Chapter 14 - THE GRANDMOTHER'S TRUE FACE|
I didn't want to believe the man.
Margaret had been controlling, manipulative, and secretive.
But kidnapping her own grandson seemed impossible.
Until we found the evidence.
Marco recovered messages from the security system showing that my mother's personal assistant had authorized the vehicle entry.
The assistant confessed.
Margaret had arranged for Noah to be taken to a private property until I agreed to meet Vanessa's father.
She claimed she was protecting him.
I returned to the estate with Noah and Grace.
Margaret was waiting in the living room.
She stood when I entered.
"Thank God he's safe."
I placed Noah in Grace's arms.
Then I faced my mother.
"You arranged it."
Margaret's eyes filled.
"I wanted to prevent something worse."
"You took my son."
"I wanted you to listen!"
"You could have asked."
"You never listen to me anymore!"
I stared at her.
"Because every time you speak, I discover another lie."
She began crying.
"Everything I did was for this family."
"No. Everything you did was for control."
Her face hardened.
"You think Claire was innocent? She was going to destroy everything your father built."
"She was trying to protect Noah."
"She didn't understand what she was doing."
"Did you change her medication?"
Margaret looked away.
I stepped closer.
"Did you?"
She finally nodded.
"I approved an adjustment."
My heart seemed to stop.
"Why?"
"Claire was frightened. She was refusing treatment. I believed the alternative protocol would help."
"Did you know it was dangerous?"
"I trusted Bell."
"Then why did you hide the records?"
Margaret covered her face.
"Because I was afraid."
I looked at the woman who had raised me.
"Did you know the second order came from the Harts?"
She lowered her hands.
"Yes."
"Did you know they wanted to take Noah?"
"I never wanted that."
"But you signed the petition."
"I thought they would use it to frighten you into cooperating. I never believed they would actually take him."
I felt sick.
My mother had helped create the danger that nearly destroyed our family.
Then she said something even worse.
"Claire knew about the arrangement. She was going to tell you everything."
I stared at her.
"When?"
"That night."
"Before she died?"
Margaret nodded.
And for the first time, she looked directly at Grace.
"Your wife wasn't the only person who tried to stop them. Grace helped Claire hide something."
I turned.
Grace's face had gone completely pale.
May you like
"Tell him," Margaret whispered.
"Tell Luca what Claire gave you before she died."
