Chapter 7 - THE CHILD MARGARET GAVE AWAY.
The letter revealed Margaret gave birth to a son before Vivian married Charles. Unable to support him after Rosewood cut her wages, she placed the child with Elaine’s sister.
That child was Adrian’s late father, Michael Mercer.
Brittany and Adrian were not related by blood, but their families had concealed the connection because it gave Adrian a claim to the workers’ land.
Elaine had known Michael was Margaret’s son.
Adrian stared at her.
“You let me believe my father came from old money.”
“I let him decide when to tell you,” Elaine said. “He died before he found the courage.”
Rosa refused to let secrecy become sentimental.
“Every adult protected reputation. The children inherited confusion.”
The worker descendants voted that blood would not determine ownership. Shares would follow verified contributions, not surnames.
Then federal auditors found Michael had withdrawn from the medical fund years earlier.
The payment saved Adrian’s life after a childhood illness.
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Elaine had signed the withdrawal.
The family standing against stolen money had also benefited from it.
