Chapter 7 - The Night Nora Was Taken
The photograph changed everything.
Nora had never seen it before.
She was four years old in the picture.
She remembered very little from that year.
A red balloon.
Her mother's perfume.
A fireplace.
Her grandfather's study.
And a man standing outside a window.
She had always assumed the memory was a dream.
Now she knew it wasn't.
Evelyn looked at the photograph.
Where did you get that?
Silas left it.
David examined it.
This was taken the night your mother disappeared.
Nora looked at him.
Why was I there?
You weren't supposed to be.
Evelyn shook her head.
Charles brought you.
Why?
Because he wanted leverage.
Nora's face went pale.
Leverage against whom?
Against me.
Evelyn's voice broke.
I was going to expose him.
So he threatened you with me?
He threatened me with you.
Nora looked at Julian.
And what happened?
Evelyn closed her eyes.
I ran.
I thought you died.
I thought they had killed you.
But you were alive.
Yes.
Why didn't you come back?
Because Charles told me that if I did, you would die.
Nora's eyes filled with tears.
You believed him?
I had no choice.
There was a long silence.
Then Nora asked the question she had avoided.
Did you ever try to find me?
Every day.
How?
Letters.
Phone calls.
People I trusted.
But every path led back to Charles.
Nora looked down.
Why did he want me?
Because you were the heir.
Nora's mind returned to the trust.
Her thirtieth birthday.
The pendant.
The ledger.
Everything connected.
But one piece remained missing.
Why Julian?
Evelyn looked at him.
Because his father was the keeper of the ledger.
Julian's expression changed.
My father?
Yes.
He knew where it was.
Did he ever tell you?
No.
He died before he could.
Nora looked at Julian.
Then why did you come into my life?
Julian looked wounded.
I didn't know who you were when we met.
I thought you were just Nora.
You proposed before you knew about the trust?
Yes.
Then why did your father leave instructions about me?
Julian hesitated.
Because he had been investigating Charles.
And eventually he discovered your identity.
Nora stared at him.
How long had you known?
Julian's silence answered.
Nora stepped away.
How long?
Three years.
The words hit harder than a slap.
Three years.
You knew for three years?
I knew your family had a hidden trust.
I didn't know your mother was alive.
You still lied.
I was trying to protect you.
Everyone says that.
Nora turned away.
David watched Julian carefully.
We don't have time for this.
Nora looked at him.
Why?
David pointed toward the warehouse.
Because someone knew exactly where we were.
The veterans found another envelope taped beneath a table.
Inside was a single key.
And a note.
Midnight.
The old Montgomery estate.
Come alone.
Nora looked at the note.
She immediately understood.
May you like
It wasn't an invitation.
It was a threat.
