Chapter 7: The Baby Who Inherited Everything
“Grace, who is the father of your baby?””
Vincent's question hung over the dining room.
Grace stood in the doorway, one hand protecting her stomach, the other gripping the old photograph. Her face was wet with tears.
Nobody spoke.
Not Elena.
Not Daniel.
Not even Victoria.
Grace looked at Vincent.
“I'm sorry, Mr. Sterling.””
“Don't apologize. Just tell me the truth.””
She glanced at Victoria.
The older woman immediately shook her head.
“Don't you dare.””
Vincent turned.
“You've had enough opportunities to tell me the truth.””
Victoria stepped toward Grace.
“She's confused. She's been working too hard. You cannot possibly believe whatever story she's about to invent.””
Grace flinched.
Vincent moved between them.
“Stay away from her.””
Grace slowly placed the photograph on the table.
The elderly woman in the picture was smiling, one arm around a little girl.
Eleanor Morgan.
Daniel recognized her immediately.
“That's my mother.””
Grace nodded.
“She raised me.””
Daniel stared.
“What?””
Grace wiped her cheeks.
“My mother died when I was six. My grandmother Eleanor took me in. She told me my parents had been involved in something dangerous, and that I needed to stay away from the Sterling family.””
Elena approached the photograph.
“Your mother was Eleanor's daughter?””
Grace nodded.
“Her name was Rebecca Morgan.””
Elena's eyes widened.
“Rebecca?””
She remembered the name.
Her grandmother had once mentioned a younger daughter who had disappeared after a family disagreement. Elena had been told Rebecca moved overseas and never returned.
But she had never known Rebecca had a child.
Daniel pulled out a chair.
“Why didn't you tell us?””
“Because I didn't know who you were.””
Grace looked toward Vincent.
“When I came here, I recognized the family crest on the front gate. I almost turned around. But I needed the job.””
“Why?”” Vincent asked.
Grace hesitated.
“Because my grandmother left me a letter before she died. She told me that if I ever needed protection, I should find the Sterling mansion.””
Vincent frowned.
“Protection from whom?””
Grace looked directly at Victoria.
“From the people who were looking for my mother.””
Victoria's hands began trembling.
Elena sat beside Grace.
“Your mother was Rebecca?””
“Yes.””
“Then you're my cousin.””
Grace nodded.
“And Daniel's too.””
Daniel slowly stood.
He looked at the photograph again.
“Grandmother Eleanor knew everything.””
“She knew enough,” Grace replied.
Vincent leaned against the table.
“And the baby?””
Grace took a shaky breath.
“My grandmother told me that the Morgan family trust had been changed before she died. She said the next generation would inherit everything.””
Thomas's earlier words echoed in Vincent's mind.
The rightful heir is carrying my final secret.
“Are you saying your baby is the heir?”” he asked.
Grace nodded.
“My grandmother's letter said that the child of Rebecca's bloodline would inherit the final controlling share of the Morgan estate if the original trust documents were recovered.””
Daniel frowned.
“But the transfer named Elena and me.””
Grace looked down.
“There's another document.””
“What document?”” Vincent asked.
“The birth record of my mother. It proves she was never legally removed from the Morgan family. My grandmother adopted me into the family trust before she died.””
Elena stared at her.
“Then the baby?””
Grace's eyes filled again.
“Will be the first child born from all three branches of the Morgan family.””
Daniel slowly sat down.
It was an extraordinary inheritance.
But Vincent was thinking about something else.
“Grace, you said your grandmother told you to come here if you needed protection. What happened?””
Grace looked toward Victoria.
“She found out someone had been following me.””
“Who?””
“Thomas.””
An hour later, Vincent had moved everyone into the study.
Maria brought Grace tea and a cushion for her back. Dr. Harris had been called again to check her condition.
The doctor assured Vincent that Grace was stable but needed rest and should avoid further stress.
Vincent personally made sure she was settled in the guest room before returning downstairs.
When he entered the study, Elena was examining the photograph.
Daniel stood beside the fireplace.
Victoria sat alone, staring at her hands.
“Where is Thomas?”” Vincent asked.
“Gone,” Daniel replied.
“Did anyone follow him?””
“I checked the cameras. He left in a black sedan.””
Vincent nodded.
“Get me the footage.””
Daniel hesitated.
“There's something else.””
“What?””
“I checked the security records from the night Grace arrived.””
Vincent looked at him.
“And?””
“Someone deleted the footage from the front entrance.””
Victoria lifted her head.
Vincent turned slowly.
“Did you delete it?””
“No.””
“Did you order someone to?””
Victoria didn't answer.
Elena placed the photograph on the desk.
“Victoria, you knew Grace was Rebecca's daughter.””
Victoria stared at her.
“I suspected.””
“You knew.””
“I knew Eleanor had a granddaughter. I didn't know she was working here.””
“Why did you let her work in this house?””
Victoria's expression hardened.
“Because I needed to know what Eleanor had told her.””
Vincent's jaw tightened.
“You hired her to watch her?””
“No. I allowed her to stay because I wanted to understand what she knew.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“And when you realized she was pregnant?””
Victoria looked away.
“I knew the baby could change everything.””
Vincent's voice dropped.
“So you made her move that chest.””
Victoria said nothing.
“You knew she might find the documents.””
“I didn't know they were inside!””
Elena stood.
“Then why were you so desperate to keep it closed?””
Victoria's composure finally collapsed.
“Because I knew what the recording would reveal!””
She covered her face.
For a few seconds, the room was silent.
Then Vincent asked:
“What else did you do?””
Victoria looked at him.
Her eyes were red.
“I didn't start the fire.””
Elena's expression became cold.
“But you locked the door.””
Victoria nodded slowly.
“I was told the building would be evacuated before the fire began. I was told Elena would be taken somewhere safe.””
“You watched me struggle with that door,” Elena whispered.
Victoria began crying.
“I thought someone would come back.””
“You left me there.””
“I was scared.””
Elena stepped closer.
“And I spent three years believing my husband was dead.””
Victoria lowered her head.
“I know.””
“No. You don't.””
Later that evening, Vincent found Grace sitting by the guest-room window.
The city lights shimmered beyond the glass.
She was holding a small envelope.
“May I come in?”” he asked.
Grace nodded.
He sat in the chair opposite her.
“How are you feeling?””
“Better, sir. Dr. Harris said everything looks okay.””
“Good.””
Grace looked at the envelope.
“I should have told you sooner.””
Vincent leaned forward.
“You were protecting yourself. I understand.””
“My grandmother said I should only open this letter when I found the person who could protect the Morgan family.””
She handed it to him.
Vincent examined the handwriting.
It was Eleanor's.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
To the person who finally understands what happened to my family,
The Sterling fortune was never meant to belong to one man.
Richard knew this. He accepted it. His son Vincent was supposed to restore the trust, but I feared he would never learn the truth.
The original deed is hidden beneath the foundation stone in the old west wing.
The child of Rebecca's daughter must be protected until the document is recovered.
There is one more thing.
Do not trust the person who carries my ring.
Vincent read the final sentence twice.
He looked at the envelope.
Then at Grace.
“Who gave you this?””
“My grandmother.””
“When?””
“Three days before she died.””
Vincent folded the letter.
“Grace, I need you to tell me something.””
“Yes?””
“Did Thomas ever ask you to give him anything?””
Grace nodded.
“A few weeks ago, he came here while you were away. He asked me about my grandmother's letters.””
Vincent's expression darkened.
“What did you tell him?””
“Nothing.””
“Did he threaten you?””
Grace hesitated.
“He said my baby would never be born if I didn't tell him where the original deed was.””
Vincent stood immediately.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I was afraid.””
He looked at the young woman.
Then at her pregnant belly.
His expression softened.
“Listen to me. Nobody is going to hurt you or your child.””
Grace nodded, crying quietly.
Vincent turned toward the door.
But before he could leave, she spoke again.
“Mr. Sterling?””
He stopped.
“There was something else in my grandmother's letter.””
“What?””
Grace reached beneath her pillow and pulled out a second folded paper.
“I didn't want to show it in front of everyone.””
Vincent took it.
The handwriting was shaky.
But the message was clear.
Thomas is not the only person who carries Richard Sterling's blood.
Vincent looked up.
“What does this mean?””
Grace swallowed.
“My grandmother told me that your father had another child.””
“Who?””
Grace looked toward the hallway.
“Someone who works in this house.””
A sudden knock came from the guest-room door.
Maria entered, visibly shaken.
“Mr. Sterling, there's a woman downstairs.””
Vincent frowned.
“Who?””
Maria looked toward Grace.
“She says she is Rebecca Morgan.””
Grace's glass slipped from her hand.
It shattered against the floor.
“My mother?””
Maria nodded.
“She says she has come to collect her daughter.””
And then, from the hallway, another voice called out.
“Grace, sweetheart. It's me.””
Grace began sobbing.
May you like
Because she had been told her mother died when she was six.
And the woman downstairs was standing beside Thomas.
