Chapter 13: The Price They Put on My Mother's Life
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
The photograph remained open on my phone.
My mother was sitting in a wooden chair, her wrists tied behind her back. Her hair was disheveled, and there was a bruise near her left temple.
Grayson stood behind her.
He was wearing the grey suit I'd bought him for our wedding rehearsal dinner.
The suit he'd kissed me in.
The suit he'd worn while promising to spend the rest of his life with me.
I zoomed in.
His expression was calm.
Almost bored.
“Claire?””
My father's voice sounded distant.
I handed him the phone.
He looked at the photograph.
Then something inside him seemed to break.
“That's my wife.””
He immediately reached for his phone.
“I want every available officer involved. Now.””
I grabbed his arm.
“Dad, wait.””
He looked at me.
“They've taken your mother!””
“I know. But if we rush in without thinking, they might hurt her.””
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, I saw the young man who had fallen in love with Evelyn decades earlier.
Then he straightened.
“Tell me what you need.””
I looked at the message again.
*BRING THE SECOND KEY TO THE WHITMORE HOUSE. COME ALONE.*
I thought about Margaret.
The brass key was still in my handbag.
I had carried it with me since the railway station.
“They want the key,” I said.
“They won't get it.””
“Dad, they have Mum.””
He stepped closer.
“Claire, I am not letting you walk into that house.””
“I'm not suggesting we hand them anything. I'm suggesting we make them believe we're doing exactly what they want.””
Eleanor arrived twenty minutes later.
She read the message, examined the photograph, and immediately contacted the authorities.
“We need to establish where the photograph was taken,” she said.
Daniel studied the background.
“There. Behind Grayson. That framed picture.””
He enlarged the image.
It showed a landscape painting.
Daniel shook his head.
“I've seen that before.””
“Where?”” I asked.
“At the old Whitmore country estate. The house Edward used before he moved into the mansion.””
My father looked up.
“That's been closed for years.””
“Apparently not,” Daniel replied.
Eleanor made another call.
Within minutes, the authorities were informed of the likely location.
But we still had a problem.
Grayson expected me to arrive at the main mansion.
And he expected me to bring the key.
I looked at the brass key inside my handbag.
“What if we give them a fake?””
Eleanor nodded slowly.
“We can arrange a controlled meeting, but no one should approach the building without the authorities' coordination.””
Dad shook his head.
“I'm going with her.””
“No,” I said.
He stared at me.
“Claire.””
“Mum needs both of us thinking clearly. If they see you, they'll know something has changed.””
He looked devastated.
I took his hand.
“You spent twenty years protecting Grandfather's work. Let me help protect our family now.””
He squeezed my fingers.
“Your mother is stronger than either of us.””
“I know.””
But my voice broke anyway.
At 9:10 that evening, Grayson called.
I answered.
“Hello?””
“Hello, wife.””
The familiar word made my skin crawl.
“Where's my mother?””
“Safe.””
“Let me speak to her.””
He laughed.
“You haven't brought the key yet.””
“I need proof she's alive.””
There was a rustling sound.
Then Mum's voice.
“Claire?””
“Mum!””
“Sweetheart, don't—”
A sharp noise interrupted her.
Grayson came back on the line.
“That's enough.””
I closed my eyes.
“Don't hurt her.””
“Then bring the key.””
“Why do you need it so badly?””
He sighed.
“Because your grandfather left something behind that belongs to my family.””
“No. He left it to mine.””
“Your grandfather was a stubborn old man. He destroyed years of business opportunities because he couldn't understand that the world doesn't work according to his little moral principles.””
I felt anger rising.
“He trusted your father.””
“And my father was generous enough to give him opportunities.””
“Your father tried to steal his work.””
Grayson laughed.
“You really believe your father's version of history?””
I looked at Eleanor.
She motioned for me to keep him talking.
“Tell me yours, then.””
There was a pause.
“My father and Arthur developed the original system together. Arthur wanted all the credit. He refused to acknowledge Edward's contribution.””
“Then why did he need to forge documents?””
Silence.
I continued.
“Why did your mother submit false ownership records? Why did you forge my signature?””
His voice hardened.
“Claire, stop asking questions you aren't qualified to understand.””
I almost smiled.
He still believed that insulting my intelligence would make me surrender.
“I'll bring the key,” I said.
“Good girl.””
“But I want to see my mother first.””
“You'll see her when you arrive.””
“Alive?””
He lowered his voice.
“Don't test me.””
The call ended.
I placed my phone on the table.
Eleanor nodded.
“That's enough for the authorities to proceed with the coordinated response.””
Dad stood.
“I'm going.””
I shook my head.
“You're staying with Eleanor.””
He looked at me.
“Claire—”
“Dad, if something happens, I need you to be able to protect the trust and the evidence.””
He reluctantly agreed.
The authorities arranged a controlled approach to the country estate.
I would carry a replica key.
A security team would remain nearby, coordinating the operation.
No one was going to rely on Grayson's promises.
At 10:05, the car stopped outside the estate.
The iron gates were open.
The building looked abandoned.
Its windows were dark, and weeds had grown along the driveway.
I stepped out with my handbag.
A voice came from the entrance.
“Claire!””
Grayson stood beneath the porch light.
He looked immaculate.
No sign of the man who had threatened my family only hours earlier.
He smiled as I approached.
“You came.””
“Where's my mother?””
“Inside.””
He held out his hand.
“The key.””
I removed the replica and placed it in his palm.
He examined it.
Then his smile disappeared.
“This isn't the original.””
I shrugged.
“Maybe you should have treated me better.””
He grabbed my wrist.
“Where is it?””
“Let go.””
“Where's the real key?””
I looked straight at him.
“Somewhere you will never find it.””
His expression changed.
For the first time, he looked genuinely furious.
“You stupid woman.””
He pulled me inside.
The front door slammed behind us.
The hallway was lit by a single chandelier.
Lorna stood near the staircase.
She was holding a glass of wine.
“Welcome home, Claire.””
I looked at her.
“Where's my mother?””
Lorna took a slow sip.
“Such a demanding girl.””
Grayson pushed me toward the sitting room.
Mum was there.
Her hands were tied, but she was conscious.
When she saw me, tears filled her eyes.
“Claire!””
I rushed toward her.
Grayson caught my arm.
“Not so fast.””
I turned on him.
“Untie her.””
“First, the original key.””
Lorna put down her glass.
“Let's not waste the evening. We all know why you're here.””
She walked toward a desk and opened a drawer.
Inside was a thick document folder.
“The transfer agreement is ready. Your signature, the original key, and everything can finally be settled.””
I stared at the papers.
“You want me to sign away Grandfather's invention?””
“Your grandfather's invention was built with Edward's money,” Lorna replied.
Mum suddenly spoke.
“That's a lie.””
Lorna turned.
“Be quiet, Evelyn.””
My mother lifted her chin.
“Edward stole the original designs. Arthur caught him. That's why he refused to work with him again.””
Lorna's expression darkened.
“Your husband should have taught you when to keep your mouth shut.””
I moved toward Mum.
Grayson stepped between us.
“Enough. Sign the agreement.””
I looked at the first page.
Then I looked at the signature line.
There was already a signature beneath it.
Mine.
A perfect copy.
I smiled faintly.
“That's interesting.””
Grayson frowned.
“What?””
“You've spent so much time forging my signature that you've forgotten one important detail.””
He stared at me.
I pointed to the page.
“You used the signature from our marriage certificate.””
Lorna laughed.
“And?””
I looked at her.
“My signature changed two years ago. After I injured my hand, I developed a different way of signing my surname.””
Grayson's face went pale.
I continued.
“This document is already evidence of forgery.””
He suddenly snatched the folder away.
“Where is the original key?””
Before I could answer, Mum spoke.
“Claire, don't give it to them.””
Lorna walked toward her.
“Evelyn, I have been patient with you for twenty years.””
My mother looked directly at her.
“And I've been waiting twenty years for someone to prove what you did.””
Lorna froze.
Grayson turned toward his mother.
“What is she talking about?””
Mum smiled weakly.
“The original agreement isn't the only thing your father left behind.””
She looked at me.
“Claire, remember what I told you about the day of your wedding?””
I nodded.
She took a breath.
“Before the ceremony, I gave Lorna something.””
Grayson stared at her.
“What?””
Mum looked at him.
“A copy of the original financial ledger.””
Lorna's glass slipped from her fingers.
It shattered against the floor.
For the first time that evening, she looked terrified.
Because whatever was in that ledger, she knew exactly what it could reveal.
And then Mum said:
“Your father didn't steal the invention alone, Grayson.””
May you like
She looked directly at Lorna.
“He had an accomplice.””
