Chapter 13 - THE SECRET LORETTA’S MOTHER TOOK TO HER GRAVE
Loretta’s mother had died twelve years earlier.
She had never used the surname Vale.
At least not in any story she had told her daughter.
Naomi moved everyone into a private reception room while the investigators secured the estate.
Guests were told that the reception had been temporarily delayed.
No one believed it.
Videos of Loretta falling into the pond were already appearing online.
Inside the reception room, Loretta placed the photograph on the table.
“Where did you get this?”
Franklin sat calmly across from her.
“My father kept it.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother created L.M. Holdings with him.”
Howard stared at Franklin.
“You said Daniel and Rebecca created it.”
“I never said that.”
“The account was connected to them.”
“They used it later.”
Loretta leaned forward.
“Tell me the truth.”
Franklin smiled.
“You are asking thirty years too late.”
One of the investigators warned him not to destroy or conceal evidence.
Franklin’s smile faded.
“My father owned the abandoned hospital property that later became Hawthorne Estate. Laura Mercer worked for him.”
“My mother was a bookkeeper.”
“She was more than that.”
Loretta’s hands tightened.
Franklin explained that Laura discovered the property would become extremely valuable if a planned highway extension was approved.
She created L.M. Holdings to secure an ownership option before outside investors could take control.
Franklin’s father agreed to the arrangement.
Years later, after Laura left, the company became inactive.
“Why did she use the name Loretta Marie Vale?”
“Loretta was the name she planned to give you. Marie was her middle name. Vale came from my family.”
Howard looked at Loretta.
“You were born after the company was created.”
Loretta barely heard him.
“Why did my mother leave?”
Franklin’s eyes shifted toward the investigators.
“That is unrelated to the apartment.”
“It is related to me.”
Franklin said nothing.
Alexander entered the room holding a second folder.
“I found this in Brittany’s bridal suite.”
Brittany stood.
“You searched my things?”
“Your father searched my entire life.”
Inside the folder were letters written by Rebecca Vale.
One letter was addressed to Laura Mercer.
Naomi read it aloud.
Laura, Daniel discovered that Franklin is moving the project funds through L.M. Holdings. He wants everyone to believe you authorized it. We copied the records, but he knows. If we disappear, protect Loretta. Do not let Howard sign the second agreement.
Loretta looked at Howard.
“You knew my mother?”
“No.”
Franklin laughed softly.
Howard turned on him.
“What is funny?”
“You still believe this story began with Daniel.”
Howard grabbed the edge of the table.
“Explain.”
“Laura Mercer worked in your first office.”
“That’s impossible.”
“She used another name.”
“What name?”
Franklin looked directly at Loretta.
“Eleanor Price.”
Howard’s face changed.
Loretta saw recognition immediately.
“Who was Eleanor Price?”
Howard remained silent.
“Howard.”
“She worked for the construction company before we married.”
“How well did you know her?”
He looked at Loretta.
“We were engaged.”
The room seemed to move.
“You were engaged to my mother?”
“I did not know she was your mother.”
“You never recognized her?”
“You never showed me photographs from that period. The woman I knew had dark hair and used a different surname.”
Loretta remembered her mother refusing to be photographed.
She remembered locked boxes, unanswered questions, and the way Laura had reacted when Loretta first mentioned Howard’s name.
She had dropped a glass.
At the time, Loretta thought it had been an accident.
Franklin leaned back.
“Laura disappeared after taking documents connected to the Hawthorne project. Howard thought she had stolen from him.”
Howard shook his head.
“She disappeared before the money vanished.”
“Only because she knew what was coming.”
Naomi examined the letters.
“Why did Laura later allow her daughter to marry Howard?”
No one answered.
Loretta looked at the photograph again.
Maybe her mother had not allowed anything.
Maybe she had tried to stop it.
On Loretta’s wedding day, Laura had arrived late and left before the reception.
For years, Loretta had believed her mother disapproved of Howard because he came from a poor family.
Now she wondered whether Laura had been afraid.
Austin sat against the far wall, forgotten by almost everyone.
He finally spoke.
“What does any of this have to do with me?”
Howard turned toward him.
“You forged your mother’s signature.”
“I know what I did.”
“Do you?”
Austin stood.
“I thought I was taking an apartment that you promised me. I didn’t know about Hawthorne or L.M. Holdings.”
“You knew the signature was false.”
“Yes.”
“Then everything else is an excuse.”
Austin’s face tightened.
“I spent my whole life being told I would inherit responsibility, but every time I reached for it, you moved it farther away.”
“I moved it because you kept proving you were not ready.”
“And how was I supposed to become ready when you controlled everything?”
Howard stared at his son.
Loretta spoke before the argument could grow.
“Brittany did not force you to sign.”
Austin looked at her soaked dress and the tablecloth around her shoulders.
“No.”
“She did not force you to leave me in that pond.”
His eyes filled with shame.
“No.”
Loretta nodded.
“Then we begin with the truth.”
Austin reached into his jacket and placed a small flash drive on the table.
“I made a copy of every file Brittany gave me.”
Brittany’s face went white.
May you like
Austin looked at his father.
“There is another apartment transfer scheduled for midnight.”
