Chapter 6 - The Family That Lied
Dominic released Peter's shirt.
For several seconds, he simply stared at him.
"My mother has been dead for twelve years."
Peter's smile disappeared.
"That's what you were told."
Griffin moved closer.
"Explain yourself."
Peter leaned back in his chair.
"Margaret knows the truth. So does Evelyn's attorney. Your mother, Catherine Rourke, disappeared after your grandmother died. The family announced she had suffered a nervous breakdown and moved overseas."
Dominic shook his head.
"She died in a private clinic."
"Did you see the body?"
Silence.
Dominic had been nineteen when his mother disappeared.
His father told him she had died after a long illness.
There had been a funeral.
A closed casket.
A priest.
A grave.
But Dominic had never been allowed to see her.
He had spent years believing his father had protected him from the worst details of her illness.
Now that memory seemed suddenly fragile.
"Where is she?"
Peter shrugged.
"I don't know. But I know she was alive when Evelyn died."
Eliza looked at Dominic.
He seemed to have forgotten everyone else in the room.
"Why would my mother kill my grandmother?"
Peter's expression became serious.
"Because Evelyn discovered that your father had been stealing from the family trust. Catherine helped him cover it up. When Evelyn threatened to expose them, she became a problem."
Dominic stepped back.
His father had died five years earlier.
A heart attack, according to the official report.
Another convenient death.
"You're lying."
Peter pulled a small flash drive from his pocket.
"Then watch this."
Griffin took it and handed it to Dominic.
They returned to the estate.
For the first time in years, Dominic opened the locked study his grandmother had used.
The room smelled faintly of old paper and cedar.
Eliza followed him inside.
"Are you sure you want me here?"
Dominic turned.
"Yes."
He looked at her for a long moment.
"I should have brought you into this room years ago."
Eliza said nothing.
He connected the drive to the computer.
A video appeared.
Evelyn sat in an armchair, wearing a dark green dress.
She looked tired.
But her eyes were clear.
"My name is Evelyn Rourke," she began. "If you're watching this, I have probably been prevented from protecting the family I spent my life building."
Dominic leaned forward.
Evelyn continued.
"My son has betrayed me. My daughter-in-law has helped him. But the worst danger is not either of them."
She looked directly into the camera.
"It's Celeste."
Eliza's breath caught.
"Celeste Wynn was brought into this family through a financial agreement. Her father lost a fortune investing with my son. He believes he was owed a portion of Blackridge."
Evelyn paused.
"But Celeste is not simply seeking repayment. She has been working with people who want control of the entire organization."
The screen flickered.
Then Evelyn leaned closer.
"Dominic, if you have married, protect your wife. If she has given you a child, protect that child above everything else."
The recording ended.
Dominic sat motionless.
Eliza stared at the blank screen.
"Celeste knew."
"Apparently."
"She knew about the trust before she ever met you."
Dominic rubbed his forehead.
"Yes."
Eliza stepped toward the desk.
"Then why did you let her get so close?"
"I didn't know."
"You never asked enough questions."
He looked at her.
She continued.
"You thought you could control everyone around you. You thought your money and your security team could protect you from betrayal."
Her voice softened.
"But you couldn't even protect your grandmother."
Dominic accepted the accusation.
For once, he didn't defend himself.
A knock sounded at the door.
Griffin entered.
"Sir, we received a message from the hospital."
"What hospital?"
"St. Catherine's. Margaret Bell has been admitted."
Eliza immediately stood.
"She's alive?"
"Yes. She was found unconscious near the river. She has a concussion, but she's stable."
Relief washed over Eliza.
Then Griffin added:
"She asked for you."
They arrived at the hospital shortly after midnight.
Margaret was awake.
Her face was bruised, and one arm was wrapped in a bandage.
When she saw Eliza, tears filled her eyes.
"You're safe."
Eliza took her hand.
"Because of you."
Margaret shook her head.
"I should have told you everything years ago."
Dominic stepped closer.
"Who killed my grandmother?"
Margaret looked at him.
For several seconds, she seemed unable to speak.
Then she whispered, "Your grandmother's death wasn't the only one they arranged."
Dominic's face hardened.
"Whose?"
Margaret looked at Eliza.
"Your first child."
Eliza went cold.
Dominic stared at her.
"What is she talking about?"
Margaret closed her eyes.
"Three years ago, Mrs. Rourke became pregnant."
Eliza's hand flew to her mouth.
She had never been pregnant three years earlier.
At least, not as far as she knew.
Margaret opened her eyes again.
"She was given medication that caused a miscarriage before she even knew she was expecting."
Dominic looked as though the floor had disappeared beneath him.
"Who gave it to her?"
Margaret's answer was barely audible.
"Celeste Wynn."
Then she turned to Eliza.
May you like
"And she has already tried to do the same thing again."
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