Chapter 4 - The Secret Ledger Discovered
Back at my estate,
I sat in Claire’s old study.
The sunlight streamed through the tall French windows.
Illuminating the rows of leather-bound books.
Elliot Hayes sat across from me.
Placing a worn leather diary on the desk.
This was behind her false-bottom desk drawer,
Elliot said softly.
She kept track of everything,
Margaret.
I reached out.
My fingers tracing the worn leather cover.
Claire had always been meticulous.
Even when illness was consuming her body,
her mind had remained razor-sharp.
I opened the cover.
Her handwriting,
neat and precise,
filled the pages.
Entry after entry detailing Daniel’s betrayal.
The late nights at the office
that weren't work.
The suspicious withdrawals from the joint account.
The moment she realized
he was planning to push her out of her own company
the moment her health failed.
And right there,
on page forty-two,
was a note addressed to me.
Mom,
if you're reading this,
it means I didn't make it.
Don't cry for long.
Make them pay for every single tear.
Make them understand
that love isn't a weakness,
and kindness isn't permission to destroy us.
I wiped a stray tear from my cheek.
A quiet smile forming on my lips.
I won't let you down,
my darling,
I whispered to the empty room.
May you like
The trap was set,
and the final phase was about to begin.
