Chapter 11 - The Lie Jonathan Told to Protect Her
The next morning, Grace walked into Jonathan Caldwell's office without an appointment.
His assistant looked startled.
"Miss Bennett, he's in a meeting."
"Then tell him I'm here."
Something in her voice made the assistant reach for the telephone.
Five minutes later, Jonathan appeared.
He immediately noticed her expression.
"Grace, what's wrong?"
She placed the hospital invoice on his desk.
"Did you pay for my mother's treatment?"
Jonathan stopped.
His eyes moved toward the document.
Then back to Grace.
"Yes."
Her throat tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He slowly closed the office door.
"Because it wasn't my place."
Grace stared.
"She died thinking we owed thousands of dollars."
Jonathan looked pained.
"I didn't know you were still receiving bills."
"Then what did you know?"
He sat down.
"Your mother came to me shortly before she became seriously ill."
Grace's heart pounded.
"About Victoria?"
"About the foundation."
He nodded toward the photograph on his desk.
Richard Caldwell smiled beside a younger Jonathan.
"Eleanor showed me evidence that charitable funds were being diverted. She said my father had trusted her with the original documents."
"Did you believe her?"
Jonathan hesitated.
"Not completely."
Grace felt cold.
"Why?"
"Because Victoria had spent months convincing me Eleanor was dishonest."
Grace turned away.
Jonathan continued.
"Then I discovered Eleanor was receiving medical treatment she couldn't afford. I contacted the foundation's administrators and arranged emergency assistance."
Grace looked back.
"Did you tell Victoria?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because by then, I was beginning to suspect she had been lying."
Grace swallowed.
"Then why didn't you help Mom expose her?"
Jonathan looked devastated.
"I tried to arrange another meeting. Eleanor's condition deteriorated before it happened."
Grace sat down.
Her anger hadn't disappeared.
But now she understood more.
Jonathan had been uncertain.
Confused.
Manipulated.
And slow to recognize what was happening.
His hesitation had consequences.
But it didn't mean he wanted Eleanor hurt.
"I wish you'd believed her sooner," Grace whispered.
Jonathan nodded.
"So do I."
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then he opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.
"Your mother gave me this during our last meeting."
Grace stared.
"What's inside?"
"I haven't opened it."
"Why?"
"She told me to keep it sealed unless Victoria tried to destroy the foundation."
Grace looked at him.
"She already has."
Jonathan nodded.
He handed her the envelope.
Grace examined her mother's handwriting.
For Jonathan, when the truth becomes impossible to ignore.
Her hands shook as she broke the seal.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Jonathan, I know you love your father.
I know you want to believe your wife is the woman you thought you married.
But some truths cannot be buried without hurting innocent people.
Grace's eyes filled.
She continued.
Your father discovered something about Victoria shortly before he died.
Jonathan leaned forward.
Grace's breathing quickened.
He was not the first wealthy man whose family foundation she tried to control.
A photograph slipped from the envelope.
It showed Victoria standing beside a much older man at a charity event.
Jonathan frowned.
"Who's that?"
Grace turned the photograph over.
A name was written beneath it.
Arthur Sterling.
The date was twelve years earlier.
Jonathan stared.
"Victoria told me she'd never been married before."
Grace looked toward Rebecca, who had joined them by telephone.
Rebecca's voice became serious.
"Arthur Sterling died shortly after establishing a charitable trust."
A terrible silence followed.
Then Grace read her mother's final sentence.
Jonathan, your wife has been using another identity.
May you like
And beneath it, Eleanor had written Victoria's original name.
Vivian Sterling.
