Chapter 2: The Name Nobody Was Supposed to Remember
“Mrs. Whitmore, what fire are you talking about?””
Rose's voice barely worked.
Evelyn tried to answer, but Daniel immediately crouched beside them.
“Mom, you need a doctor.””
“No,” Evelyn whispered.
“Not until I explain.””
“Your blood pressure could be dropping. You nearly fell four floors.””
“Daniel, look at me.””
He stopped.
Evelyn pointed toward Rose.
“Do you know who this girl is?””
Daniel glanced at the young maid.
“She's one of the catering staff.””
“No. She's Grace Carter's daughter.””
Daniel frowned.
“Who is Grace Carter?””
Victoria suddenly appeared beside him.
“Daniel, please. Your mother is confused.””
Evelyn turned sharply.
“Don't you dare.””
Victoria's lips parted.
“I am only trying to help.””
“You've done enough helping tonight.””
Daniel looked between them.
“Can someone explain what's happening?””
Rose stood slowly.
“My mother disappeared when I was seven,” she said.
“I've spent most of my life believing she died.””
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“I thought the same thing.””
Rose's stomach tightened.
“You knew my mother?””
“I knew her very well.””
“Then where is she?””
Evelyn looked down at their joined hands.
“Not here. Not anymore.””
Rose pulled her hand away.
“What does that mean?””
Before Evelyn could answer, one of the security guards approached.
“Mr. Whitmore, we've secured the rooftop. The guests are being asked to remain inside.””
Daniel nodded.
“Good. And get the camera technician here immediately.””
Victoria stepped forward.
“Daniel, we should leave. This has become embarrassing enough.””
He turned toward her.
“Embarrassing?””
She looked wounded.
“Our wedding has been ruined. Your mother is accusing me of attempted murder, and this maid is making up some ridiculous story about a fire.””
Rose's face hardened.
“You know something about that fire?””
Victoria laughed nervously.
“Why would I?””
“Because you reacted when Evelyn mentioned my mother.””
“I reacted because your employer is clearly unwell.””
Evelyn tried to rise.
Daniel helped her.
“Mom, please sit down.””
She caught his sleeve.
“Daniel, don't let Victoria leave.””
Victoria's face changed.
“Excuse me?””
“Don't let her leave until you see the recording.””
Daniel looked toward the camera.
“That's exactly what we're doing.””
Victoria folded her arms.
“Fine. I'll wait.””
But her right hand had begun shaking.
Twenty minutes earlier, the rooftop had been filled with laughter, music, and expensive champagne.
Now the wedding guests sat in uncomfortable silence beneath the glass ceiling of the adjoining ballroom.
Rose stood near the service entrance, washing the blood from her palms in a small restroom sink.
The water turned pink.
She stared at herself in the mirror.
Grace Carter.
For years, that name had been nothing more than a faded photograph tucked inside an old envelope.
Rose remembered fragments of her childhood.
A woman humming while cooking breakfast.
A warm hand brushing hair away from her forehead.
A voice whispering, If you ever get lost, look for the little silver star.
Then the fire.
Smoke.
Sirens.
A neighbor carrying Rose outside.
And an empty hospital bed the next morning.
Her grandmother had told her that Grace hadn't survived.
Rose had believed her.
Until tonight.
A knock interrupted her thoughts.
“Rose?””
It was Daniel.
She opened the door.
“Sir?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“My mother wants to speak with you.””
“About my mother?””
“Yes.””
Rose followed him into a private lounge.
Evelyn sat on a velvet sofa, wrapped in a white blanket. A glass of water rested on the table beside her.
“Come closer, sweetheart,” she said.
Rose approached.
Evelyn studied her face again.
“You have her eyes.””
“Please tell me what happened.””
Evelyn took a shaky breath.
“Your mother worked for my family many years ago. Not as a maid. She was my personal assistant.””
Rose stared.
“My mother?””
“Yes. She was intelligent, loyal, and brave. She knew things about this family that most people never discovered.””
“What things?””
Evelyn glanced toward the closed door.
“Documents. Financial records. A terrible secret.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“Mom, what are you saying?””
Evelyn looked at him.
“Your father didn't die in an accident.””
Daniel went completely still.
Rose felt the air leave the room.
“What does that have to do with my mother?”” she whispered.
“Grace discovered something shortly before the fire.””
Evelyn reached into her handbag and pulled out an old photograph.
The picture showed three people standing in front of a large country house.
A younger Evelyn.
A man Rose didn't recognize.
And a woman holding a little girl.
Rose took the photograph.
Her fingers trembled.
“That's my mother.””
“Yes.””
Rose pointed at the man.
“Who is he?””
Evelyn's voice dropped.
“Your father.””
Rose stared at her.
“I don't have a father. My mother never told me who he was.””
Evelyn looked at Daniel.
“His name was Thomas Carter.””
Daniel stood abruptly.
“That's impossible.””
“Why?”” Rose asked.
Daniel's face had gone white.
“Because Thomas Carter was the name of the man my father accused of stealing millions from our company.””
Evelyn nodded slowly.
“And Grace knew he was innocent.””
A silence settled over the room.
Rose looked down at the photograph again.
Her mother had never told her any of this.
“Why did she disappear?””
Evelyn opened her mouth.
But before she could answer, the lounge door swung open.
Victoria stood there.
Her makeup was perfect again.
“Daniel, the guests are asking where you are.””
He didn't move.
“Not now.””
Victoria looked at the photograph in Rose's hand.
For one brief second, her expression revealed something far more powerful than anger.
Recognition.
She stepped inside and closed the door.
“Give me that photograph,” she said.
Rose tightened her grip.
“Why?””
Victoria smiled without warmth.
“Because some things are better left buried.””
May you like
Evelyn slowly rose from the sofa.
“Daniel,” she whispered, “now you know why I never wanted you to marry her.””
