Chapter 7 - THE TWO WOMEN WHO TRIED TO SAVE THE FAMILY
Nicholas stood motionless.
“My mother died of cancer.”
Rose lowered her eyes.
“That's what Arthur told everyone.”
Nicholas shook his head.
“I remember the hospital. The treatments. The funeral.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Rose took a careful breath.
“Isabella was ill. That part was true. But her condition worsened after she discovered what was happening at St. Agnes.”
Nicholas stared at her.
“Are you saying someone poisoned her?”
“No.”
Rose shook her head.
“I'm saying she stopped receiving the treatment she needed.”
The room fell silent.
Nicholas looked devastated.
“Who stopped it?”
Rose hesitated.
“Arthur approved a transfer to a private physician. The records later disappeared.”
“Prescott?”
“No. He wasn't involved then.”
Nicholas looked toward the cassette recorder.
“Then who?”
Rose reached into the wooden box.
She removed a faded appointment card.
A physician's name appeared at the bottom.
Dr. Harold Whitmore.
Charlotte stepped closer.
“My adoptive grandfather?”
Rose nodded.
Charlotte stared at the card.
“He died when I was twelve.”
“He was one of the men who organized the hospital's illegal transfers.”
Charlotte sat down.
Nicholas studied the card.
“Whitmore.”
Rose nodded.
“He helped build the network that took children from vulnerable mothers.”
Nicholas looked at Charlotte.
“Your adoptive family benefited from it.”
Charlotte's voice broke.
“I didn't know.”
Rose touched her daughter's shoulder.
“You were a child, Charlotte. None of this was your doing.”
But Charlotte shook her head.
“What I did to Ethan was my doing.”
Nobody argued.
For the first time, she seemed willing to face that truth without defending herself.
Nicholas turned to Rose.
“What happened to my mother?”
Rose looked down.
“Isabella discovered that your father's companies had been used to move money connected to the hospital. She demanded he stop it.”
“And Arthur refused?”
“He said he was trying to protect the family.”
Nicholas gave a bitter laugh.
“That's what he always said.”
Rose nodded.
“Your mother didn't believe him anymore.”
She opened the blue book Nicholas had brought from St. Agnes.
Several pages contained Isabella's handwriting.
Rose turned to a marked entry.
Harold Whitmore. Hospital transfers. Unapproved distributions.
Beneath it was a note.
Arthur knows. Vincent must never inherit this.
Nicholas stared.
“Vincent was a child.”
“Yes,” Rose said. “But your mother was afraid he would grow up believing the family money made him untouchable.”
Nicholas closed the book.
“She wasn't wrong.”
Outside, Daniel approached the kitchen window.
His expression sharpened.
“Vehicles.”
Nicholas turned.
“How many?”
“Two.”
Daniel touched his earpiece.
“Four men. Possibly more.”
Rose went pale.
“Vincent.”
Nicholas looked toward the back door.
“Get everyone out.”
But before we moved, a voice came from the front porch.
“Nicholas.”
Vincent Bellomo.
Nicholas stopped.
His brother stood beyond the open doorway.
Thirty-eight years old.
Dark hair.
Expensive coat.
A face so similar to Nicholas's that their relationship was unmistakable.
Two armed men stood behind him.
Vincent smiled faintly.
“You always did come running when someone mentioned Mother.”
Nicholas stepped forward.
“Where is Dad?”
Vincent shrugged.
“Safe enough.”
“Bring him here.”
“That's not how this works.”
Nicholas's voice remained calm.
“You have ten seconds to explain why you've held our father against his will.”
Vincent looked past him.
His gaze settled on Rose.
“Hello, Mrs. Marsh.”
Rose stiffened.
“You should be ashamed.”
Vincent laughed.
“That's what everyone says.”
Then he noticed Charlotte.
“Interesting.”
Charlotte looked away.
Vincent smiled.
“I wondered when you'd learn the family history.”
Nicholas stepped between them.
“Leave her out of this.”
Vincent's expression changed.
“You still protecting her?”
“I'm protecting everyone in this house.”
Vincent studied his brother.
Then he said quietly, “That's always been your problem.”
Nicholas glanced toward Daniel.
His security chief was already coordinating the other guards.
Vincent noticed.
“Don't bother. I'm not here to start a war.”
“Then why are you here?”
Vincent reached into his coat.
Daniel's hand moved toward his weapon.
Vincent slowly withdrew a photograph.
He held it up.
Arthur Bellomo sat in a wheelchair beside a window.
He looked thinner than before.
But he was alive.
Nicholas took one step forward.
“Where?”
Vincent smiled.
“First, I want the blue book.”
Nicholas shook his head.
“No.”
Vincent's smile disappeared.
“You don't understand what you're holding.”
“Then explain it.”
Vincent looked toward Rose.
“She hasn't told you everything.”
Nicholas stared.
“What hasn't she told me?”
Vincent's voice hardened.
“Ask her why your mother wrote that your father was never allowed to inherit the hospital funds.”
Rose's face went pale.
Nicholas turned.
“Rose?”
She closed her eyes.
Vincent laughed.
“There it is.”
Nicholas looked back at his brother.
“Enough games.”
Vincent stepped closer.
“The blue book isn't just evidence against me. It's evidence against Dad.”
“I know.”
“No, Nicholas. You don't.”
Vincent's expression changed.
For a moment, he looked less like a criminal boss and more like the little boy in the photograph on the staircase.
“Dad built everything on money that belonged to children who never knew they had been robbed.”
Nicholas stared.
“What children?”
Vincent pointed toward Charlotte.
“Children like her.”
Charlotte's eyes filled.
Vincent continued.
“The hospital accepted payments to arrange illegal adoptions. Some money went into charitable funds. Some went into investment accounts. Dad used those accounts to purchase businesses.”
Nicholas gripped the blue book.
“You're saying our family fortune came from stolen money.”
“Part of it.”
“Then why are you trying to destroy the evidence?”
Vincent laughed bitterly.
“Because Dad promised me those companies.”
Nicholas stared.
“That's why?”
Vincent's face reddened.
“You inherited the legitimate businesses. The respect. The family name. Everything Mother wanted you to have.”
Nicholas shook his head.
“You chose this.”
Vincent's eyes filled unexpectedly.
“Dad taught me.”
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Vincent looked at Rose.
“Tell him about the agreement.”
Rose closed her eyes.
Nicholas stepped toward her.
“What agreement?”
Rose took a breath.
“Twenty-six years ago, Isabella discovered the hospital scheme. She demanded Arthur create a fund to repay the families.”
Nicholas nodded.
“And?”
“He agreed.”
Vincent laughed.
“On paper.”
Rose continued.
“He transferred control of three companies into a trust intended to compensate the children.”
Nicholas stared at her.
“The same three companies in the guardianship agreement?”
Rose nodded.
Vincent's smile returned.
“And now you understand why I need the book.”
Nicholas slowly looked toward his brother.
“You're trying to steal money that was meant for those children.”
Vincent's face hardened.
“I'm collecting what Dad promised me.”
Nicholas shook his head.
“No.”
Vincent stared.
Then he raised his phone.
On the screen was a live video.
Arthur sat in a wheelchair beside a window.
His eyes opened when he heard Nicholas's voice.
“Dad?”
Arthur leaned forward.
“Nicky?”
Nicholas gripped the phone.
“Where are you?”
Arthur's voice was weak.
“Don't give him the book.”
Vincent immediately reached for the phone.
But Arthur spoke again.
“Son, listen to me.”
Nicholas leaned closer.
“I'm listening.”
Arthur's eyes filled.
“There is something inside the watch.”
Nicholas looked down.
He still held the silver pocket watch.
May you like
Arthur whispered:
“NICHOLAS, THE BLUE BOOK TELLS YOU WHO STOLE THE MONEY. BUT THE WATCH TELLS YOU WHO LET YOUR MOTHER DIE.”
