Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT THE HOUSE OPENED ITS DOORS
Robert returned to the estate two days later and found the west wing unlocked.
He went straight to Daniel's office.
“What have you done?”
Daniel looked up from the documents.
“Good evening, Uncle.”
“Don't play games with me. You opened the archive.”
“Yes.”
“You had no right.”
“It belonged to my father.”
“It belongs to the family.”
“Then why did you hide it?”
Robert slammed a hand against the desk.
“You have no idea what is in those files.”
“I know about Northbridge. I know about Vale Medical. I know about the transfers from the children's fund.”
Robert's face darkened.
“You think a few bank statements tell you the whole story?”
“They tell me enough.”
“Your father was going to bankrupt us.”
“He was trying to stop you from stealing.”
Robert laughed bitterly.
“Stealing? I kept this estate running. I kept the foundation alive. I paid the staff. I protected you.”
“By telling me my mother was dead?”
Robert's expression shifted.
“You should have let her remain where she was.”
Daniel stood.
“Where she was?”
“She was unwell.”
“She was being held against her will.”
“She needed care.”
“She needed her son.”
Robert looked away.
For a moment, Daniel saw something like regret.
Then it disappeared.
“You were not ready to manage this family,” Robert said. “Your father knew it. I did what had to be done.”
“You forged my signature.”
“I protected you from a scandal.”
“You stole from children.”
“I moved money. It was temporary.”
“You arranged a false death certificate.”
Robert's jaw tightened.
“I arranged for the matter to be handled.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Did you start the fire?”
Robert did not answer.
The silence was enough to make Daniel's skin crawl.
“Did you?”
Robert looked toward the window.
“I did not intend for anyone to die.”
Daniel felt the room spin.
“What does that mean?”
“Your father confronted me. Eleanor had the ledgers. I wanted the documents. I wanted the argument to end.”
“You set the fire?”
“I had someone destroy the office records. The fire spread. Your father wasn't there. Eleanor was.”
“And when you found her alive?”
Robert looked at him.
“She was confused. She could have destroyed everything.”
“So you hid her.”
“I kept her safe.”
“You made her believe I hated her.”
Robert's voice rose.
“She would have told you everything. You would have gone to the police. The company would have collapsed. Thousands of people would have lost their jobs.”
“And the children?”
Robert said nothing.
Daniel pressed the intercom.
“Victor. Come to the office.”
Robert looked toward the speaker.
“What are you doing?”
“Ending this.”
The door opened.
Victor entered with two investigators and Daniel's attorney.
Robert stepped back.
“You wouldn't.”
Daniel looked at him.
“I already have.”
The investigators presented the warrants and informed Robert that he was being detained pending further questioning about fraud, unlawful confinement, document forgery, and the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Robert stared at Daniel.
“You're destroying your own family.”
Daniel's voice was quiet.
“No. I'm refusing to let you destroy it again.”
As they escorted Robert out, he turned once.
“You'll regret choosing her over me.”
Daniel did not answer.
He watched the man who had raised him after his father's death disappear down the corridor.
Then he went to the front door.
Eleanor was waiting in the sitting room.
She had asked to come home.
Daniel opened the door himself.
“Welcome home, Mom.”
She looked at the familiar hallway, the staircase, and the portraits on the wall.
Then she began to cry.
Daniel held her while the house staff stood quietly around them.
No one applauded.
May you like
No one spoke.
For the first time in eighteen months, the Whitmore house had room for the truth.
