Chapter 2 - The Phantom Sister
Clare stared at the handwritten words until the ink blurred.
William Mercer had only one son.
Harrison had always been the sole heir to the Mercer real estate empire.
If Eleanor Parker was William’s daughter, she was Harrison’s half-sister.
Why had William’s letter never been sent?
Clare picked up the brass key from the bottom of the box.
It was heavy, stamped with a four-digit number: 0412.
She pulled out her phone and searched the name Eleanor Parker alongside William Mercer’s name.
Nothing came up.
She searched public records for the tri-state area.
Dozens of Eleanor Parkers existed, but none seemed tied to the wealthy Mercer family.
Clare’s fingers trembled as she dialed Arthur Sterling, William’s retired estate lawyer.
The phone rang four times before the old man answered, his voice thick with sleep.
“Clare? It’s past midnight on Christmas.”
“I’m sorry, Arthur. I need to ask you about someone.”
“Is Harrison alright?”
“Harrison is busy,” Clare said coldly.
“Arthur, who is Eleanor Parker?”
Dead silence filled the line.
Clare heard the faint sound of a clock ticking in Arthur’s home.
“Where did you hear that name?” Arthur finally asked.
His tone was sharp, no longer sleepy.
“I found a letter. William wrote it before he died.”
“Burn it, Clare.”
“What?”
“I mean it. Whatever you found, throw it in the fire.”
“Arthur, the letter says he’s her father. It says Harrison erased her.”
“Clare, listen to me carefully.”
Arthur’s voice dropped to a harsh whisper.
“Harrison controls the company now. He controls everything.”
“I don’t care about the company. I care about the truth.”
“The truth will leave you with nothing.”
“Harrison left me tonight, Arthur. I already have nothing.”
Arthur let out a heavy sigh.
“Eleanor isn’t just his sister, Clare. She was the original majority shareholder.”
Clare gripped the edge of the dining table.
“That’s impossible. William left everything to Harrison.”
“That’s what the forged will said.”
“Forged?”
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“Meet me tomorrow at my office. Don't tell your husband.”
The line went dead.
