Chapter 34 — The Brother on the Phone

Chapter 34 — The Brother on the Phone

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Alexander stared at his phone as if the call might begin again.

Amelia was the first to break the silence.

"Was that really him?"

Alexander nodded slowly.

"He said his name was Daniel Hale."

Charlotte covered her mouth.

"Daniel."

She had imagined this moment for years. She had pictured meeting her brother, asking him where he had been, and finally explaining that neither of them had been forgotten.

But now that the possibility was real, she didn't know what to say.

Alexander called the number back.

It went straight to voicemail.

"He's probably using a temporary number," he said.

Amelia took the phone from him.

"Send him a message. Tell him we only want to meet him."

Alexander typed a short message and sent it.

We are your family. Amelia and Charlotte are your sisters. We want to talk, but we won't force you to do anything.

They returned to the mansion with the photographs and letters.

Richard was waiting in the sitting room.

"Did you find something?"

Amelia handed him the photograph of Daniel.

Richard stared at it.

For a moment, his face became unreadable.

"He looks like Isabelle."

Charlotte nodded.

"He's alive. We spoke to him."

Richard slowly sat down.

"You spoke to Daniel?"

"Only by phone," Alexander explained. "He contacted us after we found his photograph."

Richard rubbed his forehead.

"I never thought this day would come."

Amelia looked at him.

"Do you know who raised him?"

Richard shook his head.

"No. But I know someone who might."

"Who?"

"Your mother's friend, Catherine. She knew more about the arrangements than she ever admitted."

Alexander immediately reached for his phone.

"We should contact her."

Before he could make the call, Amelia received a message.

It was from the unknown number Daniel had used.

I know who you are. But I need to ask you something before we meet.

Amelia replied.

Anything.

The response arrived almost immediately.

Why did everyone let me believe my mother was dead?

Amelia froze.

Charlotte leaned over her shoulder and read the message.

"Oh, Daniel."

Amelia began typing carefully.

We didn't know you existed until recently. Our mother never stopped looking for us. She loved all three of us. We have a letter from her that I want you to read.

There was a long pause.

Then another message appeared.

I was told my mother died when I was young. I was also told my sisters didn't want to know me.

Charlotte's eyes filled with tears.

"Who would tell him that?"

Alexander looked at the message again.

"Someone wanted to make sure none of you found each other."

Richard stood.

"And I believe I know who."

Everyone turned toward him.

Richard walked to the cabinet and removed an old photograph.

It showed Alexander's father standing beside Eleanor Blackwood and Edward Laurent.

Behind them was a woman Amelia recognized immediately.

Catherine.

Richard pointed to the photograph.

"She was present when the agreement was signed. If anyone knows the full story, it's her."

Alexander called Catherine.

She answered after several rings.

"Richard? Is something wrong?"

"We need to see you."

There was silence.

Then Catherine asked, "Have you found Daniel?"

Amelia's heart began racing.

"You knew he was alive?"

Catherine exhaled slowly.

"I was hoping you would never have to discover how he was taken away."

"Why?" Amelia demanded. "Why did you let us grow up apart?"

"I didn't have the power to stop them," Catherine replied. "But I kept something that Isabelle gave me. She told me to protect it until her children were old enough to understand."

"What is it?" Alexander asked.

"A letter. And a name."

Richard leaned forward.

"Whose name?"

Catherine lowered her voice.

"The person who arranged Daniel's new identity."

Amelia held her breath.

Catherine continued.

"His name was never supposed to be revealed. But now that Daniel has contacted you, there's no point hiding it."

A pause followed.

Then she spoke.

"Alexander's father."

Alexander went completely still.

Before anyone could respond, Catherine added one final sentence.

"But there's something else you need to know. He didn't act alone."

The call ended.

Amelia looked at Alexander.

The man she had trusted was standing in front of her, but his family had become the center of every terrible secret.

Alexander slowly lowered his phone.

"Then we'll find out who helped him."

Across the city, Daniel Hale stood beside his apartment window, holding the message from Amelia.

He opened an old wooden box.

Inside was a photograph of a woman he had been told was his mother.

On the back, a handwritten sentence remained.

Your real family is closer than you think.

Daniel looked at the photograph again.

Then he picked up his phone and sent Amelia one final message.

I want to meet you. But I won't come alone.