Chapter 15 - THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MIRROR
Helen disappeared before Nathan returned to the estate.
Victoria stared at the photograph.
“No.”
Nathan placed it in front of her.
“That’s your mother.”
“I know.”
“Why was she in Eleanor’s hospital room?”
Victoria shook her head.
“I didn’t know she ever met Eleanor.”
Samuel examined the image.
“I did.”
Everyone turned.
“Helen helped us.”
Victoria looked at him.
“With what?”
“Investigating Richard.”
Samuel continued.
“Helen believed Richard killed her husband.”
“Eleanor believed Richard was stealing from the trust.”
“They worked together.”
Nathan frowned.
“So the photograph proves nothing.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“There’s more.”
He placed Eleanor’s medical records on the table.
“I kept copies.”
Nathan stared.
“You knew?”
“I knew her illness didn’t make sense.”
Daniel’s anger finally surfaced.
“You were running six companies.”
“Richard kept you traveling.”
“I stayed.”
Nathan felt the accusation.
And deserved part of it.
Daniel continued.
“Her bloodwork changed every time one particular nurse worked.”
Margaret frowned.
“What nurse?”
Daniel opened the folder.
Lydia Cross.
Margaret went pale.
“I remember her.”
Victoria whispered.
“So do I.”
Nathan looked at her.
“How?”
Victoria stared at the photograph.
“She worked for my mother.”
Silence.
“She was my nanny.”
Nathan immediately ordered a search.
Lydia Cross had disappeared six years earlier.
Her banking history ended two days after Eleanor’s death.
But one recent facial recognition hit appeared at Charlotte Douglas Airport.
Three days ago.
She had returned.
Aaron found her reservation at a small hotel.
They reached the room at midnight.
The door was open.
Lydia sat on the bed.
Waiting.
Seventy-one.
Gray hair.
Tired eyes.
“I wondered when Eleanor’s sons would finally come.”
Nathan closed the door.
“Did you poison my mother?”
Lydia looked at him.
“Yes.”
Daniel lunged forward.
Nathan stopped him.
“Why?”
Lydia’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because she asked me to.”
Everyone froze.
Nathan stared.
“What?”
“She was already dying.”
“Cancer.”
“Real cancer.”
“But she discovered Richard knew she had changed the trust.”
“He planned to keep her alive long enough to force her signature.”
Lydia’s voice shook.
“Eleanor asked me to accelerate what was already inevitable.”
Nathan stepped backward.
“No.”
“She wanted Richard to think he had time.”
“He didn’t.”
Daniel sat down heavily.
Margaret covered her mouth.
Nathan whispered.
“My mother chose to die?”
Lydia nodded.
“And she made me promise not to tell you until the Ellis Trust activated.”
Nathan’s anger became grief.
“Everyone made promises around me.”
“Nobody trusted me with the truth.”
Lydia looked at him.
“Your mother trusted you with the future.”
“She trusted Margaret with observation.”
“She trusted Samuel with the past.”
“She trusted Daniel with her care.”
“And she trusted me with her final choice.”
Nathan said nothing.
Then Lydia handed him a sealed envelope.
“She also told me one more thing.”
Nathan opened it.
Inside was a list of numbered offshore accounts.
Beside one account was a name.
DOMINIC RAINER.
Beside another was RICHARD WHITMORE.
And beside the largest account was a third name.
EVAN ELLIS.
Nathan looked up.
Lydia whispered.
May you like
“Your cousin wasn’t raised to steal the empire.”
“He was raised to destroy both families.”
