Chapter 3 — The Last Letter
Margaret's hands shook so violently she nearly dropped the watch.
The engraved initials inside the cover confirmed everything.
H.A.
Henry Ashford.
She opened the watch.
Instead of a photograph...
There was a tiny folded letter hidden beneath the inner cover.
Henry had altered the watch years ago.
Only Margaret knew the secret compartment existed.
With trembling fingers, she unfolded the paper.
"My family,
If you are reading this, I have already run out of time.
The greatest mistake of my life was believing reputation mattered more than love.
Oliver is my grandson.
His mother never lied to me.
I simply learned the truth far too late.
Margaret...
You made a terrible choice years ago.
But today I ask one final thing.
Do not make the same mistake twice.
Bring my family home."
By the time Margaret reached the last sentence, tears streamed freely down her face.
She turned toward the funeral guests.
Business executives.
Politicians.
Family members.
People who had admired Henry for decades.
None of them knew the truth.
Margaret stood beside the casket.
For the first time in her life...
She chose honesty.
"In front of all of you," she said, her voice breaking, "I need to confess something."
Every eye fixed on her.
"I stole thirty-two years from my own brother."
Gasps rippled across the chapel.
"I kept his grandson away from him."
She gently placed a hand on Oliver's shoulder.
"This little boy is Henry Ashford's only living descendant."
May you like
Silence swallowed the room.
Then several mourners quietly began to cry.
