Chapter 14 - The Second Call
Clara returned to the attorney.
He gave her one final document.
It was a purchase agreement.
The property involved was not the Vale mansion.
It was something much larger.
A group of properties held by the family trust.
Clara's name was listed as the controlling party.
But beneath her name was another signature.
One she recognized immediately.
Robert's.
Clara called him.
He answered.
"I know."
She froze.
"You knew?"
"I remembered signing something."
"When?"
"Years ago."
"Why?"
"I thought it was a transfer."
"To whom?"
Silence.
Then Robert said,
"Clara, your mother wasn't the only one keeping secrets."
Clara closed her eyes.
"What did you do?"
"I don't know."
"That isn't an answer."
"I know."
His voice broke.
"I know."
Clara sat down.
For the first time, she realized her father might not have been innocent.
He might have been manipulated.
He might have been afraid.
Or he might have known more than he admitted.
Then her phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
The sender was unknown.
It contained one sentence.
You are looking in the wrong place.
Clara stared at it.
A second message arrived.
Ask Robert who paid for your first apartment.
May you like
She looked up.
Suddenly, the entire timeline changed.
