Chapter 8 - The Dead Man Under the Mansion
The elevator opened onto a private medical room hidden beneath the mansion.
Charles Hartwell lay conscious in a hospital bed, weak but very much alive.
Victoria had declared him dead, held a funeral and kept him sedated while using forged signatures to transfer company control.
Charles looked at Emily and whispered, “I tried to bring your mother home.”
Emily did not offer forgiveness.
“You had twenty-eight years. You owned judges, newspapers and half this city. Do not call cowardice helplessness because you are lying in a hospital bed now.”
Charles admitted he benefited from the pension theft long after learning the truth.
He loved Anna, but continued protecting the Hartwell name because losing status frightened him more than losing integrity.
Only when Victoria targeted Emily did he finally prepare the original will.
Federal agents arrested Victoria, Dr. Price and the family notary.
Relatives who had insulted Emily began claiming they always doubted the widow.
Emily turned on them.
“You applauded her when you thought I was falling. Do not crawl toward me now because she is the one in handcuffs.”
Charles revealed that Anna was traveling to Boston to testify.
The mansion doors opened.
An older brunette entered carrying a worn leather case.
Emily recognized her mother from the photographs.
Anna looked at Charles, then at Daniel.
May you like
“I came to expose the will,” she said.
“But first, Emily deserves to know that Charles is not her father.”
