Scarlett's hand shook as she gripped her phone, Grayson's words echoing in her mind.
"Nathan's mother… alive?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, the revelation hitting her like a resounding blow.
Ellen's expression darkened, a mix of shock and something deeper flashing across her face and mind. "Catherine?" She said with a very soft voice.
Scarlett turned to her mother, her heart pounding. "You knew her?"
Ellen hesitated, then nodded. "We were… close. Best friends, once." Her gaze drifted, as if searching the past for clarity. "But this? Alive? After all of these years?"
Scarlett felt her stomach twist and turn. "Why would Grayson tell me this now? He's trying to manipulate us as he always does—he's always playing games."
Ellen placed a steadying hand on Scarlett's arm. "Maybe. But Catherine being alive changes everything. If it's true, we have to act."
