Chapter 23 - The Brother Arthur Never Named
Rachel left the hospital room.
Then returned.
She made it three steps before turning around.
“You’re lying.”
Peter shook his head.
“I wish Arthur had been the one to tell you.”
“My father had another child?”
“Before he met Eleanor.”
Rachel stared at him.
Peter explained.
His mother had been named Elaine Vale.
She and Arthur had known each other briefly when they were young.
Elaine became pregnant after they separated.
She never told Arthur.
Peter grew up believing his father had abandoned them.
Only after Elaine became seriously ill did she give Peter Arthur’s name.
Peter was already an accountant.
He did not contact Arthur immediately.
Years later, while auditing one of the companies linked to Charles Holloway, Peter met Arthur professionally.
Neither knew at first.
Then Peter recognized details from his mother’s letters.
Arthur refused to believe him without proof.
“So he tested me?”
Rachel asked.
Peter looked ashamed.
“He used a stored sample from a hospital procedure you had when you were seventeen.”
“He did that without telling me?”
“Yes.”
Rachel stood.
Anger rushed through her.
Not at Peter.
At Arthur.
At another secret disguised as protection.
“What did the test show?”
“That we share a biological father.”
Rachel paced.
“And Mom?”
“Arthur never told her.”
Rachel laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
Peter lowered his eyes.
“I asked him to.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I promised him.”
“That excuse is getting very old.”
Peter nodded.
“You’re right.”
That stopped her.
No defense.
No manipulation.
Just agreement.
Peter reached toward the bedside drawer.
Inside was a small photograph.
Arthur and Peter standing beside a fishing boat.
Rachel recognized the date printed on the corner.
Six years before Arthur died.
“You knew him for years.”
“Yes.”
“Did he love you?”
Peter took a long time to answer.
“I think he tried.”
Rachel sat again.
Peter continued.
“He left me money. I refused it.”
“The second beneficiary.”
“Yes.”
The answer finally arrived without drama.
Peter Vale.
Arthur Whitmore’s son.
Rachel’s half-brother.
The second beneficiary.
“But that isn’t the important part,” Peter said.
Rachel looked at him.
“What is?”
“Samuel didn’t kidnap me because of the inheritance.”
“Then why?”
May you like
Peter’s expression darkened.
“Because I discovered what he had been doing with Arthur’s money.”
