Chapter 5 - Nathan’s Real Name
Claire braced for secret heir.
Truth was less sensational and more painful.
Nathan had been born Nathan Blackwood.
Richard’s sister, Margaret Blackwood, was his mother.
She died when Nathan was two.
Richard arranged adoption by family friends, Thomas and Julia Bennett.
No hidden scandal.
No illicit affair.
Nathan always knew he was adopted.
Claire did too.
What she did not know was that Nathan’s birth family was Blackwood.
He had deliberately hidden connection.
Why?
Because Nathan believed Richard stole voting rights after Margaret died.
Margaret had owned 25% family enterprises.
Her interest should have passed into trust for Nathan.
Instead 1998 amendment consolidated control under Richard.
Nathan eventually discovered.
He approached Eleanor.
She thought he wanted money.
He wanted records.
That explained basement.
Richard used manor basement as private archive before digitization.
Nathan believed original pre-amendment trust documents remained there.
Then why BCF = Bennett Children’s Fund?
Not literal children.
It was old employee scholarship fund Thomas Bennett managed.
Nathan’s adoptive father had worked for Blackwood Construction.
Interesting.
Nathan believed Richard diverted Margaret’s shares into BCF under misleading corporate abbreviation.
But if BCF was actually employee fund, maybe assets never stolen.
Claire felt mystery changing again.
Then Eleanor produced letter from Richard.
Nathan,
If you ever discover what I did with Margaret’s shares, you will hate me before you understand me.
Claire read twice.
Eleanor had never seen.
Nathan found among Richard’s papers.
Next line:
Do not trust certificate ownership. Find beneficial schedule.
So stock certificates in missing steel case might mislead.
Beneficial schedule would show who truly entitled.
Where?
Possibly hidden separately.
Then caller rang.
Claire answered:
“Tell me who you are.”
“Not yet.”
“Are you Nathan?”
Silence.
Her heart stopped.
“Are you?”
Caller disconnected.
Claire stared at screen.
Eleanor watched.
“You think it's him.”
Claire couldn't answer.
Then another message:
NATHAN IS NOT CALLING YOU.
CLAIRE, YOU HEARD HIM DIE.
Claire went pale.
She had never told Eleanor that.
Because on night Nathan vanished, Claire had received a voicemail.
A crash.
Nathan breathing hard.
Then one sentence:
“I found out who owns it.”
The call ended.
Police never found evidence he died.
Claire had kept recording secret.
May you like
Only one other person knew.
The anonymous caller.
