Chapter 8 - The Second Baby
Celeste finally spoke.
“I lied.”
Nora felt the words like a physical blow.
Roman stood behind her.
“About what?”
“Everything.”
Nora shook her head.
“Why?”
“Because the truth would have killed you.”
“You already let me live six years believing you were dead.”
Celeste began crying.
“I thought that was better.”
“Better than what?”
Celeste looked at Roman.
“Your father wasn't the only person involved.”
Roman's eyes narrowed.
“Who else?”
“Julian's family.”
Nora froze.
“My ex-husband's family?”
Celeste nodded.
“They wanted the second child.”
“Why?”
“Because your grandmother left an inheritance.”
Roman frowned.
“Money?”
“No.”
Celeste looked at Nora.
“Control.”
Silence.
“Control over what?”
“The Calder organization.”
Roman's face darkened.
“That makes no sense.”
“It does if the child carries both bloodlines.”
Nora's hand moved to her stomach.
Roman understood.
“You're saying the twins…”
Celeste nodded.
“One would belong to the Bellamy line.”
“And the other?”
“The Calder line.”
Roman stared at Nora.
“But Nora was born first.”
Celeste shook her head.
“No.”
Nora's heart stopped.
“What?”
Celeste whispered:
“Your twin was born first.”
Roman's expression changed.
“Then why was Nora raised as an only child?”
“Because the first baby was taken.”
“By whom?”
Celeste looked toward the window.
“I don't know.”
Roman's men searched the room.
Nothing.
Then Nora noticed something on Celeste's wrist.
A small tattoo.
A number.
17.
Nora grabbed her hand.
“Mom.”
Celeste pulled away.
“What?”
“You have the same number.”
Celeste looked at it.
Her face changed.
Roman noticed.
“What does seventeen mean?”
Celeste whispered:
“The room where they kept her.”
Nora's heart pounded.
“She was alive?”
“I think so.”
“You think?”
Celeste looked at her daughter.
“I heard her cry.”
Nora began sobbing.
“You heard my sister cry and left her?”
“I tried to get her.”
“But you didn't.”
“I couldn't.”
Roman stepped forward.
“I can.”
Celeste looked at him.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“Your father still has her.”
Roman's phone rang.
He answered.
A man spoke.
“We have something you want.”
Roman's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“Your wife.”
Roman turned toward Nora.
She was still standing beside Celeste.
The voice continued.
“Come alone.”
Roman's expression became lethal.
“Where?”
A location arrived by text.
Roman looked at the screen.
It was the sealed floor.
Room 17.
Then the caller added:
May you like
“And bring the woman who gave birth to the wrong baby.”
The line went dead.
