The Woman who called herself grandmother

The message remained on Elena's phone.

COME ALONE, ELENA.

Her fingers tightened around the device.

Lily's frightened voice still echoed in her mind.

She says she's my grandmother.

Elena looked at Richard.

“You said the woman responsible was dead.”

Richard nodded slowly.

“Alexander's mother.”

“What was her name?”

“Eleanor Blackwood.”

Adrian's expression changed.

“My great-grandmother?”

“Yes.”

“But she died before I was born.”

“That is what everyone believed.”

Elena's heart raced.

“Then who has Lily?”

Nobody answered.

Victoria finally spoke.

“There is something you need to understand.”

Elena turned toward her.

“I have heard enough secrets. Tell me everything.”

Victoria lowered her eyes.

“Eleanor had a sister.”

Richard looked at her sharply.

“Victoria.”

“Her name was Eleanor Vale.”

Charles frowned.

“Vale?”

Victoria nodded.

“The Blackwoods and Vales were connected long before Alexander.”

Elena looked at the final page Charles had given her.

“Then who is calling me?”

Victoria hesitated.

“She may be using Eleanor's identity.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“To manipulate us.”

“Exactly.”

Elena looked toward the road.

“Then I'm going.”

Adrian immediately shook his head.

“No.”

“She has Lily.”

“We'll find another way.”

“There isn't another way.”

Adrian stared at her.

“I am not letting you walk into a trap alone.”

Elena's expression softened.

“Then don't let me go alone.”

For a moment, neither spoke.

Richard finally said, “There is an old estate outside the city.”

Elena turned.

“Whose?”

“Eleanor's.”

Charles looked surprised.

“I thought that place was abandoned.”

“It is.”

“Then why would anyone be there?”

Richard looked at Elena.

“Because it contains the final archive.”

Elena held up the silver key Catherine had given her.

“Then that's where we're going.”

---

An hour later, they arrived at the estate.

The mansion stood behind a tall iron gate, surrounded by overgrown trees.

No lights were visible.

No guards.

Nothing moved.

Adrian stopped the car.

“I'll check the entrance.”

Elena shook her head.

“We go together.”

He sighed.

“You never listen.”

“Not when Lily is involved.”

They entered through the front door.

Dust covered the furniture.

Old portraits lined the walls.

Elena stopped suddenly.

One portrait caught her attention.

A young woman stood beside Alexander Blackwood.

Beneath the portrait was a name.

ELEANOR VALE.

Elena stared.

“She looks like my mother.”

Adrian studied the painting.

“They could have been sisters.”

A noise came from upstairs.

Both froze.

Then a child's voice echoed through the house.

“Mum?”

Elena's heart jumped.

“Lily!”

She rushed toward the stairs.

Adrian followed.

They reached the second floor.

A bedroom door stood open.

Inside was a small table.

A glass of water.

A child's jacket.

But Lily wasn't there.

Elena picked up the jacket.

Her breathing became unsteady.

“No.”

Adrian searched the room.

“She was here.”

A note was pinned beneath the jacket.

Elena opened it.

YOU CAME. GOOD.

Below it was another sentence.

NOW COME TO THE CHAPEL.

Elena looked at Adrian.

“They moved her.”

“Or they want us to believe that.”

Before Elena could answer, the bedroom door slammed shut.

Adrian turned.

Locked.

Someone spoke from the other side.

“Welcome home, Elena.”

Elena froze.

“Who are you?”

A woman's voice answered.

“You already know.”

Elena looked at Adrian.

He shook his head, warning her not to respond.

The woman continued.

“You have your mother's eyes.”

Elena's heart raced.

“Where is Lily?”

“Safe.”

“Let me see her.”

“Not yet.”

“Who are you?”

There was a pause.

Then the woman answered.

“I am the woman your family erased.”

The lights went out.

Elena reached for Adrian's hand.

Then a soft click sounded near the window.

Moonlight spilled into the room.

A woman stood on the balcony.

Her hair was completely white, but her posture was straight.

She looked directly at Elena.

“You came.”

Elena stepped forward.

“Where is my daughter?”

The woman smiled.

“Still thinking like a mother.”

“What else should I think like?”

“An heir.”

Elena frowned.

“I don't care about your inheritance.”

“You will.”

The woman stepped into the room.

Adrian moved between them.

“Who are you?”

The woman looked at him.

“You're Richard's son.”

“Yes.”

“You should know better than anyone that the Blackwood family never gives anything without taking something in return.”

Adrian's expression hardened.

“Answer the question.”

The woman smiled.

“My name is Catherine Vale.”

Elena froze.

“The Catherine Vale?”

“The one your family erased.”

Elena stared at her.

“You created the original agreement.”

Catherine nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then where is Lily?”

Catherine's expression changed.

“I didn't take her.”

Elena's heart stopped.

“What?”

“Lily was never with me.”

Adrian stepped forward.

“Then where is she?”

Catherine looked toward the door.

“Ask the person who brought you here.”

Elena's stomach dropped.

“Who?”

Catherine didn't answer.

Instead, she opened an old cabinet.

Inside were dozens of documents.

“Your family has spent years searching for the wrong enemy.”

Elena stepped closer.

“What do you mean?”

Catherine removed a folder.

“The original agreement was never about money.”

“Then what was it about?”

“Control.”

She placed the folder on the table.

“The Blackwoods, Bennetts, and Vales were hiding something.”

“What?”

“A stolen inheritance.”

Elena frowned.

“Whose?”

Catherine opened the folder.

Inside was a birth certificate.

Elena stared.

ELENA ROSE VALE.

Her breath caught.

“That isn't possible.”

Catherine looked at her.

“Daniel gave you his name.”

“Why?”

“To hide you.”

“From Alexander?”

“From everyone.”

Elena's hands trembled.

Catherine opened another document.

“This is the reason your mother ran.”

Elena read the agreement.

At the bottom was a sentence:

THE CHILD SHALL NEVER BE RECOGNIZED PUBLICLY.

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

“He denied me.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because recognizing you would have threatened everything he built.”

Adrian looked furious.

“My grandfather destroyed her life.”

Catherine nodded.

“He destroyed many lives.”

Elena looked at her.

“Where is Lily?”

Catherine's expression became serious.

“She is with the person who stole her.”

Elena froze.

“Who?”

Before Catherine could answer, the door opened.

Victoria stood there.

Her face was pale.

“Elena.”

Elena stared at her.

“What did you do?”

Victoria didn't answer.

Catherine looked at her.

“You were supposed to keep the child safe.”

Victoria's eyes filled with tears.

“I tried.”

Elena stepped toward her.

“Where is Lily?”

Victoria finally whispered,

“She is with Charles.”

Elena's heart sank.

Catherine closed her eyes.

“Then we are already too late.”