Chapter 10 - THE MOTHER WHO CONTROLLED EVERYTHING
Margaret looked at the photograph.
Then at her son.
"You're making a terrible mistake."
Adam didn't move.
"Where is it?"
She stood.
"How dare you question me?"
Adam felt something inside him break.
For forty years, he'd allowed his mother to control the story of his life.
She chose his schools.
His friends.
His first job.
She had criticized Evelyn.
Disapproved of Clara.
And after Evelyn died, she had slowly taken control of the household.
Adam had mistaken her certainty for wisdom.
Now he saw something else.
Fear.
"Did you take the necklace?" he asked.
Margaret looked away.
"It belongs to the Hamilton family."
"It belonged to Evelyn."
"She married into this family."
Adam's jaw tightened.
"She was my wife."
Margaret laughed bitterly.
"And she nearly ruined you."
Adam stared.
"What?"
Margaret turned toward him.
"Evelyn wanted to give away half the family fortune."
Adam shook his head.
"She wanted to establish a children's hospital fund."
"She wanted to make you weak."
Adam looked at the photograph.
"Why did you hide the necklace?"
Margaret's eyes filled with angry tears.
"Because you were going to give it to Idan."
Adam frowned.
"He's my son."
"And then Clara would influence him."
Adam stared.
"Clara?"
Margaret's voice rose.
"That woman was replacing Evelyn. He loved her more than he loved me."
The truth emerged slowly.
Margaret had not stolen the necklace for money.
She had hidden it to frame Clara.
She wanted Clara removed from the household.
She wanted Idan dependent on her.
And she wanted Adam to stop questioning her authority.
Adam stepped backward.
"You destroyed an innocent woman's life."
Margaret's expression hardened.
"I protected this family."
Adam shook his head.
"No."
May you like
His voice broke.
"You protected your control over it."
