Chapter 9 - THE CHILD THEY BOTH WANTED
The photograph changed everything.
My father stared at it.
Robert looked away.
“Your mother didn't know?”
I shook my head.
Robert sighed.
“Eleanor had been involved with your father before either of them married.”
My stomach twisted.
“That isn't possible.”
“It happened.”
He explained that Eleanor had known my father possessed a fortune tied to medical patents.
She wanted access.
But my father refused.
Then I was born.
Eleanor became obsessed with controlling the inheritance.
She believed my father would eventually leave everything to me.
So she manipulated Jason.
She encouraged him to marry me.
Not for love.
For access.
But Jason had not expected to fall in love with me.
“He was supposed to divorce you after gaining control of the trust,” Robert said.
My chest tightened.
“But he didn't.”
“No.”
He had delayed.
Again and again.
Until Eleanor threatened him.
She threatened me.
She threatened everyone.
That was why Jason became increasingly controlling.
He believed he could protect me by controlling every part of my life.
He was wrong.
Completely wrong.
But the truth was more complicated than I wanted it to be.
He had loved me.
And he had still destroyed me.
Robert handed me another document.
“This is the original trust.”
I read the final clause.
If any beneficiary attempted to defraud another beneficiary, all assets would be transferred to an independent trustee.
The trustee's name was mine.
I looked at Daniel.
“What does this mean?”
He smiled.
“It means Jason can't take the company.”
My father added quietly:
“Neither can Eleanor.”
We returned to court the next morning.
The judge reviewed everything.
Eleanor was summoned.
She arrived surrounded by attorneys.
She looked at me.
Then at Jason.
Then at Robert.
For the first time in my life, I saw genuine fear on her face.
The judge ordered the financial accounts frozen.
Federal investigators entered the courtroom.
Eleanor stood.
“This is a misunderstanding.”
Robert laughed bitterly.
“No, Eleanor.”
She turned toward him.
“You should have stayed dead.”
The room went silent.
The judge looked at her.
“Mrs. Mitchell, you are warned.”
But Eleanor's mask had fallen.
She pointed at Jason.
“He betrayed me!”
Jason stared at her.
“You betrayed everyone.”
Eleanor looked at me.
Then she smiled.
“You think you've won?”
I didn't answer.
She leaned closer.
“There is one thing your father never told you.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
Her smile widened.
“Your mother didn't die naturally.”
The courtroom went silent.
May you like
And Eleanor whispered:
“I know who killed her.”
