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Chapter 17 - HANNAH FOUND ANOTHER ROOMMonths later, renovation resumed.

With police clearance.

Hannah found a second concealed archive room.

This one held paper.

Not a person.

Arthur Sr.’s journals.

Old board minutes.

Eleanor’s letters.

They confirmed something painful.

Arthur Sr. knew Charles was Edward’s son before Edward died.

He still loved Charles.

Raised him.

Paid for his education.

Called him son.

But he also used the secret strategically.

One journal entry read:

If Charles learns he is Vale’s boy, he may believe the Vale shares were stolen from him. Better he inherit as Blackwood and never know.

Arthur stared at that line.

There it was again.

Protection through ignorance.

One generation teaching the next.

Arthur Sr. hid truth from Charles.

Charles hid truth from Arthur.

Victoria hid Julian.

Everyone convinced themselves another person’s choices were too dangerous to permit.

May you like

The family disease was not blood.

It was control.

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