Chapter 6 - THE LETTER IN THE OLD DESK
The first real clue came from Margaret.
She had been cleaning Claire's old writing desk when she discovered a sealed envelope hidden beneath a drawer.
It was addressed to Cole.
In Claire's handwriting.
Margaret brought it to him immediately.
Cole stared at the envelope for a long time.
Then opened it.
Inside was a letter.
Cole,
If you're reading this, something has gone wrong.
I know you've always trusted Daniel.
But there are things about the business you need to see.
I found payments connected to people who should never have been near our family.
I copied what I could.
I hid the most important information where Noah would never think to look.
Please don't let anyone convince you that I'm imagining things.
And whatever happens, tell our son I love him.
Cole stopped reading.
His hands trembled.
Marcus stood beside him.
“Boss?”
Cole looked up.
His eyes were wet.
“She knew.”
Marcus frowned.
“Knew what?”
Cole stared at the letter.
“That someone was lying to me.”
Elena found Cole later that evening.
He sat alone in the library.
The letter lay open on the desk.
She approached quietly.
“Sir?”
He looked up.
“She tried to warn me.”
Elena didn't speak.
Cole continued.
“I didn't listen.”
His voice broke.
“She told me Daniel was hiding something, and I told her she was worrying over nothing.”
Elena sat opposite him.
“You couldn't have known.”
He shook his head.
“I should have.”
She looked at the letter.
Then said gently:
“Regret won't change what happened.”
Cole closed his eyes.
“But listening now might change what happens next.”
May you like
He looked at her.
And for the first time, he nodded.
