Chapter 6: ## Chapter 6: The Secret My Mother Took to Her Grave
For several seconds: The Secret My Mother Took to Her Grave
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
My father stood across the conference table with one hand resting on the back of a chair. The, I couldn't move.
My father stood across the conference table with one hand resting on the back of a chair. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead. Beyond the glass walls, the office had gone dark, leaving only the reflections of our faces floating in the windows.
“Say that again,” I whispered.
Dad closed his eyes.
“Your fluorescent lights hummed overhead. Beyond the glass walls, the office had gone dark, leaving only the reflections of our faces floating in the windows.
“Say that again,” I whispered.
Dad closed his eyes.
“Your mother was trying to remove me as a beneficiary of the Eleanor Winslow Legacy Trust.””
I shook my head.
“No. That's not possible.””
“I wish it weren't.””
“My mother loved you.””
“She did.””
“Then why would she try to take you mother was trying to remove me as a beneficiary of the Eleanor Winslow Legacy Trust.””
I shook my head.
“No. That's not possible.””
“I wish it weren't.””
“My mother loved you.””
“She did.””
“Then why would she try to take you out of her inheritance?””
He pulled out the chair beside him and sat down.
“Because she discovered something about the trust that I hadn't told her.””
I remained standing.
“Did you steal from her?””
“No out of her inheritance?””
He pulled out the chair beside him and sat down.
“Because she discovered something about the trust that I hadn't told her.””
I remained standing.
“Did you steal from her?””
“No.””
“Did you lie to her?””
His silence lasted too long.
I gripped the edge of the table.
“Dad.””
“Yes,” he said finally.
“I lied to her.””
The admission seemed.””
“Did you lie to her?””
His silence lasted too long.
I gripped the edge of the table.
“Dad.””
“Yes,” he said finally.
“I lied to her.””
The admission seemed to change the temperature in the room.
My father had built an entire company on his reputation for honesty. He had taught me never to sign a document I hadn't read, never to make a promise I couldn't keep, and never to confuse a person's charm with their character.
Now he was telling me he'd lied to change the temperature in the room.
My father had built an entire company on his reputation for honesty. He had taught me never to sign a document I hadn't read, never to make a promise I couldn't keep, and never to confuse a person's charm with their character.
Now he was telling me he'd lied to my mother about something important enough to fracture their marriage.
“What did you lie about?””
He rubbed his face.
“Before you were born, your grandmother invested in a private shipping technology company called Meridian Systems. It developed software that eventually became essential to large-scale freight operations. Your grandmother acquired a substantial ownership to my mother about something important enough to fracture their marriage.
“What did you lie about?””
He rubbed his face.
“Before you were born, your grandmother invested in a private shipping technology company called Meridian Systems. It developed software that eventually became essential to large-scale freight operations. Your grandmother acquired a substantial ownership interest through the trust.””
“I know about Meridian. I thought she sold her shares.””
“She sold some of them. Not all.””
Dad looked at me.
“Years later, when Winslow Logistics was expanding, Meridian offered us a licensing agreement. I wanted interest through the trust.””
“I know about Meridian. I thought she sold her shares.””
“She sold some of them. Not all.””
Dad looked at me.
“Years later, when Winslow Logistics was expanding, Meridian offered us a licensing agreement. I wanted to buy the remaining shares. Your mother objected because the trust held them for you.””
“So you bought them anyway?””
“No. I borrowed against some of my own assets to finance an to buy the remaining shares. Your mother objected because the trust held them for you.””
“So you bought them anyway?””
“No. I borrowed against some of my own assets to finance an acquisition through a separate investment vehicle.””
“Did you disclose that to her?””
He lowered his eyes.
“Not initially.””
I stepped away from the table.
“You let her believe the trust was untouched?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I believed the acquisition would benefit our family. I thought I could acquisition through a separate investment vehicle.””
“Did you disclose that to her?””
He lowered his eyes.
“Not initially.””
I stepped away from the table.
“You let her believe the trust was untouched?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I believed the acquisition would benefit our family. I thought I could repay the borrowing before she discovered it.””
“But she did discover it.””
He nodded.
“And she believed I'd put your inheritance at risk.””
I stared at him.
“Had repay the borrowing before she discovered it.””
“But she did discover it.””
He nodded.
“And she believed I'd put your inheritance at risk.””
I stared at him.
“Had you?””
“Not intentionally. But I had made decisions without the trustee's full approval. Your mother believed that if the investment failed, the trust could become entangled in my business obligations.””
“Was you?””
“Not intentionally. But I had made decisions without the trustee's full approval. Your mother believed that if the investment failed, the trust could become entangled in my business obligations.””
“Was she right?””
Dad took a long breath.
“She had legitimate concerns.””
The room felt smaller.
My mother had died when I was seventeen. For nine years, I'd remembered her as the warm center of our family, she right?””
Dad took a long breath.
“She had legitimate concerns.””
The room felt smaller.
My mother had died when I was seventeen. For nine years, I'd remembered her as the warm center of our family, the woman who sang off-key while cooking dinner and left handwritten notes in my schoolbooks.
I'd never imagined that in the months before her death, she'd been preparing legal documents to protect herself and me from my father.
“Did she know about the the woman who sang off-key while cooking dinner and left handwritten notes in my schoolbooks.
I'd never imagined that in the months before her death, she'd been preparing legal documents to protect herself and me from my father.
“Did she know about the Ashworths?”” I asked.
“Not at first. Meridian later entered a commercial relationship with an Ashworth-controlled investment company. That's how their names became connected to the trust.””
“And Sebastian knew all of this?””
“I Ashworths?”” I asked.
“Not at first. Meridian later entered a commercial relationship with an Ashworth-controlled investment company. That's how their names became connected to the trust.””
“And Sebastian knew all of this?””
“I don't know what Sebastian knew. But his family had access to some of the old records.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Dad looked genuinely ashamed.
“Because I thought I was protecting you from a painful family history. Then, when don't know what Sebastian knew. But his family had access to some of the old records.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Dad looked genuinely ashamed.
“Because I thought I was protecting you from a painful family history. Then, when you began dating Sebastian, I was afraid that revealing the dispute would make you think I opposed him because of our past disagreements with his family.””
“So you let me fall in love with him without telling me there was a reason to be suspicious.””
“I didn't know he'd do this to you.””
“But you began dating Sebastian, I was afraid that revealing the dispute would make you think I opposed him because of our past disagreements with his family.””
“So you let me fall in love with him without telling me there was a reason to be suspicious.””
“I didn't know he'd do this to you.””
“But you knew his family had been involved in a dispute over my grandmother's trust.””
“Yes.””
I felt tears gathering in my eyes.
“You should have trusted me with the truth.””
He nodded.
“You're right.””
There was no defense in his you knew his family had been involved in a dispute over my grandmother's trust.””
“Yes.””
I felt tears gathering in my eyes.
“You should have trusted me with the truth.””
He nodded.
“You're right.””
There was no defense in his voice. No attempt to tell me I was too young or too emotional to understand.
That almost made it worse.
I had spent the day discovering that Sebastian had built a life around lies. Now I was learning that the voice. No attempt to tell me I was too young or too emotional to understand.
That almost made it worse.
I had spent the day discovering that Sebastian had built a life around lies. Now I was learning that the man I trusted most had concealed a truth because he thought he knew what was best for me.
“Did Mom's death have anything to do with the trust?”” I asked.
Dad's face changed.
“No.””
The answer man I trusted most had concealed a truth because he thought he knew what was best for me.
“Did Mom's death have anything to do with the trust?”” I asked.
Dad's face changed.
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
I stared at him.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you look terrified when you read that message?””
He looked toward the locked door.
“Because I know who might have sent it.””
“Who?””
“Richard Vale.””
The name from came too quickly.
I stared at him.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you look terrified when you read that message?””
He looked toward the locked door.
“Because I know who might have sent it.””
“Who?””
“Richard Vale.””
The name from Northstar's shareholder agreement.
“Sebastian's former CFO?””
Dad nodded.
“Richard was involved in the Meridian negotiations. He knew about my borrowing and your mother's objections. He was the person Northstar's shareholder agreement.
“Sebastian's former CFO?””
Dad nodded.
“Richard was involved in the Meridian negotiations. He knew about my borrowing and your mother's objections. He was the person who advised the Ashworths to pursue a formal interest in the trust.””
“Why who advised the Ashworths to pursue a formal interest in the trust.””
“Why would he send me those messages?””
“Because he may be trying to force me into making a mistake.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone seems to know what everyone else wants except me.””
Dad reached for my hand.
“I know I've failed you tonight.””
I let him hold it, but I didn't squeeze back.
“I need the whole truth,” I said.
“Not the version you think I can handle. All of it.””
He nodded.
“I'll would he send me those messages?””
“Because he may be trying to force me into making a mistake.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone seems to know what everyone else wants except me.””
Dad reached for my hand.
“I know I've failed you tonight.””
I let him hold it, but I didn't squeeze back.
“I need the whole truth,” I said.
“Not the version you think I can handle. All of it.””
He nodded.
“I'll give you everything I have.””
“Tomorrow?””
“Tonight.””
He unlocked the door and called Rebecca back into the room.
Within twenty minutes, our legal team had begun arranging an urgent meeting with Margaret Hale, the current trustee. Rebecca also requested the original documents relating to my mother's attempt to give you everything I have.””
“Tomorrow?””
“Tonight.””
He unlocked the door and called Rebecca back into the room.
Within twenty minutes, our legal team had begun arranging an urgent meeting with Margaret Hale, the current trustee. Rebecca also requested the original documents relating to my mother's attempt to amend the trust.
We weren't going to rely on messages from anonymous numbers.
We were going to find the records.
At two in the morning, I finally went home.
I removed my makeup in the bathroom, changed into an old sweatshirt, and sat on the edge of my bed. amend the trust.
We weren't going to rely on messages from anonymous numbers.
We were going to find the records.
At two in the morning, I finally went home.
I removed my makeup in the bathroom, changed into an old sweatshirt, and sat on the edge of my bed. My wedding dress still hung inside its garment bag near the wardrobe.
I couldn't bring myself to put it away.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Lavinia appeared.
Sebastian came to my apartment. He knows I gave you the documents.
I sat upright.
Are you safe?
Her response came immediately.
My wedding dress still hung inside its garment bag near the wardrobe.
I couldn't bring myself to put it away.
My phone vibrated.
A message from Lavinia appeared.
Sebastian came to my apartment. He knows I gave you the documents.
I sat upright.
Are you safe?
Her response came immediately.
For now. He took my bank cards and told me I was making a terrible mistake.
I called her.
She answered in a whisper.
“Genevieve?””
“Where are you?””
“At my apartment. The door is locked.””
“Did he hurt you?””
“No. He didn't touch me.””
“DidFor now. He took my bank cards and told me I was making a terrible mistake.
I called her.
She answered in a whisper.
“Genevieve?””
“Where are you?””
“At my apartment. The door is locked.””
“Did he hurt you?””
“No. He didn't touch me.””
“Did he threaten you?””
“He said he'd have me declared an unfit mother before the baby was born. He said he knows people who can make that happen.””
I closed my eyes.
“Have you contacted a lawyer?””
“Not yet.””
“Then call Rebecca. I'll send you her number. Don't meet Sebastian he threaten you?””
“He said he'd have me declared an unfit mother before the baby was born. He said he knows people who can make that happen.””
I closed my eyes.
“Have you contacted a lawyer?””
“Not yet.””
“Then call Rebecca. I'll send you her number. Don't meet Sebastian alone, and don't sign anything he gives you.””
Lavinia began crying.
“I don't know how I got here.””
I didn't offer her easy forgiveness.
“You got here one decision at a time. Now you have to decide what happens next.””
She was silent for a moment.
Then she said, “There's something I didn't alone, and don't sign anything he gives you.””
Lavinia began crying.
“I don't know how I got here.””
I didn't offer her easy forgiveness.
“You got here one decision at a time. Now you have to decide what happens next.””
She was silent for a moment.
Then she said, “There's something I didn't tell you at the conservatory.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What?””
“Richard Vale wasn't just Sebastian's financial adviser. He was the person who introduced Sebastian to the trust records.””
“How?””
“He said he'd tell you at the conservatory.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What?””
“Richard Vale wasn't just Sebastian's financial adviser. He was the person who introduced Sebastian to the trust records.””
“How?””
“He said he'd found an old letter from your grandmother. A letter that supposedly explained how the trust was meant to be divided.””
“Where is it?””
“I don't know. Sebastian kept it in his study.””
“Have you seen it?””
found an old letter from your grandmother. A letter that supposedly explained how the trust was meant to be divided.””
“Where is it?””
“I don't know. Sebastian kept it in his study.””
“Have you seen it?””
“Yes.””
“What did it say?””
“I only saw the first page. It mentioned your mother.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“Lavinia, listen carefully. If you know where that letter is, tell the attorney. Don't go looking for it yourself.””
“I understand.””
“And don't trust anything Sebastian tells you about your“Yes.””
“What did it say?””
“I only saw the first page. It mentioned your mother.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“Lavinia, listen carefully. If you know where that letter is, tell the attorney. Don't go looking for it yourself.””
“I understand.””
“And don't trust anything Sebastian tells you about your future.””
She gave a small, broken laugh.
“I don't think I could believe him if he told me the sky was blue.””
After we ended the call, I opened my laptop and searched my old photographs.
I found one from my eighteenth birthday: my mother and me sitting on the back steps of our house, sunlight future.””
She gave a small, broken laugh.
“I don't think I could believe him if he told me the sky was blue.””
After we ended the call, I opened my laptop and searched my old photographs.
I found one from my eighteenth birthday: my mother and me sitting on the back steps of our house, sunlight falling across our faces. She was wearing a pale blue blouse and her favorite silver earrings.
I enlarged the picture.
There was a small envelope on the table beside her.
On the falling across our faces. She was wearing a pale blue blouse and her favorite silver earrings.
I enlarged the picture.
There was a small envelope on the table beside her.
On the front, written in her unmistakable handwriting, were four words.
For Genevieve. When ready.
I had never noticed it before.
The photograph was dated two weeks before her death.
I stared at the envelope until the screen blurred.
front, written in her unmistakable handwriting, were four words.
For Genevieve. When ready.
I had never noticed it before.
The photograph was dated two weeks before her death.
I stared at the envelope until the screen blurred.
Then I called Dad.
He answered on the first ring.
“Sweetheart?””
“Did Mom leave me a letter?””
He didn't speak.
“Dad, I found a photograph. There's an envelope beside her.””
His breathing changed.
Finally, he said, “Yes.””
My heart pounded.
“Where is it?””
“Your grandmother asked me to keep it safeThen I called Dad.
He answered on the first ring.
“Sweetheart?””
“Did Mom leave me a letter?””
He didn't speak.
“Dad, I found a photograph. There's an envelope beside her.””
His breathing changed.
Finally, he said, “Yes.””
My heart pounded.
“Where is it?””
“Your grandmother asked me to keep it safe.””
“Where?””
“It's in my study, inside the locked cabinet behind the old account books.””
“Why didn't you give it to me?””
“Because your mother asked me to wait until you were ready.””
I swallowed.
“And who decided when I was ready?””
.””
“Where?””
“It's in my study, inside the locked cabinet behind the old account books.””
“Why didn't you give it to me?””
“Because your mother asked me to wait until you were ready.””
I swallowed.
“And who decided when I was ready?””
He had no answer.
I ended the call, put on my coat, and drove back to the office.
Dad was waiting in his study when I arrived. He opened the cabinet himself and removed a small creamHe had no answer.
I ended the call, put on my coat, and drove back to the office.
Dad was waiting in his study when I arrived. He opened the cabinet himself and removed a small cream envelope.
My name was written across the front in my mother's handwriting.
The paper had yellowed at the edges.
I took it with trembling fingers.
“Did you read it?”” I asked.
“Yes.””
“Did you hide anything from envelope.
My name was written across the front in my mother's handwriting.
The paper had yellowed at the edges.
I took it with trembling fingers.
“Did you read it?”” I asked.
“Yes.””
“Did you hide anything from me about what's inside?””
He looked at me for a long moment.
“I hope not.””
I broke the seal.
The letter was three pages long.
The first page contained the words I had spent nine me about what's inside?””
He looked at me for a long moment.
“I hope not.””
I broke the seal.
The letter was three pages long.
The first page contained the words I had spent nine years wishing I could hear again.
My darling girl, if you're reading this, I hope you've grown into a woman who knows that love should never require her to surrender her judgment.
I pressed the paper against years wishing I could hear again.
My darling girl, if you're reading this, I hope you've grown into a woman who knows that love should never require her to surrender her judgment.
I pressed the paper against my chest.
Then I continued reading.
Halfway down the second page, my mother's handwriting became hurried, as though she'd been writing against a deadline.
*There is something I need you to understand about the Ashworth my chest.
Then I continued reading.
Halfway down the second page, my mother's handwriting became hurried, as though she'd been writing against a deadline.
*There is something I need you to understand about the Ashworth family. If anyone ever tells you that our trust belongs to them, ask them to produce the original beneficiary deed. Do not accept copies. Do not accept assurances.
And above all, do not allow anyone to convince you that your father's mistakes family. If anyone ever tells you that our trust belongs to them, ask them to produce the original beneficiary deed. Do not accept copies.
Do not accept assurances. And above all, do not allow anyone to convince you that your father's mistakes make you responsible for his debts.*
I looked up.
Dad was staring at the floor.
I returned to the letter.
The final paragraph contained a name.
If Margaret Hale is still serving as trustee, ask her about the night Richard Vale came to our house. She knows why I changed make you responsible for his debts.
I looked up.
Dad was staring at the floor.
I returned to the letter.
The final paragraph contained a name.
If Margaret Hale is still serving as trustee, ask her about the night Richard Vale came to our house. She knows why I changed the locks on my study. She knows why I stopped trusting the people who claimed to be protecting our family.
Below the paragraph, my mother had written one final sentence.
And Genevieve, if you ever find yourself standing between the truth and the person you love, choose the truth. The right person will not ask you to destroy yourself the locks on my study. She knows why I stopped trusting the people who claimed to be protecting our family.
Below the paragraph, my mother had written one final sentence.
And Genevieve, if you ever find yourself standing between the truth and the person you love, choose the truth. The right person will not ask you to destroy yourself to keep them.
I lowered the letter.
My hands were shaking.
“Dad,” I whispered, “what happened the night Richard Vale came to our house?””
He sat down slowly.
“Your mother found documents suggesting that someone had tried to alter the trust's beneficiary records.””
“Who?””
“We never established that conclusively.””
“Did to keep them.*
I lowered the letter.
My hands were shaking.
“Dad,” I whispered, “what happened the night Richard Vale came to our house?””
He sat down slowly.
“Your mother found documents suggesting that someone had tried to alter the trust's beneficiary records.””
“Who?””
“We never established that conclusively.””
“Did you suspect Richard?””
“Yes.””
“Did you tell the police?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because Richard claimed the documents were preliminary drafts, and because your mother was already ill. I didn't you suspect Richard?””
“Yes.””
“Did you tell the police?””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because Richard claimed the documents were preliminary drafts, and because your mother was already ill. I didn't want to drag her through a legal battle.””
I stared at him.
“You let it go?””
“I believed the threat had passed.””
“And now Sebastian is using the same trust to build a company in my name.””
Dad want to drag her through a legal battle.””
I stared at him.
“You let it go?””
“I believed the threat had passed.””
“And now Sebastian is using the same trust to build a company in my name.””
Dad looked at the letter.
“Yes.””
My phone rang.
Rebecca.
I answered immediately.
“We've confirmed a meeting with Margaret Hale,” she said.
“She has agreed to bring the original trust records and the historical correspondence.””
“When?””
“Tomorrow morning.””
“Did she say anything about my mother?””
Rebecca paused looked at the letter.
“Yes.””
My phone rang.
Rebecca.
I answered immediately.
“We've confirmed a meeting with Margaret Hale,” she said.
“She has agreed to bring the original trust records and the historical correspondence.””
“When?””
“Tomorrow morning.””
“Did she say anything about my mother?””
Rebecca paused.
“Yes. She said there's something she should have told your family years ago.””
“What?””
“She wouldn't discuss it over the phone.””
I looked at my mother's letter.
The truth was.
“Yes. She said there's something she should have told your family years ago.””
“What?””
“She wouldn't discuss it over the phone.””
I looked at my mother's letter.
The truth was no longer buried in a distant past.
It was coming toward us.
And this time, I intended to hear every word.
no longer buried in a distant past.
May you like
It was coming toward us.
And this time, I intended to hear every word.
