Chapter 5 - The Woman Behind The Glass
The entire mansion stopped breathing.
The security monitors flickered.
The hidden room beneath the Reed estate remained on every screen.
And standing inside it was Eleanor.
Nathaniel couldn't move.
Nobody could.
The woman on the screen looked exactly like the woman in his memories.
Same eyes.
Same dark hair.
Same gentle expression.
But that was impossible.
Because Nathaniel had watched her funeral.
He had watched the coffin disappear beneath the ground.
He had signed the papers.
He had lived every day believing he had lost her forever.
"No."
The word left his mouth like a broken breath.
"Eleanor..."
The woman on the screen looked directly into the camera.
Almost like she could hear him.
Almost like she had been waiting for this moment.
"Nathaniel."
Her voice came through the speakers.
Clear.
Calm.
Alive.
I felt Lily grab my hand.
She wasn't afraid.
That frightened me more than anything.
Because my daughter looked at the screen like she was seeing someone familiar.
Someone she trusted.
Nathaniel stepped closer to the monitor.
"Where are you?"
The woman smiled sadly.
"I knew you would ask that first."
His jaw tightened.
"Where are you?"
The screen shook slightly.
Then Eleanor looked away from the camera.
Like someone beside her had spoken.
That was when Nathaniel noticed.
The person standing next to her.
A man.
Older.
Gray hair.
Wearing a dark suit.
Nathaniel's face changed.
Because he recognized him.
I didn't.
But I knew from Nathaniel's reaction that whoever this man was, he mattered.
"Richard."
The name came out like a whisper.
Marcus immediately looked shocked.
"Sir..."
Nathaniel ignored him.
"That's impossible."
The man on the screen looked toward the camera.
Then he smiled.
A cold smile.
"Hello, Nathaniel."
Nathaniel stepped back.
"You're dead."
The man laughed softly.
"No."
A pause.
"I was just forgotten."
The room became silent.
I looked at Nathaniel.
He looked like someone had opened a door to the past and everything he buried had walked back through it.
"Who is he?" I asked.
Nathaniel didn't answer.
Marcus did.
"Richard Hale."
His voice was low.
"The former chairman of Reed Holdings."
I looked at him.
"Former?"
Marcus nodded.
"Before Nathaniel took control of the company."
The screen showed Eleanor again.
She looked tired.
But calm.
"Nathaniel, if you are watching this, then it means you finally found the room."
Nathaniel stared.
"What room?"
Eleanor looked directly into the camera.
"The room where the truth was kept."
The video paused.
Then continued.
"I know you will be angry."
Nathaniel clenched his fists.
"You have no idea."
Eleanor looked down.
"I know you will blame Mia."
My entire body froze.
Nathaniel looked at me.
The video continued.
"But she had nothing to do with what happened."
I felt a wave of relief.
Then confusion.
Why would Eleanor say that?
Why would she need to defend me?
"I chose Mia because I knew she was the only person I could trust."
Nathaniel stared at the screen.
"Trust her with what?"
Eleanor took a breath.
"With Lily."
The room went completely silent.
Nathaniel looked at my daughter.
Then back at the screen.
"What does Lily have to do with this?"
Eleanor's expression changed.
Sadness.
Regret.
"Everything."
I felt my heart pound.
Nathaniel shook his head.
"No."
The word was quiet.
But everyone heard it.
"No."
Eleanor continued.
"Three years ago, when Mia arrived at this house, she didn't know the truth."
The screen showed an old photograph.
Me.
Lily.
And Eleanor.
Standing outside the Reed mansion.
The same day I started working there.
"She thought I was helping her."
Eleanor smiled sadly.
"But I was helping Lily."
Nathaniel looked at me.
"What does that mean?"
I shook my head.
"I don't know."
And this time, he believed me.
Because the confusion on my face matched his.
Eleanor continued.
"Lily was born carrying something someone wanted."
The video distorted.
Nathaniel stepped closer.
"What?"
Richard appeared beside her.
His expression became colder.
"Enough."
Eleanor looked at him.
"No."
For the first time, she looked fearless.
"I am done hiding."
The camera moved slightly.
And I saw something behind them.
A wall filled with documents.
Photos.
Files.
Names.
Nathaniel noticed too.
"What is that?"
Eleanor looked behind her.
"The proof."
Richard stepped toward the camera.
"This ends now."
Eleanor looked back at Nathaniel.
"Listen carefully."
Her voice became urgent.
"Do not trust anyone from the company."
Nathaniel's expression changed.
"Why?"
"Because the person who tried to destroy our family is closer than you think."
The screen suddenly flickered.
The image broke apart.
Static filled the room.
Then a loud sound came from somewhere beneath us.
A door opening.
Everyone froze.
Marcus immediately reached for his weapon.
Nathaniel turned toward the floor.
The hidden room.
The room beneath the house.
The one Lily knew about.
A few seconds passed.
Then a voice echoed through the mansion.
A real voice.
Not from the speakers.
Someone was downstairs.
"Mr. Reed."
Everyone looked toward the hallway.
The voice continued.
"I think you should see what your wife left behind."
Nathaniel walked toward the hidden entrance.
I grabbed Lily and Oliver.
"Stay with me."
But Oliver wasn't looking at me.
He was looking at the hallway.
His face had gone pale.
"That's him."
Nathaniel stopped.
"What?"
Oliver pointed.
The little boy's voice trembled.
"That's the man Mommy was scared of."
Nobody moved.
Then the figure stepped into the light.
Richard Hale.
The same man from the screen.
Alive.
Standing inside Nathaniel's house.
Nathaniel stared at him.
"You were dead."
Richard smiled.
"Everyone believed that."
Marcus moved forward.
But Richard raised a hand.
"Careful."
He looked at Oliver.
Then Lily.
"You don't want the children to learn the truth this way."
Nathaniel's expression hardened.
"What did you do?"
Richard smiled.
"I didn't do anything."
A pause.
"Your wife did."
Nathaniel stepped closer.
"Where is Eleanor?"
Richard looked toward the hidden room.
Then whispered:
"She's been waiting for you."
Nathaniel turned toward the underground entrance.
The door slowly opened by itself.
A faint light appeared from below.
And from inside the hidden room...
came Eleanor's voice.
"Nathaniel."
Everyone froze.
Then she said one more thing.
"Please come alone."
May you like
Nathaniel reached for the handle.
And the door opened wider.
