Chapter 2: Two Babies, One Family Secret
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The rooftop was still filled with hundreds of guests, but the wedding music had stopped. Waiters stood frozen beside their carts. A woman in a silver dress held her phone halfway to her ear, recording everything.
Nathaniel looked from Victoria to his mother.
"Explain yourself.""
Victoria adjusted the diamond necklace around her throat.
"Your mother has been unstable for years. She has convinced herself that every person who disagrees with her is part of some conspiracy.""
Eleanor tightened her grip on my hand.
"Don't listen to her.""
"Mother, I need you to tell me what's going on.""
Eleanor glanced at the photograph.
Then she looked at me.
"Your mother and I were friends long before either of us knew the Callaway name would become a curse.""
I pulled a chair closer and sat beside her.
"How did you know my mother?""
Eleanor took a shaky breath.
"Grace was a nurse at St. Vincent's Hospital. Thirty years ago, she cared for me during a difficult pregnancy.""
Nathaniel frowned.
"Thirty years ago?""
"Yes. You were born that night.""
He stared at her.
"Why have I never heard about this?""
"Because your father made sure nobody spoke about it.""
Eleanor looked toward the glass canopy, where the evening lights reflected against the dark Manhattan sky.
"Your father, Richard, was a powerful man. He owned half the buildings in this city and believed every problem could be solved with money or intimidation.""
"That's not an answer," Nathaniel said.
"No. It's the beginning of one.""
She turned to me.
"Grace was the only person in that hospital who treated me like a human being instead of a Callaway.""
I swallowed.
"My mother never mentioned you.""
"She couldn't.""
"Why?""
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I asked her to disappear.""
Nathaniel stepped back.
"You did what?""
Eleanor lowered her head.
"Your father had discovered something about the pregnancy. Something he believed would destroy his plans for the family.""
"What plans?""
"Richard wanted an heir. A son he could control. Someone who would inherit the company and continue his empire.""
Nathaniel gave a bitter laugh.
"That's not exactly a secret.""
"Listen to me. When I went into labor, there were complications. Two babies were delivered that night.""
I felt the room tilt.
"Two babies?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Twins.""
Nathaniel stared at her.
I looked down at the photograph again.
My mother's arms had been wrapped around a newborn.
There was another hospital bed in the background.
A second bassinet.
My throat tightened.
"Are you saying...""
Eleanor squeezed my hand.
"Rose, you and Nathaniel are twins.""
The words seemed to drain all the sound from the world.
I looked at Nathaniel.
He was staring at me as if he had never seen me before.
"No," I whispered.
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes.""
I stood abruptly.
"No. My mother raised me alone. She told me my father had died before I was born. She never said anything about a twin.""
"Grace loved you," Eleanor said.
"More than anything.""
"Then why didn't she tell me?""
"Because she was terrified.""
Nathaniel rubbed his forehead.
"Mother, you're telling me I have a sister?""
"Yes.""
He looked at me again.
I had spent the entire evening serving drinks to people who considered a hundred-dollar tip generous.
Now I was being told that the man whose wedding I had been working at was my twin brother.
It was absurd.
It was impossible.
And yet the photograph was right there.
I reached for it.
Eleanor handed it to me.
The handwriting on the back was unmistakably old. My mother's handwriting had always leaned slightly to the right.
I recognized the capital R.
"Why did she take me?"" I asked.
Eleanor looked down.
"Because Richard ordered one of the babies to be given to another family.""
Nathaniel's face hardened.
"Which baby?""
"You.""
My stomach dropped.
"Me?""
"Richard believed a daughter would complicate the succession. He wanted Nathaniel to be raised as the only child and future heir. He arranged for you to be placed with a wealthy family overseas.""
I stared at her.
"Sold?""
Eleanor flinched.
"Not officially. He arranged an adoption through private channels. Grace discovered the plan and refused to let it happen.""
"And you helped her?""
"I tried.""
"Then what happened?""
Eleanor's voice broke.
"Richard found out. He threatened Grace, and he threatened me. He told me that if I interfered again, he would make sure Nathaniel and I never saw each other.""
Nathaniel looked sick.
"My father wouldn't...""
Eleanor turned toward him.
"Your father was capable of things you cannot imagine.""
Victoria suddenly interrupted.
"That's enough.""
Nathaniel turned.
"You don't get to decide when this conversation ends.""
Victoria folded her arms.
"You're standing here believing the delusions of an old woman and a waitress who wants a piece of your inheritance.""
I looked at her.
"I haven't asked for anything.""
"Not yet.""
Nathaniel stepped between us.
"Marcus, call the police.""
Victoria laughed.
"Of course. Call them. Explain to them that your mother fell because she was having another episode. Then explain why you're suddenly announcing a secret twin sister at your own wedding.""
Marcus looked uncertain.
"Sir, the recording is clear.""
"Then preserve it.""
Victoria's expression changed.
She walked toward Nathaniel and touched his arm.
"Darling, think carefully. You have hundreds of witnesses. Your mother has been under psychiatric care. This woman is an employee with no documentation connecting her to our family.""
I stepped forward.
"Stop calling me that woman.""
Victoria turned toward me.
"Would you prefer illegitimate daughter?""
Nathaniel grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand away from him.
"Don't touch me.""
Victoria's smile disappeared.
"You're making a mistake.""
"No. I made one when I agreed to marry you.""
For the first time, Victoria looked genuinely furious.
She reached into her bridal bouquet and pulled out a small white envelope.
"I suppose you should see this before you make any more accusations.""
Nathaniel frowned.
"What is that?""
"Something your mother has been hiding.""
She handed him the envelope.
He opened it.
Inside was a medical report, yellowed at the edges, with a hospital stamp from thirty years earlier.
Nathaniel read the first page.
Then his face went pale.
"What the hell is this?""
Eleanor closed her eyes.
I leaned closer.
The report listed two newborns, their birth times, and their blood types.
But beneath the second child's name was a handwritten note:
Infant transferred to private custody following maternal consent.
Nathaniel looked up.
"Mother, did you sign this?""
Eleanor shook her head.
"No.""
Victoria smiled.
"Interesting. Because the signature looks remarkably like yours.""
I examined the document.
Something bothered me.
The handwriting looked too neat. The signature was almost perfect, but the final stroke was wrong.
"My mother used to forge signatures," I said quietly.
Everyone turned toward me.
"What?"" Nathaniel asked.
"Not for anything bad. She worked in administration after leaving the hospital. She told me once that you could recognize a fake signature because people tried too hard to make it perfect.""
I pointed to the bottom of the report.
"Whoever signed this copied Eleanor's name.""
Victoria snatched the paper.
"That's ridiculous.""
Eleanor looked at me.
"Your mother noticed things like that too.""
I swallowed.
"Do you have the original?""
"Yes," Eleanor whispered.
"Somewhere safe.""
"Where?""
Eleanor looked toward the elevator.
"At my house.""
Nathaniel immediately turned to Marcus.
"Get a car ready. We're going to the hospital archives, then my mother's house.""
Victoria stepped in front of him.
"You're not going anywhere.""
Nathaniel stared at her.
"Move.""
"Not until you understand what you're doing.""
"Move, Victoria.""
She lowered her voice.
"Your father knew about the twins. He knew about the arrangement. And he knew what happened to Grace.""
I froze.
Nathaniel's jaw tightened.
"My father died ten years ago.""
"Exactly.""
Victoria's smile returned.
"Which means the only person who can tell you what happened that night is your mother.""
Eleanor suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Rose, we have to leave.""
"Why?""
She leaned close enough that only I could hear her.
"Because Victoria isn't working alone.""
I looked toward the elevator.
A man in a dark suit stood beside the doors.
He wasn't one of the wedding security guards.
He was watching us.
Eleanor followed my gaze.
Her face turned white.
"That's him," she whispered.
"Who?""
"The man who took you from the hospital.""
The stranger reached into his jacket.
Marcus immediately stepped forward.
"Sir, keep your hands where I can see them.""
The man ignored him.
Instead, he looked directly at Nathaniel.
"Mr. Callaway, your father left instructions. If your mother ever revealed the truth about the second child, you were to be brought to the family estate immediately.""
Nathaniel stared at him.
"My father is dead.""
May you like
The stranger pulled a sealed envelope from his jacket.
"Then perhaps you'd like to know why he left a message dated yesterday.""
