The Necklace That Exposed My Mother's Twenty-Year Secret

I couldn't stop staring at the photograph.

My grandfather, Arthur Bennett, had died when I was four.

At least, that was what my mother had always told me.

I remembered a funeral with white flowers, a closed casket, and Patricia holding my hand while I cried because everyone else was crying.

I remembered asking why I couldn't see him.

She had said he was too badly injured.

Now I was looking at a photograph taken less than a year ago.

The same man stood beside my mother and my husband.

Alive.

Edward took the photograph from my hand.

"Where was this taken?""

Eleanor pointed to the sign behind them.

"The Hawthorne Hotel. Boston.""

"When?""

"Last November.""

I looked at the date again.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?""

"I did. I sent copies to the attorney handling my case.""

"Did they respond?""

"Not directly.""

Edward frowned.

"Who was the attorney?""

Eleanor looked uncomfortable.

"Martin Cole.""

Margaret immediately reached for her phone.

"Martin Cole was Daniel's attorney.""

I turned toward her.

"You knew him?""

"He represented your father for years. He also handled several matters involving the Bennett family.""

Edward shook his head.

"That man was supposed to help us find Eleanor.""

Margaret's expression became serious.

"Then we need to find out whether he was helping your father or working against him.""

I stood.

"I want to call Richard.""

Edward immediately shook his head.

"No.""

"He's involved. My grandfather is supposedly dead, and now there's a photograph of him standing beside my husband.""

"Which is exactly why you shouldn't warn him that we have evidence.""

I paced toward the window.

"My daughter is at preschool. Richard knows where she is. What if he goes there?""

Edward took out his phone.

"I'll have someone contact the school and make sure only authorized people can collect Lily.""

I turned toward him.

"Thank you.""

Eleanor reached for my hand.

"Emily, I need you to understand something. Richard didn't marry you by accident.""

I stopped.

"What does that mean?""

She looked toward Edward.

Then back at me.

"Your father had money, but he also had control of several properties that belonged to my family. When he died, those properties were supposed to transfer into your trust.""

I sat down slowly.

"So Richard married me for the inheritance?""

"That's what I believe.""

"But he didn't know about the necklace until yesterday.""

"Perhaps not. But he knew who you were.""

I shook my head.

"How?""

Eleanor opened the lockbox again.

This time, she removed a small newspaper clipping.

It was from a local paper.

The headline read:

*LOCAL WOMAN WEDS SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPER IN PRIVATE CEREMONY*

Beneath it was a photograph of Richard and me on our wedding day.

But the article had been published before our wedding.

I frowned.

"That's impossible.""

Eleanor tapped the date.

"Look at the publication date.""

I did.

It was three weeks before Richard proposed.

"How did they know?""

"Because the wedding was planned long before you knew it was happening.""

My mouth went dry.

"Who arranged it?""

Eleanor looked at me.

"Patricia.""

I remembered the wedding.

The dress my mother insisted I wear.

The venue she selected.

The guest list she controlled.

Richard had proposed during a family dinner, saying he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.

I had believed every word.

Now I wondered whether the proposal had been another business transaction.

My phone vibrated.

A message from Lily's preschool.

Mrs. Bennett, a man identifying himself as Lily's grandfather has requested permission to pick her up early. We have not released her.

I stared at the screen.

"Grandfather?""

I called immediately.

A teacher answered.

"Mrs. Bennett, we're glad you called. The gentleman became upset when we asked for identification.""

"What did he look like?""

"Older man. Gray hair. A scar on his right hand.""

The photograph slipped from my fingers.

Arthur Bennett.

My supposedly dead grandfather.

I looked at Edward.

"He knows where Lily is.""

Edward was already moving.

"Get your coat.""

Margaret grabbed the lockbox.

Eleanor stood, her face drained of color.

"Emily, listen to me. If Arthur is back, we cannot let him near Lily.""

We hurried outside.

Edward called his driver and instructed him to take us to the preschool.

During the drive, I called Richard.

He answered on the first ring.

"Finally.""

"Did you send someone to Lily's school?""

A pause.

"What are you talking about?""

"An older man tried to collect her. He had a scar on his right hand.""

Richard went silent.

Then he laughed.

"Emily, you're losing your mind.""

"Who is Arthur Bennett?""

Another pause.

"Your grandfather is dead.""

"Then why was he at Lily's school?""

Richard's voice became sharp.

"Listen to me carefully. Don't let that woman fill your head with lies. Come home. Now.""

"Did you know my grandfather was alive?""

"Emily—"

"Answer me!""

He exhaled.

"Your grandfather is a dangerous man. You don't know what he did.""

"What did he do?""

Richard lowered his voice.

"Ask your mother why she needed him to make Eleanor disappear.""

The call ended.

I stared at my phone.

Eleanor was sitting beside me, gripping the seat.

"Did he say something?""

I looked at her.

"He said you needed Arthur to make you disappear.""

Her face changed.

For a moment, she looked as if she might faint.

Then she shook her head.

"No. That's not true.""

"Mom, tell me what happened.""

She looked out the window.

"I was afraid of him.""

"Why?""

"Because Arthur didn't just control the family business. He controlled Patricia. And when she realized I was going to expose what they'd done, she begged him for help.""

Eleanor covered her mouth.

"I thought he was going to kill me.""

The car slowed as we approached the preschool.

Edward pointed toward the entrance.

A black SUV was parked across the street.

A man stood beside it.

Gray hair.

Dark coat.

A scar on his right hand.

He was watching the building.

Edward told the driver to keep moving.

But the man saw us.