Chapter 7 - THE GRANDFATHER THEY CALLED DEAD.
Daniel Brooks entered under police protection.
He had spent years working as a driver for the Hawthornes while secretly collecting evidence. Claire told everyone he was dead after Victoria threatened to prosecute him for theft.
Alexander’s anger turned toward Claire.
“You let me mourn a man who was alive.”
Claire did not defend the lie.
“I believed knowing would make you confront your mother before we were ready.”
Daniel Brooks answered, “We protected the case and abandoned the husband.”
Emma clung to the backpack.
“You all kept secrets because adults thought I could not handle truth.”
The child advocate moved her away from the argument and let her choose who remained nearby.
Daniel Brooks opened a hidden seam in the backpack. Inside were rent receipts and recordings of Victoria instructing staff to provoke Claire during evaluations.
But one recording carried Alexander’s voice.
“Keep Claire away from Emma until the estate vote is secured.”
Alexander went pale.
May you like
“I never said that.”
The metadata showed the recording came from his private office.
