Chapter 2 - The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Nora stared at the phone.
For three seconds, nobody moved.
The screen continued vibrating in Roman's hand.
CELeste Bellamy.
Nora's mother.
Dead for six years.
Nora's throat closed.
“No.”
Roman looked at her.
“Nora.”
“No.”
She backed away.
“That isn't possible.”
Roman answered.
“Hello?”
Nothing.
Only breathing.
Then a woman's voice whispered through the speaker.
“Roman.”
Nora nearly collapsed.
She knew that voice.
It was older.
Weaker.
But she knew it.
“Mom?”
Silence.
Roman's eyes narrowed.
The woman on the phone spoke again.
“Don't let Nora leave the hotel.”
Nora grabbed Roman's arm.
“Put it on speaker.”
Roman did.
The voice became clearer.
“I don't have much time.”
Nora's entire body shook.
“Mom?”
A faint breath.
Then:
“My baby.”
Nora covered her mouth.
Roman looked at her.
“Celeste, where are you?”
A pause.
“Not where they think.”
“Who?”
“They found me.”
Roman's face hardened.
“Who found you?”
The line crackled.
A man's voice suddenly appeared in the background.
“Mrs. Bellamy?”
The call ended.
Nora stared at the screen.
“No.”
Roman immediately handed the phone to his man.
“Trace it.”
“I already have someone working on it.”
Roman turned toward Nora.
She was crying silently.
He stepped closer.
“I'll find her.”
“You said she was dead.”
“I believed what I was told.”
“You were there.”
Roman's expression changed.
Nora remembered that night.
The hospital corridor.
The funeral.
The closed coffin.
Roman had stood beside her while she buried the woman who raised her.
But now—
“My mother was alive.”
“Yes.”
“For six years.”
Roman didn't answer.
Nora pushed his chest.
“Why didn't you know?”
“I didn't know.”
“You knew everything.”
“No.”
“You knew who my mother worked for.”
Roman's eyes hardened.
Nora froze.
“What did you say?”
Roman looked away.
That was answer enough.
“My mother worked for you.”
“Not for me.”
“For your family.”
Roman remained silent.
Nora felt another wave of anger.
“What did she know?”
Roman's jaw flexed.
“Too much.”
A hotel manager approached.
“Mr. Calder.”
Roman turned.
“What?”
“There was someone in the service corridor before the incident.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
“Show me the footage.”
The manager hesitated.
“The cameras went offline twelve minutes ago.”
Roman's expression became dangerous.
“Convenient.”
Nora suddenly noticed Selene was gone.
“Where is she?”
Roman looked toward the elevator.
His men were already moving.
“Find her.”
One of them nodded.
Roman turned back to Nora.
“You're coming with me.”
“No.”
“Nora.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“You're pregnant.”
“And still capable of walking.”
Roman stared at her.
Then, unexpectedly, he smiled faintly.
“You haven't changed.”
“You disappeared.”
“And you still make that sound like an accusation.”
“It is.”
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then his expression softened.
“I deserved that.”
Nora looked down.
The broken chain was still in her hand.
Roman noticed.
“Give me the pendant.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it's mine.”
Roman reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small black envelope.
Nora stared at it.
“What is that?”
“I found it in my office this morning.”
He handed it to her.
Inside was a photograph.
Nora pulled it out.
Her mother stood beside a much younger Roman.
And beside them was another man.
Nora didn't recognize him.
But Roman did.
His face went cold.
“That's my father.”
Nora stared at the photograph.
Then turned it over.
A date was written on the back.
Three days before Celeste Bellamy disappeared.
Underneath were four words.
THE BABY WASN'T YOURS.
Nora looked up.
Roman had gone pale.
And then another photograph slid out of the envelope.
It showed Celeste holding a newborn baby.
On the blanket was a hospital bracelet.
Nora read the name.
May you like
Then she stopped breathing.
NORA CALDER.
