Chapter 13 - THE LAST SECRET
My grandfather hadn't died naturally.
He had been murdered.
The official cause had been a heart attack.
But Jonathan had evidence.
He sent me a photograph.
My grandfather's medication.
Then another.
A laboratory report.
A chemical compound had been found in his system.
Someone had poisoned him.
I stared at the report.
“Who?”
Jonathan answered:
“Your father knew.”
My chest tightened.
I called Dad.
He answered from the hospital.
“Hello?”
“Did Grandpa die because someone poisoned him?”
Silence.
That silence told me everything.
“Dad.”
“I was told it was an accident.”
“Who told you?”
“I don't know.”
“Stop lying.”
He began crying.
“I was young.”
“You were an adult.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of whom?”
He whispered:
“Your mother.”
I closed my eyes.
Mom.
Again.
But Jonathan interrupted.
“Your mother didn't kill him.”
I froze.
“Then who did?”
Jonathan said:
“Your grandmother.”
I couldn't speak.
My grandmother had died when I was a child.
Jonathan explained.
She had discovered that my grandfather planned to leave everything to me.
She believed a woman shouldn't control the family fortune.
She secretly created the first arrangement with my father.
But then she realized my grandfather had discovered her betrayal.
The family had been divided for decades.
The wedding wasn't simply about money.
It was the final attempt to regain control of the family empire.
I looked at Mia.
She was coloring quietly at the table.
I realized something.
This wasn't about me anymore.
It was about what my daughter would inherit.
I refused to let the same cycle continue.
I called every attorney connected to the trust.
I ordered a complete restructuring.
No family member would ever control my assets again.
No relative would ever have access to Mia's inheritance without her consent.
And most importantly, every stolen dollar would be traced.
Then Sarah came to my office.
She looked different.
No designer clothes.
No makeup.
No wedding ring.
She sat quietly.
“I want to tell you something.”
I waited.
“I knew Greg was lying.”
I looked at her.
“I suspected.”
“But I married him anyway.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted the life he promised.”
She lowered her head.
“I became the person Mom wanted me to be.”
I didn't answer.
She continued.
“I spent my whole life competing with you.”
“I never competed with you.”
“I know that now.”
She pulled off her wedding ring.
“I don't want anything from you.”
She placed it on the desk.
“I just want you to know that.”
I looked at her.
For the first time, she sounded sincere.
But then she said:
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“Greg wasn't the one who sent the first threat.”
I stared at her.
“Who did?”
Sarah looked toward the door.
Then whispered:
“Mom.”
I felt my blood run cold.
“That's impossible.”
“I saw her.”
“When?”
“The night before the wedding.”
“What did she do?”
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
“She met someone at the dock.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
She paused.
“But I heard her say one thing.”
“What?”
Sarah looked at me.
“She said, ‘Once Elena signs, the girl will never know.’”
My heart stopped.
“What did she mean?”
Sarah shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Then my phone rang.
It was Mom.
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
“Elena.”
“What do you want?”
“You've been asking questions.”
“Yes.”
“You should stop.”
“Why?”
May you like
A pause.
“Because there are things about Mia you don't know.”
