Chapter 18 - THE TRUTH ABOUT MARGARET|
I confronted my mother the following morning.
Margaret was sitting in the breakfast room.
She looked older than she had the day before.
I placed Claire's letter on the table.
"Why did Claire write your name?"
Margaret stared at it.
Then she began crying.
"I never wanted to hurt her."
"That's not what I asked."
She looked toward the window.
"Claire discovered the first medication change. She confronted me before the delivery."
"What did you tell her?"
"That I was trying to protect her."
"From what?"
"Your father had left debts. The Hart family wanted control of several businesses. Anthony threatened to expose the family unless we cooperated."
"So you chose them over Claire."
"I chose the only path I believed would keep Noah alive."
I felt sick.
"You signed the guardianship petition."
"Yes."
"You paid Grace to disappear."
"Yes."
"You helped hide the medical records."
She nodded.
"Yes."
I stood.
"Why should I ever forgive you?"
Margaret covered her mouth.
"I don't expect you to."
For several moments, neither of us spoke.
Then she reached into a drawer and removed a small box.
Inside was a bracelet Claire had worn during her pregnancy.
"I found this in her hospital room after she died."
I recognized it immediately.
Claire had worn it every day.
Margaret pushed the box toward me.
"She gave it to me that morning."
My breath caught.
"Why?"
Margaret looked down.
"She asked me to promise that I would love Noah even if I never agreed with the life you chose."
I stared at the bracelet.
"Did she know what was going to happen?"
"I don't know."
Margaret wiped her eyes.
"She told me she was afraid. She asked me to stop Anthony. I should have listened."
I took the box.
Then I said something I had never imagined saying.
"You won't be allowed near Noah without supervision."
She nodded.
"And you will cooperate with the investigation."
"Yes."
"Every document. Every conversation. Every name."
"I will."
I turned toward the door.
"Luca."
I stopped.
Margaret's voice trembled.
"Does Noah still love me?"
I closed my eyes.
"He does."
She began crying.
"But loving you doesn't mean he has to be put in danger again."
I left.
That afternoon, the authorities confirmed that Vanessa's father had been arrested.
Anthony had agreed to testify.
The investigation was finally moving forward.
Then Marco delivered one more message.
Vanessa had requested to see me.
May you like
She claimed she possessed evidence that could clear Margaret of one final accusation.
And she said it involved Claire's last conscious decision.
