PAGE 5 — THE SECRET

Charlotte denied everything.

“That isn’t mine.”

Ruth stared at her.

She wasn’t convinced.

Later that night, Ruth found Charlotte standing alone in the hallway.

“Miss Charlotte.”

Charlotte turned.

“What?”

“You know something.”

Charlotte’s face changed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do.”

Ruth stepped closer.

“Your father was afraid of someone in this house.”

Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears.

“Please stop.”

“Why?”

“Because if you keep asking questions, you’ll get yourself killed.”

Ruth froze.

“Who are you afraid of?”

Charlotte looked toward the staircase.

Then she whispered:

“My brother.”

Ruth stared at her.

“Thomas?”

Charlotte nodded.

“He found out about the money.”

“What money?”

“The money Father hid.”

“What money?”

Charlotte looked directly at her.

“Mother’s inheritance.”

Ruth’s heart began pounding.

Eleanor had inherited a fortune from her own family.

But after her death years earlier, Edward had claimed the money had disappeared paying debts.

Charlotte had never believed him.

She had recently discovered bank records proving otherwise.

The money was still there.

Millions of dollars.

And Edward had secretly placed it in an account nobody knew existed.

Except someone had discovered it.

Someone had been taking money from that account.

Charlotte believed it was Thomas.

But Ruth knew something Charlotte didn’t.

Because Edward had already told her.

It wasn’t Thomas.

It was Eleanor.

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