Chapter 9 - THE SON WHO FINALLY SAID NO
Daniel hit Clara from the side.
They rolled into the ditch.
Eleanor's car missed them by inches.
It crashed through a wooden fence.
Then disappeared down the road.
Clara pushed Daniel away.
“Are you insane?”
He coughed.
“Probably.”
She stared at him.
Daniel smiled weakly.
“You're welcome.”
Clara didn't smile.
Saving her once did not erase trying to kill her once.
Daniel understood.
His smile disappeared.
Police arrived fifteen minutes later.
Eleanor was gone.
Victor and three men were arrested.
Rose gave her statement.
So did Margaret.
So did Daniel.
That surprised everyone.
“I cut the rope.”
The detective stared at him.
Daniel continued.
“I pushed Margaret.”
Rose closed her eyes.
Clara watched him.
“Why are you admitting this?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Because it happened.”
“You'll go to prison.”
“I know.”
Eleanor had taught him to avoid consequences.
For once, Daniel was choosing them.
He handed himself over.
Before officers took him away, Rose approached.
Daniel looked at his mother.
“I became like her.”
Rose shook her head.
“No.”
“I tried to murder my wife.”
“You did something terrible.”
Daniel waited.
Rose touched his cheek.
“And now you decide what kind of man admits it.”
Daniel began crying again.
Police took him away.
Clara watched from the porch.
Margaret stood beside her.
“Do you forgive him?”
“No.”
Margaret nodded.
“Good.”
Clara looked surprised.
Margaret smiled.
“Forgiveness isn't a debt.”
Two days later, laboratory results came back.
Clara's prenatal tonic contained a drug capable of causing miscarriage in large doses.
Eleanor's fingerprints were on the bottle.
More evidence came from the carriage.
The brake line had been cut with a blade.
Security records placed Eleanor inside the carriage house.
A warrant was issued.
But Eleanor Bennett had vanished.
Clara moved into a secure apartment.
Rose stayed nearby.
Margaret refused to leave Clara.
“You need rest.”
Clara laughed.
“You have a broken arm.”
“I can rest while watching you.”
Samuel arrived one evening carrying documents.
“We have a problem.”
Clara looked up.
“What?”
“Thomas's will is authentic.”
“That sounds like good news.”
“It is.”
“But?”
Samuel sat.
“Bennett Holdings is worth considerably more than anyone thought.”
“How much?”
“Approximately eight hundred million dollars.”
Margaret whistled.
Clara stared.
“And control transfers to my child?”
“At birth.”
“Yes.”
Clara looked at her stomach.
Samuel continued.
“But until the child is born, control remains with the current trustee.”
“Eleanor.”
“Yes.”
Clara's face hardened.
“So she still controls everything.”
“For now.”
“What can she do?”
“Sell assets.”
“Move money.”
“Destroy records.”
“Potentially.”
Clara stood.
“Then stop her.”
“We're seeking an emergency injunction.”
“How long?”
“Forty-eight hours.”
Clara laughed bitterly.
“Eleanor tried to kill me twice in less than forty-eight hours.”
Samuel understood.
They needed something faster.
The next morning, Clara received a package.
No return address.
Inside was a baby's white blanket.
A red stain covered the center.
Margaret gasped.
Clara found a note.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO ME.
I HAVE SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO YOU.
Clara frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Her phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
Eleanor spoke.
“Good morning, Clara.”
“Where are you?”
“That's not important.”
“What do you want?”
“The will.”
“It's with the police.”
“I don't mean Thomas's will.”
Clara went still.
“What are you talking about?”
Eleanor laughed.
“You still don't know.”
“Know what?”
“Margaret knows.”
Clara looked toward the old maid.
Margaret's face had gone pale.
Eleanor continued.
“Ask her about your father.”
Clara's heart began pounding.
“My father?”
Margaret whispered.
“Hang up.”
Eleanor heard her.
“Hello, Margaret.”
Margaret backed away.
Clara stared at her.
“What does my father have to do with this?”
Eleanor's voice became almost cheerful.
“Everything.”
Then she said the sentence that changed the entire fight.
“Thomas Bennett wasn't only Daniel's father.”
Clara stopped breathing.
May you like
“He was yours too.”
The phone slipped from her hand.
