Chapter 11: The Third Child
Daniel stood in Eleanor's study with his phone pressed against his ear.
The call had ended.
But Thomas Bell's words remained.
Your mother had a third child.
Marcus took the phone from him.
“Did he say anything else?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
Eleanor looked through the documents.
“That's impossible. The records show two live births.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Then why would he say there were three?””
Peter Walsh slowly closed the folder.
“Because Thomas Bell may have information we don't.””
Margaret sat motionless.
“My sister had three children?””
Eleanor shook her head.
“I don't know. We need to verify that.””
Daniel began pacing.
“I spent forty-seven years believing I had no siblings. Now I have a brother who tried to steal my grandmother's house, a biological father who apparently robbed my family, and possibly another sibling.””
Marcus caught his shoulder.
“Slow down.””
Daniel turned.
“How am I supposed to slow down?””
“By remembering that Thomas wants you upset. Don't let him control the conversation.””
Ethan nodded.
“Marcus is right. We need documents, not dramatic phone calls.””
Vanessa finally spoke.
“There's something else I haven't told you.””
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked at Margaret.
“Richard received a package from Thomas last month. It contained photographs and a birth certificate.””
Eleanor leaned forward.
“What birth certificate?””
Vanessa reached into her purse.
“I took it before Richard could destroy it.””
She removed a folded document.
The paper was old, yellowed, and creased along the edges.
Eleanor opened it.
Her expression changed.
“Where did you get this?””
“Richard's office.””
Eleanor examined the document.
The birth certificate listed Helen Whitmore as the mother.
But the child's name was different.
*Elizabeth Bell.*
Margaret stared.
“Elizabeth?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Thomas told Richard that Helen had a daughter before the twins.””
Margaret looked confused.
“But Helen never mentioned a daughter.””
Eleanor turned the certificate over.
A handwritten note appeared on the back.
Placed with the Bell family. November 1976.
Peter took a breath.
“Thomas may have been married before Helen.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Then Elizabeth could be our half-sister?””
“Possibly.””
Margaret touched the paper.
“Where is she?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Richard doesn't know. Thomas said she disappeared.””
Ethan frowned.
“Disappeared how?””
“He said she left Pennsylvania years ago. He never gave Richard an address.””
Margaret closed her eyes.
“My sister had three children, and I didn't know about any of them.””
Lily reached for her hand.
“Maybe we can find her.””
Eleanor nodded.
“There are ways to search adoption records, particularly when someone has left identifying information. But we need to be careful.””
Daniel looked toward the window.
“I'm going to find Thomas.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Not tonight.””
“Why?””
“Because he's counting on you to come looking for him.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“He called me. He told me he's my father. What do you expect me to do?””
“Get the truth before you confront him.””
Daniel looked away.
For the first time in years, he felt like a child again.
He remembered sitting at his adoptive mother's kitchen table, asking why he didn't look like anyone in the family.
Patricia had smiled and told him he was chosen.
She had never made him feel unwanted.
When she died, Daniel had kept her wedding ring in his wallet.
He pulled it out now.
Marcus noticed.
“Your mother?””
Daniel nodded.
“She told me something before she died.””
“What?””
“She said the people who gave me life didn't get to decide whether I deserved love.””
He swallowed.
“I never understood why she said that.””
Margaret began crying.
Daniel looked at her.
“I'm sorry. I don't mean to—”
Margaret shook her head.
“No. Don't apologize.””
She reached for his hand.
“Your mother sounds like a wonderful woman.””
“She was.””
“Then she did a beautiful job raising you.””
Daniel looked down at their joined hands.
“I wish I could have met her.””
Margaret squeezed his fingers.
“So do I.””
For the first time that evening, Daniel didn't pull away.
Eleanor returned to her desk.
“I need to show you something.””
She opened the second will to the final section.
Frank had included a handwritten instruction.
If any of my children discover the truth about their birth, they must be given access to the complete family records. No child should be punished for the secrets of adults.
Margaret smiled through her tears.
“That sounds like Frank.””
Eleanor continued.
“There is also a provision concerning the family trust. It names all three children as beneficiaries, but only if their identities are confirmed.””
Daniel frowned.
“Does that mean there's money for us?””
“Possibly. But more importantly, it means Frank wanted all three children protected.””
Peter examined the trust.
“There's a trustee listed here.””
Eleanor nodded.
“An independent financial institution.””
“Which one?””
She turned the page.
*First National Trust — Pittsburgh.*
Peter looked surprised.
“I know that institution.””
Ethan leaned forward.
“Can they tell us where the money went?””
“They can verify the trust and its current status. But they'll require proper authorization.””
Margaret nodded.
“Then I'll authorize it.””
Eleanor began preparing the necessary documents.
Just then, Vanessa's phone rang.
Richard.
She hesitated before answering.
“Hello?””
His voice was frantic.
“Where are you?””
“With Margaret.””
“Put her on.””
Vanessa looked at Margaret.
Margaret nodded.
Vanessa handed over the phone.
“Richard?””
“Mom, you need to come home.””
“Why?””
“Because Thomas is coming here.””
Margaret's face tightened.
“I don't want to see him.””
“You don't understand. He's not coming alone.””
“What do you mean?””
Richard lowered his voice.
“He has a copy of Dad's second will. He says it's not valid.””
Eleanor immediately reached for the phone.
“Richard, this is Eleanor Price. How did Thomas obtain that document?””
Richard sounded panicked.
“I don't know. But he says Dad changed it after signing the first one.””
Eleanor looked at the original will.
“That is impossible. I have the signed original.””
Richard continued.
“He says there's another version. One that leaves everything to him.””
Margaret stared at the desk.
Then Richard said something that made her blood run cold.
“Mom, Thomas says he's going to tell everyone what Dad really did to Helen.””
The call ended.
Eleanor slowly lowered the phone.
Marcus looked at her.
“What's he talking about?””
Eleanor's face had become grave.
“Frank discovered that Helen had been threatened before the adoption.””
Margaret stared.
“By whom?””
Eleanor looked at the photograph.
“Thomas Bell.””
Then she opened a sealed envelope that had been hidden inside the second will.
Inside was a handwritten statement.
May you like
Frank had written one sentence in large, uneven letters.
Helen did not surrender her children willingly. Someone forced her to disappear.
