After landing in London, they were met by a man holding a small sign.
BROOKS.
He introduced himself as Daniel's former investigator.
"My name is Thomas Reed."
Naomi looked at him.
"How do you know Michael?"
"I helped him stay hidden."
"Is he safe?"
Thomas hesitated.
"He was."
Naomi's stomach tightened.
"What happened?"
"He left his apartment three days ago."
"Where did he go?"
"We don't know."
Naomi looked at Evan.
"Is he missing again?"
Thomas nodded.
"But he left something for you."
He handed Naomi a small wooden box.
She opened it.
Inside was another pendant.
It looked almost identical to hers.
She lifted it.
There was a tiny engraving on the back.
Two halves of one truth.
Naomi stared at it.
"Michael's."
Thomas nodded.
"He said you would understand."
"I don't."
"Look inside."
Naomi examined the pendant.
This one opened differently.
Inside was a small photograph.
A woman.
Naomi recognized her immediately.
Evelyn Carrington.
But she looked younger.
Standing beside her was Eleanor.
They were not enemies.
They were smiling.
Naomi looked at Evan.
"Your grandmother and mine knew each other."
Evan stared at the photograph.
"More than that."
Thomas nodded.
"They were partners."
Naomi's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Eleanor created the technology. Evelyn created the financial structure."
"Then why did Jonathan take control?"
Thomas looked at them.
"Because Jonathan believed women should work behind the scenes."
Evan looked disgusted.
"That's why they created the company together?"
"Yes."
"Then why did everything collapse?"
Thomas answered:
"Because Jonathan discovered how valuable their work was."
He continued.
"He wanted the company entirely under his control."
Naomi looked at the photograph again.
"So Eleanor and Evelyn were both betrayed."
"Yes."
"And then they turned against each other?"
"No."
Thomas shook his head.
"They pretended to."
Naomi's eyes widened.
"For twenty-seven years?"
"Exactly."
Evan stared at him.
"Why?"
"To protect the company."
Naomi felt confused.
"What company?"
Thomas looked directly at her.
"The second company."
Naomi remembered Michael's words.
The company hidden under your name.
"Where is it?"
Thomas handed her an old document.
"Your grandmother created it with Evelyn."
Naomi unfolded it.
The company name was written at the top.
Brooks-Carrington Research.
Beneath it were two owners.
Eleanor Brooks.
Evelyn Carrington.
Naomi stared.
"This is worth..."
"Billions," Thomas said.
Evan looked at Naomi.
"More than Carrington Holdings?"
Thomas nodded.
"Much more."
Naomi's hands trembled.
"Why did they hide it?"
"Because Jonathan would have destroyed it."
"What happened to it?"
Thomas looked at the pendant.
"The controlling shares were divided into two pieces."
He pointed at Naomi's pendant.
"One went to Eleanor's descendants."
Then he pointed toward Evan.
"The other went to Evelyn's."
Evan understood.
"My family."
"Yes."
Naomi looked at the two pendants.
Two halves.
One truth.
Thomas continued.
"Your grandmother believed the company should never belong to one family again."
"So why did she leave it to us?"
"Because she wanted the two families to work together."
Naomi laughed softly.
"After everything that happened?"
"That was the point."
She looked at Evan.
Neither spoke.
Then Thomas received a phone call.
His expression changed.
"What?"
He listened.
Then looked at Naomi.
"Michael has been found."
Naomi stood immediately.
"Where?"
"At an old train station."
"Is he okay?"
Thomas nodded.
"But he says you need to come alone."
Evan stood.
"No."
Thomas looked at him.
"He specifically said Naomi."
Naomi looked at Evan.
"I'll go."
"I'm coming."
"No."
He stared at her.
"Naomi."
"This is my family."
"And I'm part of this now."
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Fine."
Thomas sighed.
"Then we leave immediately."
None of them noticed the black car following them from a distance.
Inside it sat an elderly woman.
She watched Naomi through the window.
Then she smiled.
"Eleanor's granddaughter."
The driver looked at her.
"Should we stop them?"
She shook her head.
"No."
She looked down at an old photograph.
It showed herself beside Eleanor.
"Let them come."
She smiled.
"They deserve to hear the truth from me."
Chapter 14
The old train station was almost empty.
Rain fell steadily across the platform.
Naomi and Evan walked beside Thomas.
A single man stood beneath the station roof.
He was tall.
Gray-haired.
His face looked tired.
But when he turned toward Naomi, she knew immediately.
She had seen those eyes before.
In photographs.
In dreams.
In family resemblance.
"Michael?"
The man nodded.
Naomi stopped.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Michael opened his arms.
Naomi walked toward him.
They embraced.
She began crying.
Michael held her tightly.
"I'm sorry."
Naomi pulled away.
"Why?"
"For disappearing."
"You didn't have a choice."
"I should have found you."
"You were protecting yourself."
Michael shook his head.
"I was protecting you."
Naomi wiped her tears.
"Tell me everything."
Michael looked at Evan.
"You're Jonathan's grandson."
"Yes."
Michael studied him.
"You look like him."
Evan's expression hardened.
"I don't want to."
Michael smiled sadly.
"Neither did your grandmother."
"My grandmother?"
"Evelyn."
Evan froze.
"She's alive?"
Michael nodded.
"She's the reason I survived."
Naomi looked at him.
"Where is she?"
"Waiting."
"Where?"
Michael pointed toward the station entrance.
A woman stepped out of a black car.
She was old.
Elegant.
Her silver hair was pulled back.
She walked slowly, supported by a cane.
Evan stared.
"Grandmother."