Chapter 2

Daniel stared at the photo like it had been pulled from a grave.

His eyes moved from Elena’s face to mine.

Then to Leo, who was still crying into my shoulder.

“You’re Elena’s sister?”

I nodded.

My cheek burned.

My hand shook around Leo’s back.

“Yes.”

Margaret recovered first.

“She is lying.”

The lawyer, Mr. Hayes, looked at her.

“No, Mrs. Whitmore. She is not.”

Daniel turned slowly toward his mother.

“You knew?”

Margaret lifted her chin.

“I knew Elena had a sister. That does not mean this woman had any right to sneak into my house.”

“Your house?” I asked.

Her eyes cut to me.

“This family’s house.”

Leo whimpered.

I stepped back.

Daniel noticed.

For the first time, I saw shame move across his face.

Not enough.

But real.

Mr. Hayes placed the photo on the table and pulled out another document.

“I came today because Elena left instructions in her estate file.”

Margaret snapped, “That file is closed.”

“No,” Mr. Hayes said. “It was hidden.”

Daniel’s face tightened.

“Hidden by who?”

No one answered.

I looked at Margaret.

She looked away.

That told me more than words.

Mr. Hayes continued.

“Elena wrote that if anything happened to her, Clara was to be contacted immediately and given access to Leo.”

Daniel’s lips parted.

“I never saw that.”

“I know,” Mr. Hayes said.

“Because someone removed the page before probate.”

Margaret laughed.

“This is absurd.”

I reached into my apron pocket and pulled out the letter I had carried every day.

The last letter Elena ever sent me.

The one that arrived two weeks after she died because it had been mailed through a neighbor.

I handed it to Daniel.

His hands shook when he opened it.

Clara, if I stop calling, don’t believe I forgot you. Margaret is turning Daniel against me. She says I’m unstable. She says if I try to leave, she’ll take Leo. Please find him. Please don’t let my baby grow up alone.

Daniel sat down.

All the strength left his body.

Margaret lunged for the paper.

Mr. Hayes blocked her.

“Do not touch evidence.”

“Evidence?” Daniel whispered.

May you like

THE DAUGHTER THEY HUMILIATED WAS THE ONE PAYING THEIR BILLS

The woman who had just ordered me to eat in the bathroom was wearing a diamond bracelet I had bought her. And seventy people had...

MY BILLIONAIRE HUSBAND GAVE MY BOARDROOM CHAIR TO HIS MISTRESS, STOLE MY...

“Sign the papers, Leah. You're no longer useful to this company, and frankly, you're becoming an embarrassment to me.”” My husban...

My Mother Stole My Cake for My Sister—But One Question at the Competitio...

“Gloria, is that the cake your daughter made?”” The question came from a woman standing near the registration desk. My mother st...

Mr. Hayes looked at him.

“Yes. Because Elena’s death may need to be reopened.”