PAGE 8 — THE FATHER RETURNS

Eleanor dropped the gun.

“Edward…”

He looked at her.

“You should have told me the truth.”

“I was protecting this family.”

“No.”

He shook his head.

“You were protecting the fortune.”

Thomas lowered his head.

“Father…”

Edward looked at him.

“And you.”

Thomas began crying.

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

“I know.”

Edward looked at Ruth.

“You found the box.”

She nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then you know everything.”

“Not everything.”

Edward smiled sadly.

“There is one final document.”

He walked toward the fireplace.

Then he reached behind a stone and removed another envelope.

He handed it to Ruth.

Inside was a legal document.

It transferred ownership of a large portion of the Whitmore estate to Ruth.

Not as charity.

Not as compensation.

As repayment for land stolen from her family generations earlier.

Ruth could barely speak.

“I can’t accept this.”

“You must.”

“Why?”

“Because it was always yours.”

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