Chapter 7 - THE MAN WHO KNEW MY NAME|
Grant's father, Gideon Whitmore, had been dead for three years.
He had died in a private clinic in Switzerland, leaving behind a complicated estate and a reputation for controlling every person who worked for him.
I had attended his funeral.
I had stood beside Grant while he accepted condolences.
I had listened to people describe Gideon as a brilliant businessman and a devoted family man.
Now I was reading a note that suggested he had known my identity before I did.
“Who found this?” I asked.
Daniel pointed to the document.
“It was in a sealed estate file. The attorney who held it retired last year. His successor located it during the audit.”
“Did Grant know about it?”
“We don't know.”
I looked at Holly.
“Can we contact the attorney?”
“He's already agreed to meet us.”
The meeting took place that afternoon in a quiet office near the courthouse.
The retired attorney, Malcolm Reeves, was in his seventies. He wore a dark suit and spoke carefully.
When he saw my birth name, his expression changed.
“I wondered whether this day would come.”
“You knew who I was?”
“I knew Arthur had a granddaughter who had been adopted. I did not know where you were.”
“Did you tell Gideon?”
He nodded.
“He was the executor. I was legally required to notify him of any development concerning the estate.”
“And what did he say?”
Malcolm looked down.
“He said he would handle it.”
“Did he?”
“No.”
The attorney opened a leather case.
Inside was a sealed envelope with my name written across it.
“Arthur left this for you. He instructed me to deliver it if you were ever located and could be contacted independently of the family.”
I took it.
The paper had yellowed with age.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
My dear granddaughter,
If you are reading this, I have not lived long enough to find you. I hope you were raised by people who loved you without asking what you could give them. That is all I ever wanted for you.
I stopped.
Holly placed a hand on my shoulder.
I continued.
There is money in the trust, but that is not what I want you to inherit. I want you to have the freedom to choose your life. No husband, parent, or business partner should be able to use your name to control you.
The letter continued for another page.
Then came the sentence that made me cry.
If you have a child of your own, make sure that child grows up knowing love is never something that must be earned.
I folded the letter.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Malcolm waited.
Finally, I asked, “Did Grant know about this letter?”
“I don't know. Gideon collected the estate documents after Arthur's death.”
“Could he have destroyed the rest?”
“He could have tried.”
Holly leaned forward.
“Were there any other copies?”
Malcolm nodded.
“Arthur's private attorney kept a duplicate record in a secure archive. It may still exist.”
“Where?”
“Providence.”
Daniel looked at me.
“We can retrieve it.”
I nodded.
Then Malcolm said something else.
“There is one more matter. Arthur was concerned about the possibility that the trust could be challenged if his granddaughter had a child outside the Whitmore family.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because Gideon believed the inheritance should remain under Whitmore control.”
I looked at Holly.
“Eli is my son.”
Malcolm nodded.
“And under the original trust, Eli is the next protected beneficiary.”
I felt the room go cold.
Grant had known that.
May you like
He had known our son was connected to the trust.
And he had still allowed him to wait for blood.
