Chapter 6: The Secret They Buried With Her
“The reason was you.””
Grant could barely breathe.
Outside the shattered cottage window, the night was silent again.
No footsteps.
No engine.
No second shot.
Only the faint ringing in his ears and Emily’s breathing on the phone.
“What does that mean?”” Grant asked.
Her voice was unsteady.
“It means they were never trying to steal your company.””
Grant looked at Vanessa.
She was still crouched on the floor, surrounded by broken glass.
“They wanted something from me.””
“What?””
Emily hesitated.
“Something your father left behind.””
Grant’s eyes narrowed.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
“My father has been dead for twelve years.””
“I know.””
“Then what could he possibly have left behind?””
“A record.””
Grant’s expression changed.
“What record?””
“The original Ashford inheritance agreement.””
He stared at the phone.
“That document doesn't exist.””
Emily gave a quiet, humorless laugh.
“That’s what they wanted you to believe.””
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“Grant, don’t listen to her.””
He looked at her.
Emily heard her voice through the phone.
“Vanessa is there?””
Grant nodded before realizing she couldn't see him.
“Yes.””
“Then leave.””
“I’m not leaving.””
“Grant, please.””
“You’ve been dead for five years.””
Silence.
Then Emily said softly, “I know.””
His throat tightened.
“I buried an empty coffin?””
“Yes.””
“You let me believe you died.””
“I didn’t have a choice.””
“You always had a choice.””
The words came out broken.
“You could have called.””
“I tried.””
“You could have come home.””
“I tried!””
Her voice cracked.
Grant shut his eyes.
On the other side of the room, Vanessa lowered her head.
Emily took a breath.
“I was afraid they would kill Leo.””
Grant opened his eyes.
“They were threatening him?””
“They were threatening both of us.””
“Who?””
Emily was quiet for several seconds.
“Daniel.””
Grant looked at Vanessa.
“And my father’s attorney.””
Grant frowned.
“He died years ago.””
“No.””
Emily’s voice became almost a whisper.
“He didn't.””
The room seemed to tilt.
Grant stared at the broken window.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying the man who handled your father’s estate is alive.””
Vanessa stood abruptly.
“Grant, we have to go.””
He raised one hand.
“Who?””
Emily gave him a name.
Grant’s face went blank.
It was a name he had not heard since childhood.
“Richard Vale.””
Vanessa looked sick.
Grant slowly lowered the phone.
“Richard Vale died in a boating accident.””
Emily said, “That was another lie.””
Grant drove back to the main house with Vanessa in the passenger seat.
Neither spoke.
Clara waited in the foyer with Leo wrapped in a blanket.
The child ran to Grant the second he entered.
“Daddy!””
Grant dropped to his knees.
Leo jumped into his arms.
Grant held him so tightly that the boy squeaked.
“Easy,” Clara said gently.
“You're crushing him.””
Grant loosened his grip.
“Sorry.””
Leo rested his head against his shoulder.
“Where were you?””
“I had to find something.””
“Did you find Mommy?””
Grant looked at Clara.
She understood immediately.
“No,” he said to Leo.
Not yet.
He couldn't tell him.
Not like this.
Grant stood.
“Clara, take Leo upstairs.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“No.””
Clara turned.
Vanessa’s eyes were fixed on Leo.
“You can't keep him from me.””
Grant moved between them.
“You’re done making decisions for him.””
Vanessa’s face hardened.
“He is my son.””
“You tied him to a post.””
“I made a mistake.””
“You lied to me for five years.””
“I was protecting him.””
“From his own mother?””
Vanessa flinched.
Clara looked at Grant.
“Do you know where she is?””
“Yes.””
“Is she safe?””
Grant hesitated.
“I don't know.””
Clara lowered her voice.
“Then we need to find her.””
Grant nodded.
Before he could answer, the house lights went out.
Leo screamed.
Clara grabbed him.
“Stay with me.””
The security alarm began to chirp.
Once.
Twice.
Then silence.
Grant reached for his phone flashlight.
“Everyone stay here.””
A noise came from the dining room.
Glass breaking.
Then footsteps.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Coming toward them.
Vanessa whispered, “He found us.””
Grant turned.
“Who?””
She didn’t answer.
The footsteps stopped.
A man’s voice came from the darkness.
“You should have listened to your wife.””
Grant froze.
He knew that voice.
Daniel.
Clara pulled Leo behind the staircase.
Grant stepped toward the sound.
“Come out.””
A figure moved across the doorway.
Then vanished.
Grant ran after him.
He entered the dining room.
Empty.
The back door stood open.
Cold air poured inside.
On the dining table sat a small wooden box.
Grant stopped.
The box from the nursery.
He approached carefully.
A white envelope rested on top.
His name was written across it.
*GRANT ASHFORD*
He opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
The handwriting was unmistakably his father’s.
Grant recognized it instantly.
His fingers shook.
*To my son,*
*If you are reading this, then someone has already tried to manipulate the truth about your family.*
Grant read the next sentence.
His heart hammered.
*There is one thing I never told you about your mother, your brother, and the child who carries the Ashford name.*
Grant looked toward the hallway.
Leo was standing there now.
Clara had one arm around him.
Vanessa remained frozen near the stairs.
Grant continued.
*Blood is not the only thing that determines an heir.*
A second page was attached.
*The true heir is whoever can prove the original agreement was never altered.*
Grant frowned.
“What agreement?””
Vanessa whispered, “Don't read it.””
Grant looked at her.
“Why?””
She said nothing.
He turned back.
At the bottom of the page was a handwritten note.
*The original document is hidden where your first wife gave birth.*
Grant stopped.
Clara looked confused.
“Where?””
Grant stared at the words.
Emily had given birth to Leo in a private maternity clinic outside the city.
A place Grant had never visited.
Because Vanessa had told him Emily was transferred directly to the hospital after complications.
But what if that had also been a lie?
Grant suddenly understood something.
The story of Leo's birth wasn't missing.
It had been replaced.
He looked at Vanessa.
“You told me Leo was born at St. Mary's.””
Vanessa said nothing.
“Was he?””
Her silence answered him.
Grant stepped closer.
“Where was he born?””
“Grant…”
“Where?””
Vanessa backed away.
“I can't.””
“You can.””
“No.””
“Tell me.””
She shook her head.
“If I tell you, Daniel will kill us.””
Grant stared.
“Who is ‘us’?””
Vanessa looked at Leo.
The boy stood perfectly still.
Clara moved closer to him.
Vanessa whispered, “Everyone who knows.””
Grant’s phone rang.
Emily.
He answered immediately.
“Emily?””
Her breathing was fast.
“Grant, listen to me.””
“Where are you?””
“I can't tell you.””
“Then tell me where Leo was born.””
Silence.
“You found the box.””
“How do you know?””
“Because Daniel is looking for it too.””
Grant looked down at the wooden box.
“What's inside?””
“Proof.””
“Proof of what?””
Emily’s voice trembled.
“That Leo is legally yours.””
Grant frowned.
“I already know he’s my son.””
“No.””
She paused.
“I mean something else.””
Grant waited.
Emily whispered:
“Leo was not born from the marriage certificate they showed you.””
Grant’s face tightened.
“What does that mean?””
“It means your marriage to me was never legally dissolved.””
Grant stopped breathing.
“What?””
Emily continued.
“They forged the divorce papers.””
Grant stared at Vanessa.
She closed her eyes.
“So when you married Vanessa…”
Emily's voice broke.
“You were still legally married to me.””
Nobody moved.
Not Clara.
Not Vanessa.
Not Grant.
Leo looked between them, confused.
“Daddy?””
Grant couldn't answer.
Emily spoke one last time.
“And that isn't even the worst part.””
Grant gripped the phone.
“What could possibly be worse?””
A long silence.
Then Emily whispered:
“Vanessa knew you were still my husband.””
Grant looked at Vanessa.
Her eyes were full of tears.
Emily continued.
“And she married you anyway.””
The call suddenly went dead.
Grant stared at the screen.
Then the wooden box on the table began to vibrate.
A phone had been hidden inside it.
It rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Grant opened the box.
Inside was an old photograph, a flash drive, and a second phone.
The screen lit up.
May you like
One message appeared.
*ASK VANESSA WHO SHE KILLED TO MAKE THIS MARRIAGE POSSIBLE.*
