Chapter 4: My Grandfather's Secret
I read the name twice.
Robert Sterling.
My grandfather had been dead for three years.
He had been a difficult man, but I had always believed he loved his family.
He built Sterling Properties from a small construction business into one of Atlanta's largest privately held development companies.
He taught me how to negotiate contracts, how to recognize a dishonest partner, and how to never sign anything I hadn't read.
But I had never known he was connected to Nia's disappearance.
"Why is my grandfather's name on this document?""
Nobody answered.
I turned toward my mother.
"Mom.""
Diane rubbed her forehead.
"Your grandfather was involved in certain family decisions.""
"What decisions?""
"He was concerned about your future.""
I looked at Nia.
"Did you ever meet him?""
She nodded.
"Once.""
"When?""
"At the hospital. The day Noah was born.""
I felt a chill.
"You told me my grandfather never visited the hospital.""
"He did.""
"Why?""
Nia looked at the paper.
"He wanted me to sign another document.""
"What document?""
"A custody agreement.""
I stared at her.
"Did you sign it?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because it said I was giving up all parental rights.""
I turned toward Diane.
"Did you know about that?""
My mother sat down.
"Robert believed a child needed stability.""
"And you agreed with him?""
"He was your grandfather.""
"That doesn't answer the question.""
Diane looked at me.
"You were about to inherit a business worth hundreds of millions of dollars. He was worried about the consequences of having a child outside marriage with someone whose background he knew nothing about.""
I laughed once.
It wasn't funny.
It was the kind of laugh that escaped when a person heard something so cruel that his mind couldn't process it.
"Nia wasn't some stranger. She was the woman I loved.""
"She was young.""
"So was I.""
"She had no financial security.""
"Neither did I when I met her!""
My mother looked away.
I paced toward the fireplace.
I remembered my grandfather's study.
The enormous oak desk.
The locked cabinets.
The smell of old leather and expensive cigars.
I remembered the way he used to say that the Sterling name was worth more than any individual person.
At the time, I had thought he was teaching me responsibility.
Now I wondered what else he had taught the people around him.
"Where are the original documents?"" I asked.
Claire spoke for the first time in several minutes.
"I don't know.""
"You're a lawyer. You helped prepare them. You must know.""
"I prepared a temporary agreement.""
"Was it legal?""
Claire stiffened.
"It was a private arrangement.""
"That's not what I asked.""
She looked at Vanessa.
"Your son is present. I don't think this conversation should continue.""
I looked down.
Noah had fallen asleep against Nia's shoulder.
His little hand was wrapped around her apron.
I took a breath.
"You're right. He needs to rest.""
I turned toward Nia.
"There's a guest bedroom upstairs. You can stay with him tonight.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Absolutely not.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because we don't know what she's planning.""
Nia lowered her eyes.
Vanessa pointed at her.
"She could be trying to get money from you.""
I felt something inside me snap.
"Enough.""
Vanessa froze.
"Don't you dare speak about her like that in front of my son.""
"But Marcus—"
"She's his mother.""
Vanessa's lips parted.
For the first time, she had no answer.
I called the house manager, Mrs. Alvarez, and asked her to prepare the blue guest suite.
Then I turned toward Daniel, who had entered quietly.
"Daniel, I need you to do something.""
"Anything.""
"Find the name of the attorney who handled my grandfather's estate. I want every document relating to Noah, Nia, and any custody arrangement.""
Daniel nodded.
"Tonight?""
"Tonight.""
He left.
I looked toward Claire.
"And you should know that I'm having an independent attorney review every document you prepared.""
Claire's expression changed.
"Marcus, that's unnecessary.""
"Then you have nothing to worry about.""
She didn't respond.
Nia gently shifted Noah in her arms.
"Marcus, I don't want to cause trouble.""
I looked at her.
"You didn't cause this.""
She nodded, but her eyes remained sad.
We left the library.
As we walked down the hallway, I noticed the old portrait of my grandfather hanging above the staircase.
He was seated in his favorite leather chair, wearing a navy suit.
His expression was stern.
Beneath the painting was a small brass plaque.
Robert Sterling. Founder. Patriarch. Builder of the Sterling Legacy.
I stopped.
For the first time, I wondered whether the man in that portrait had been the person I thought he was.
Noah stirred.
"Mommy?""
Nia kissed his forehead.
"I'm here, baby.""
He smiled without opening his eyes.
I watched them disappear upstairs.
Then I turned around.
Vanessa was standing at the bottom of the staircase.
Her arms were crossed.
Her eyes were red.
"Marcus, we need to talk.""
"We've talked enough.""
"You're making a mistake.""
I looked at her.
"You knew about Nia.""
"I was trying to protect our relationship.""
"You helped my mother keep my son's mother away from him.""
"I didn't know how bad it was.""
"You just admitted you were there when my mother threatened her.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Your mother told me Nia was dangerous.""
"Did you ever ask Nia?""
"No.""
"Did you ever ask me?""
She looked down.
I took off the engagement ring box from my jacket pocket.
I had planned to give it to her publicly that night.
Instead, I placed it on the hallway table.
"I'm not marrying you.""
Vanessa stared at me.
"You can't do this.""
"I just did.""
She began crying.
"Marcus, I love you.""
I looked at her.
"I don't know who you are.""
She reached for my arm.
I stepped away.
"Please. Don't make a decision tonight.""
"I've spent four years making decisions based on lies. I'm done.""
She turned toward the staircase.
"Then ask your mother what happened after Nia refused to sign the custody papers.""
I stopped.
"What?""
Vanessa looked at Diane, who had just emerged from the library.
"Tell him.""
My mother looked furious.
"Vanessa, don't.""
But Vanessa continued.
"Tell him why Robert changed his will.""
I turned toward Diane.
"What does my grandfather's will have to do with this?""
My mother closed her eyes.
Then she whispered:
"Because Noah wasn't supposed to inherit anything.""
My blood ran cold.
"What?""
Diane looked at me.
"Your grandfather believed Nia's family was after the Sterling fortune.""
I shook my head.
"That makes no sense.""
"He thought she had been sent to you.""
"By whom?""
My mother hesitated.
Then she said the name.
"Your grandfather's business partner.""
I frowned.
"Who?""
She looked toward the portrait.
"Richard Whitmore.""
Claire's husband.
Vanessa's father.
And a man who had died just six months after my grandfather.
I turned toward Claire.
Her face had gone completely white.
"Why would my grandfather's business partner be involved with Nia?""
Claire's lips trembled.
"Because...""
She stopped.
Then Vanessa finished the sentence.
"Because my father was the one who arranged for Nia to disappear.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
Vanessa looked at me with tears running down her face.
"Mom, tell him the rest.""
Claire shook her head.
But Vanessa was already speaking.
"My father didn't just want Nia away from you, Marcus.""
May you like
She swallowed.
"He wanted Noah.""
