Chapter 9: The Last Secret in My Mother's Handwriting
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
My father finally broke the silence.
“Your brother tried to kill my wife?””
Thomas looked at the photograph.
“I believe he was following her. Whether he intended to cause the crash is something we still need to broke the silence.
“Your brother tried to kill my wife?””
Thomas looked at the photograph.
“I believe he was following her. Whether he intended to cause the crash is something we still need to establish.””
“Why would he do that?””
“Because Laura had discovered what establish.””
“Why would he do that?””
“Because Laura had discovered what happened to the money. She knew he had helped Robert conceal the inheritance and had falsified several financial records.””
Dad paced across the living room.
happened to the money. She knew he had helped Robert conceal the inheritance and had falsified several financial records.””
Dad paced across the living room.
“And Claire?””
Thomas looked at her.
“She knew Michael was following Laura.””
Claire shook her head.
“I never asked him to hurt her.””
“But you knew he was there.””
“I thought he was going to take“And Claire?””
Thomas looked at her.
“She knew Michael was following Laura.””
Claire shook her head.
“I never asked him to hurt her.””
“But you knew he was there.””
“I thought he was going to take the documents.””
“Why?””
“Because he said Laura had stolen them.””
My father stopped.
“What documents?””
“The original trust papers. Robert had given the documents.””
“Why?””
“Because he said Laura had stolen them.””
My father stopped.
“What documents?””
“The original trust papers. Robert had given them to Michael for safekeeping. Laura found out and took them.””
Thomas stared at her.
“Robert never gave Michael anything.””
Claire looked confused.
“What?””
“Your grandfather created the trust. He appointed an independent them to Michael for safekeeping. Laura found out and took them.””
Thomas stared at her.
“Robert never gave Michael anything.””
Claire looked confused.
“What?””
“Your grandfather created the trust. He appointed an independent attorney to manage it. Michael had no authority over it.””
“Then why did he tell me he did?””
Thomas looked at Dad.
“Because Michael had been taking money attorney to manage it. Michael had no authority over it.””
“Then why did he tell me he did?””
Thomas looked at Dad.
“Because Michael had been taking money from the accounts for years.””
My father sank into the sofa.
It seemed that every answer uncovered another lie.
I sat beside him and took his hand.
“Dad, we need from the accounts for years.””
My father sank into the sofa.
It seemed that every answer uncovered another lie.
I sat beside him and took his hand.
“Dad, we need to find the truth.””
He squeezed my fingers.
“We will.””
Detective Harris had left to follow up on the information about Michael, but he had taken copies of the photograph and documents.
Thomas remained with us.
Claire was seated across to find the truth.””
He squeezed my fingers.
“We will.””
Detective Harris had left to follow up on the information about Michael, but he had taken copies of the photograph and documents.
Thomas remained with us.
Claire was seated across the room, her hands folded in her lap.
For once, nobody was speaking over me.
I looked at her.
“Did you really know Michael was following Mom?””
She didn't answer.
“Claire.””
She lifted her eyes.
“I knew he wanted the papers.””
“ the room, her hands folded in her lap.
For once, nobody was speaking over me.
I looked at her.
“Did you really know Michael was following Mom?””
She didn't answer.
“Claire.””
She lifted her eyes.
“I knew he wanted the papers.””
“Did you know he might hurt her?””
“No.””
“Did you care?””
Her lips trembled.
“I cared about your mother.””
I shook my head.
“You cared about the money.””
She looked away.
Dad stood.
Did you know he might hurt her?””
“No.””
“Did you care?””
Her lips trembled.
“I cared about your mother.””
I shook my head.
“You cared about the money.””
She looked away.
Dad stood.
“Claire, I want you out of this house.””
She looked up sharply.
“Daniel, please.””
“Your belongings can be collected tomorrow. You won't be staying here tonight.””
“You can't throw me out.””
“Watch me.””
She stood.
“Claire, I want you out of this house.””
She looked up sharply.
“Daniel, please.””
“Your belongings can be collected tomorrow. You won't be staying here tonight.””
“You can't throw me out.””
“Watch me.””
She stood.
“You're making a terrible mistake.””
“No. My mistake was believing you.””
She looked at me.
“Emma, say something.””
I remained still.
“Please.””
I thought about the garbage bag.
The sticker.
The laughter around“You're making a terrible mistake.””
“No. My mistake was believing you.””
She looked at me.
“Emma, say something.””
I remained still.
“Please.””
I thought about the garbage bag.
The sticker.
The laughter around the dining table.
And the years of being told I was lucky to have a place in a house that had once been full of love.
“You made your choice long before tonight,” the dining table.
And the years of being told I was lucky to have a place in a house that had once been full of love.
“You made your choice long before tonight,” I said.
Claire's face tightened.
Then she grabbed her purse and walked upstairs.
A few minutes later, the front door slammed.
I didn't feel I said.
Claire's face tightened.
Then she grabbed her purse and walked upstairs.
A few minutes later, the front door slammed.
I didn't feel victorious.
I felt exhausted.
Dad sat beside me.
“I'm sorry.””
I looked at him.
“For what?””
“For not seeing what was happening.””
I studied his face.
“You weren't there.””
“That's not an excuse.””
“No,” I victorious.
I felt exhausted.
Dad sat beside me.
“I'm sorry.””
I looked at him.
“For what?””
“For not seeing what was happening.””
I studied his face.
“You weren't there.””
“That's not an excuse.””
“No,” I said quietly.
“It isn't.””
He lowered his head.
“I should have protected you.””
I didn't know what to say.
We sat together until Thomas approached with the said quietly.
“It isn't.””
He lowered his head.
“I should have protected you.””
I didn't know what to say.
We sat together until Thomas approached with the blue suitcase.
“There's something Laura wanted me to give Emma personally,” he said.
He opened the small pocket in the lid.
Inside was a folded sheet of paper.
It looked older than the other letters.
He handed it to me.
I recognized my blue suitcase.
“There's something Laura wanted me to give Emma personally,” he said.
He opened the small pocket in the lid.
Inside was a folded sheet of paper.
It looked older than the other letters.
He handed it to me.
I recognized my mother's handwriting immediately.
But this time, there was no envelope.
No instructions.
Just a single sentence at the top.
*My dearest Emma, if Claire has become your enemy, please remember that she once held you when nobody else could.*
mother's handwriting immediately.
But this time, there was no envelope.
No instructions.
Just a single sentence at the top.
*My dearest Emma, if Claire has become your enemy, please remember that she once held you when nobody else could.*
I read it again.
Then I looked at the next line.
*I know you may never understand why I made the choicesI read it again.
Then I looked at the next line.
I know you may never understand why I made the choices I did. But there was a reason I kept your adoption secret from Daniel.
It was not because I doubted his love for you.
It was because the truth would expose a secret about his family I did. But there was a reason I kept your adoption secret from Daniel.
It was not because I doubted his love for you.
It was because the truth would expose a secret about his family that could destroy everything.
I stopped reading.
Dad came closer.
“What does it say?””
I handed him the page.
He read silently.
His face tightened.
“Keep going,” Thomas said.
I turned the paper over.
The remaining lines that could destroy everything.*
I stopped reading.
Dad came closer.
“What does it say?””
I handed him the page.
He read silently.
His face tightened.
“Keep going,” Thomas said.
I turned the paper over.
The remaining lines were written in smaller handwriting.
When you were born, I discovered that Robert had arranged for your biological father to disappear.
were written in smaller handwriting.
When you were born, I discovered that Robert had arranged for your biological father to disappear.
He didn't simply abandon you.
He was paid to stay away.
The money came from an account that Daniel believed belonged to his father's company. But the fundsHe didn't simply abandon you.*
He was paid to stay away.
The money came from an account that Daniel believed belonged to his father's company. But the funds were actually taken from the estate that should have been yours.
Dad lowered the paper.
“Who was the biological father?””
I looked at him.
“Mom says Robert arranged for him to disappear.””
Thomas nodded.
“Robert wanted to prevent the identity from were actually taken from the estate that should have been yours.*
Dad lowered the paper.
“Who was the biological father?””
I looked at him.
“Mom says Robert arranged for him to disappear.””
Thomas nodded.
“Robert wanted to prevent the identity from becoming public.””
“Why?””
Thomas looked uncomfortable.
“Because the biological father was a witness to something Robert had done.””
My father sat down.
“Who?””
Thomas reached into the suitcase.
He removed a sealed envelope with a wax stamp.
The writing on the front was unfamiliar.
**To becoming public.””
“Why?””
Thomas looked uncomfortable.
“Because the biological father was a witness to something Robert had done.””
My father sat down.
“Who?””
Thomas reached into the suitcase.
He removed a sealed envelope with a wax stamp.
The writing on the front was unfamiliar.
*To be opened only by Emma Bennett after her twenty-first birthday.*
I carefully broke the seal.
Inside was a copy of a hospital birth register.
At first, I saw only dates and signatures.
Then my eyes stopped at be opened only by Emma Bennett after her twenty-first birthday.**
I carefully broke the seal.
Inside was a copy of a hospital birth register.
At first, I saw only dates and signatures.
Then my eyes stopped at a line near the bottom.
*Biological father: Daniel Bennett.*
I stared.
My father took the paper from my hands.
He read it once.
Then again.
“No,” he whispered.
Thomas looked away.
a line near the bottom.
*Biological father: Daniel Bennett.*
I stared.
My father took the paper from my hands.
He read it once.
Then again.
“No,” he whispered.
Thomas looked away.
Dad shook his head.
“That can't be right.””
I looked between them.
“Dad?””
He seemed unable to breathe.
“Robert told me I was sterile.””
“What?””
He sat down heavily.
“When I was eighteen,Dad shook his head.
“That can't be right.””
I looked between them.
“Dad?””
He seemed unable to breathe.
“Robert told me I was sterile.””
“What?””
He sat down heavily.
“When I was eighteen, I was involved in an accident. Afterward, my father told me I had suffered an injury that made it impossible for me to have children.””
I I was involved in an accident. Afterward, my father told me I had suffered an injury that made it impossible for me to have children.””
I looked at the birth register.
“So you're my biological father?””
Dad's eyes filled.
“Yes.””
Thomas nodded.
“Claire was nineteen. She and Daniel were together before the accident. Robert discovered the pregnancy and threatened to looked at the birth register.
“So you're my biological father?””
Dad's eyes filled.
“Yes.””
Thomas nodded.
“Claire was nineteen. She and Daniel were together before the accident. Robert discovered the pregnancy and threatened to disown Claire unless she disappeared.””
My father stared at him disown Claire unless she disappeared.””
My father stared at him.
“Why did I never know?””
“Robert convinced you the relationship had ended. He told Claire you had gone abroad.””
Claire's voice suddenly came from the hallway.
“He told me Daniel wanted nothing.
“Why did I never know?””
“Robert convinced you the relationship had ended. He told Claire you had gone abroad.””
Claire's voice suddenly came from the hallway.
“He told me Daniel wanted nothing to do with me.””
We all turned.
She was standing at the bottom of the stairs.
Her purse hung from one shoulder.
She hadn't left.
She looked directly at my father.
“I was told you knew about the pregnancy and wanted me to give the baby away.””
Dad stared at to do with me.””
We all turned.
She was standing at the bottom of the stairs.
Her purse hung from one shoulder.
She hadn't left.
She looked directly at my father.
“I was told you knew about the pregnancy and wanted me to give the baby away.””
Dad stared at her.
“Who told you that?””
“Robert.””
“And you believed him?””
“I was nineteen!””
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Claire continued her.
“Who told you that?””
“Robert.””
“And you believed him?””
“I was nineteen!””
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Claire continued.
“Laura came to me after the birth. She told me she could give Emma the life I couldn't. She said Daniel had a right to raise his own child.””
Dad looked at her.
“Laura knew I.
“Laura came to me after the birth. She told me she could give Emma the life I couldn't. She said Daniel had a right to raise his own child.””
Dad looked at her.
“Laura knew I was the father?””
Claire nodded.
“She found the hospital records.””
Thomas added, “Laura also discovered Robert had lied to both was the father?””
Claire nodded.
“She found the hospital records.””
Thomas added, “Laura also discovered Robert had lied to both of you.””
I stared at my father.
The truth was almost impossible to process.
Laura had adopted me not because my father couldn't have children, but because she had wanted to protect me from a secret that could destroy the family.
Claire hadn't of you.””
I stared at my father.
The truth was almost impossible to process.
Laura had adopted me not because my father couldn't have children, but because she had wanted to protect me from a secret that could destroy the family.
Claire hadn't given me up because she didn't love me.
She had been convinced that the father of her baby wanted nothing to do with her.
My father had been told he could never become a father.
And Robert had made all three of us believe a different lie.
But one given me up because she didn't love me.
She had been convinced that the father of her baby wanted nothing to do with her.
My father had been told he could never become a father.
And Robert had made all three of us believe a different lie.
But one question remained.
“Why did Mom write that Claire was using my identity?””
Thomas opened the final folder.
“This is the part I didn't want to discuss until question remained.
“Why did Mom write that Claire was using my identity?””
Thomas opened the final folder.
“This is the part I didn't want to discuss until we had the original documents.””
He placed a page on the table.
It was a copy of a bank authorization form.
The name at the top was mine.
Emma Bennett.
But the signature at the bottom was not.
Dad leaned we had the original documents.””
He placed a page on the table.
It was a copy of a bank authorization form.
The name at the top was mine.
Emma Bennett.
But the signature at the bottom was not.
Dad leaned forward.
“What is this?””
“An account created using Emma's identity shortly after her twenty-first birthday.””
I looked at the account details.
There were regular transfers.
Large amounts.
Every month.
“What forward.
“What is this?””
“An account created using Emma's identity shortly after her twenty-first birthday.””
I looked at the account details.
There were regular transfers.
Large amounts.
Every month.
“What account?””
Thomas pointed to the bank name.
“An offshore investment account.””
My father read the balance.
Nearly four million dollars.
He looked at me.
“Do you know anything about this?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Thomas explained account?””
Thomas pointed to the bank name.
“An offshore investment account.””
My father read the balance.
Nearly four million dollars.
He looked at me.
“Do you know anything about this?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Thomas explained that the account had been established using my adoption records, my social security number, and a forged signature.
Someone had been moving money through it for years.
The money appeared to originate from the trust Robert that the account had been established using my adoption records, my social security number, and a forged signature.
Someone had been moving money through it for years.
The money appeared to originate from the trust Robert had created.
Dad turned toward Claire.
“Did you open this account?””
She didn't respond.
“Claire!””
She looked at me.
Then she whispered, “I did.””
Dad stood.
“Why?””
“Because I was trying to secure your had created.
Dad turned toward Claire.
“Did you open this account?””
She didn't respond.
“Claire!””
She looked at me.
Then she whispered, “I did.””
Dad stood.
“Why?””
“Because I was trying to secure your inheritance.””
“By forging Emma's signature?””
“I intended to give her the money.””
“Then why hide the account?””
Claire looked down.
“Because there was another beneficiary.””
I felt a chill.
inheritance.””
“By forging Emma's signature?””
“I intended to give her the money.””
“Then why hide the account?””
Claire looked down.
“Because there was another beneficiary.””
I felt a chill.
“Who?””
She stared at the table.
Then she answered.
“Your biological father.””
My father frowned.
“But I am her biological father.””
Claire nodded.
“I know.””
“Then who else?””
Her eyes filled“Who?””
She stared at the table.
Then she answered.
“Your biological father.””
My father frowned.
“But I am her biological father.””
Claire nodded.
“I know.””
“Then who else?””
Her eyes filled.
“Robert had a son before Daniel. A child nobody knew about.””
Thomas went pale.
“What?””
Claire reached into her purse.
She.
“Robert had a son before Daniel. A child nobody knew about.””
Thomas went pale.
“What?””
Claire reached into her purse.
She removed a photograph and placed it beside the bank document.
It showed an older man standing beside a young boy.
On the back was written:
*For Emma. The person who knows why Laura had to die.*
removed a photograph and placed it beside the bank document.
It showed an older man standing beside a young boy.
On the back was written:
*For Emma. The person who knows why Laura had to die.*
My father studied the man's face.
Then he looked at Thomas.
“Do you know him?””
Thomas nodded slowly.
“That'sMy father studied the man's face.
Then he looked at Thomas.
“Do you know him?””
Thomas nodded slowly.
“That's Michael.””
I stared.
“Michael Reed?””
Thomas shook his head.
“No.””
He pointed at the boy in the photograph.
“That's Robert's second son.””
Dad's face drained of color.
“ Michael.””
I stared.
“Michael Reed?””
Thomas shook his head.
“No.””
He pointed at the boy in the photograph.
“That's Robert's second son.””
Dad's face drained of color.
“Then who is the man standing beside him?””
Thomas looked at the name written beneath the photograph.
And for the first time since I had met him, he seemed genuinely terrified.
“That's Edward Collins,” he whisperedThen who is the man standing beside him?””
Thomas looked at the name written beneath the photograph.
And for the first time since I had met him, he seemed genuinely terrified.
“That's Edward Collins,” he whispered.
The man Claire had claimed was her dead uncle.
The man supposedly responsible for following Laura's car.
But Edward wasn't dead.
And according to the photograph, he had been standing beside Robert's secret son long after.
The man Claire had claimed was her dead uncle.
The man supposedly responsible for following Laura's car.
But Edward wasn't dead.
And according to the photograph, he had been standing beside Robert's secret son long after the accident.
Dad picked up his phone.
“Detective Harris needs to see this.””
Before he could dial, my phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
One message.
**Your father isn't the only Bennett who knows what happened to Laura. Meet the accident.
Dad picked up his phone.
“Detective Harris needs to see this.””
Before he could dial, my phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
One message.
**Your father isn't the only Bennett who knows what happened to Laura. Meet me at St. Andrew's Cemetery tomorrow.
Come alone. Ask for Robert's second son.**
I showed the screen to Dad.
He immediately me at St. Andrew's Cemetery tomorrow. Come alone. Ask for Robert's second son.**
I showed the screen to Dad.
He immediately shook his head.
“No. You're not going anywhere alone.””
Then another message arrived.
This time, it contained a photograph.
My mother was standing beside the old bridge.
A few seconds before shook his head.
“No. You're not going anywhere alone.””
Then another message arrived.
This time, it contained a photograph.
My mother was standing beside the old bridge.
A few seconds before the accident.
And behind her, partially hidden by the darkness, was a man holding a black umbrella.
The message beneath it read:
**He never left the family the accident.
And behind her, partially hidden by the darkness, was a man holding a black umbrella.
The message beneath it read:
*He never left the family. He's living in your father's house.*
My father slowly looked toward the staircase.
Then toward the empty dining room.
And finally, toward. He's living in your father's house.**
My father slowly looked toward the staircase.
Then toward the empty dining room.
And finally, toward the bedroom where Claire had left her belongings.
Someone had been in our house that night.
Someone who had heard every word.
And someone who still had a key.
the bedroom where Claire had left her belongings.
Someone had been in our house that night.
May you like
Someone who had heard every word.
And someone who still had a key.
