CHAPTER 3: THE WILL UNDER THE FLOOR
Ethan took Claire out of the ballroom through a side hallway while Victoria shouted after them.
For once, no one obeyed her.
Outside, rain tapped softly against the windows.
Claire almost laughed.
Of course it was raining.
Secrets liked weather like this.
Ethan brought her to his private study inside the Sterling estate. The pendant lay between them on the desk, glowing under the lamp.
“My grandmother had a pendant like this,” Ethan said. “There were only two made. One stayed with the Sterling family. The other was given to someone she trusted.”
Claire frowned.
“My mother was a housekeeper.”
“No,” Ethan said quietly. “Your mother was my grandmother’s legal witness.”
Claire stared at him.
Ethan opened a locked drawer and removed a leather file.
Inside was an old estate document.
A missing will.
Claire read the first line and felt her chest tighten.
Anna Bennett, appointed guardian of the Sterling charitable trust in the event of fraud or family interference.
Her mother’s name was everywhere.
Victoria’s name appeared too.
Not as family.
As the person accused of stealing trust assets.
Claire stepped back.
“My stepmother?”
Ethan’s jaw hardened.
“Victoria worked for my uncle years ago. She was fired after money disappeared from the trust. Your mother must have found proof.”
Claire’s voice shook.
“My mother died in a car accident.”
Ethan looked at her.
“So did my grandmother.”
The silence between them became terrifying.
Then Claire remembered something.
Her mother’s old sewing box.
The one Victoria had tried to throw away.
Inside the lining, Claire had once felt something hard beneath the fabric.
They drove to the Bennett house that night.
Victoria arrived minutes after them.
Too late.
Claire had already ripped open the bottom of the sewing box.
Inside was a flash drive.
And a letter.
For my Claire, when you are finally strong enough to know the truth.
Claire opened it with trembling hands.
Her mother’s handwriting stared back at her.
May you like
Victoria did not just steal from the Sterlings.
She paid someone to make sure I never testified.
