Chapter 6 - THE SECRET HIDDEN IN HER MOTHER'S BOOKS
The next clue came from the library.
My mother had left behind a collection of botanical books.
My father rarely entered that section.
He considered gardening a frivolous hobby.
I found a volume titled The Gardens of Northern Italy.
Inside, several pages had been marked with pressed flowers.
At first, I thought they were sentimental.
Then I noticed numbers written beneath them.
Dates.
Account references.
And initials.
I photographed the pages and took them to an attorney William recommended—but whom I hired independently.
Her name was Rebecca Shaw.
She specialized in trusts and financial fraud.
Rebecca examined the documents.
Then looked at me.
“Clare, these may be references to accounts your mother controlled.”
I swallowed.
“Accounts?”
She nodded.
“Possibly substantial ones.”
My heart pounded.
Rebecca continued.
“We need to verify everything through lawful records. But if these documents are authentic, your father may have concealed assets belonging to you.”
I stared.
For years, my father had told me I was dependent on his generosity.
He'd controlled my allowance.
My clothes.
My education.
Even which rooms I was allowed to enter.
Now I wondered whether he'd been living on money that was supposed to be mine.
Rebecca looked at me.
“Clare, do you understand what this could mean?”
I nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
She leaned forward.
“What?”
May you like
I swallowed.
“It means I might finally be able to leave.”
