Chapter 13 - NATHAN'S MOTHER
Margaret Cole had not spoken publicly in three years.
Now she stood beside Conrad Mercer.
“My late husband made mistakes,” she told reporters. “But Grace Bennett is exploiting a grieving family.”
Grace whispered, “Your mother knew me.”
“What?”
“She was there once.”
“When?”
“The week after your father threatened me.”
“She came to my apartment alone.”
“What did she say?”
“That Nathan would never choose me over his family.”
Everyone had known except him.
“Come home.”
“No.”
“Nathan.”
“Did you know Grace was pregnant?”
“Mom.”
“Yes.”
The word broke something old.
“Did you know Lily existed?”
“Yes.”
“Your father told me Grace wanted money.”
“She refused two million dollars.”
“He never told me that.”
“You could have asked her.”
“I was afraid.”
“That’s apparently our family motto.”
His mother said, “Conrad has documents.”
“Fabricated.”
“They show Grace planning to leave.”
“Fabricated.”
“They show—”
“She was kidnapped.”
Margaret went silent.
“Victoria attacked her.”
“I know.”
“You stood beside Conrad anyway.”
“I’m trying to save what’s left.”
“Of what?”
“The company. Your father’s legacy.”
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The thing you all keep choosing over people.”
“Nathan, please.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For being part of a family that made you think disappearing was safer than telling me the truth.”
“You were twenty-eight. You worshipped your father.”
“I did.”
“You might have believed him.”
“Maybe.”
“That’s why I stayed gone.”
“We searched Conrad’s private office.”
“What did you find?”
“Files on Grace. Lily. Your mother.”
“Why my mother?”
“Because Conrad has been blackmailing her.”
“With what?”
“A recorded confession.”
May you like
“Confession to what?”
Ellis said, “Your father’s death.”
