered:
“Your great-grandmother.”
Willa looked at him.
“And she owned everything?”
“Yes.”
“Then Calder didn't build the Rowe empire.”
“No.”
“He stole it.”
Nathan nodded.
“And Miriam spent her entire life trying to take it back.”
Willa touched the photograph.
Then her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She answered.
No one spoke.
Then her mother's voice returned.
“Willa.”
“Mum.”
“I don't have much time.”
“Where are you?”
“Listen carefully.”
Willa stood.
“What?”
“Don't trust Nathan.”
Nathan looked at her.
Willa's face went pale.
Her mother continued:
“He did save you.”
A pause.
“But he also knows who killed me.”
Willa's eyes moved to Nathan.
“What?”
Miriam's voice became barely audible.
“And Willa…”
“Yes?”
“The man you call your father is not your father.”
Willa stopped breathing.
“What?”
Static filled the line.
Then Miriam whispered:
“Find the child.”
The call ended.
Willa stared at the phone.
Nathan looked terrified.
Daniel asked:
“What did she say?”
Willa slowly raised her eyes.
“My father isn't my father.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
Willa's voice trembled.
“And she told me to find the child.”
Nathan opened his eyes.
“No.”
“What?”
“Don't.”
“Why?”
“Because if you find him…”
He stopped.
Willa waited.
“If I find him, what?”
Nathan looked at her.
“You'll find out who you really are.”
The lights in the house suddenly went out.
Daniel reached for his weapon.
A car engine roared outside.
Then the front door exploded inward.
Glass filled the hallway.
Willa screamed.
Nathan grabbed her and pulled her behind the wall.
Daniel fired toward the doorway.
Someone shouted outside.
Then silence.
Willa's phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
THE SECOND DEATH HAS BEGUN.
Beneath it was an address.
A London address.
May you like
And one final line.
Your brother is waiting for you.
