Chapter 12 - the truth Victoria feared
The torn DNA report did not state that Julian was Mary Jane’s father.
It showed only that his genetic sample had been used for comparison.
The section containing the conclusion was missing.
Julian stared at the page for hours.
He had never met Eleanor socially. He had been living abroad during the period when Mary Jane was conceived. But the document raised another possibility.
A close male relative could produce a partial match.
Thomas Ashford had no acknowledged sons other than Julian.
At least, none Julian knew about.
Mary Jane sat across from him in the secure townhouse.
“Are you my brother?”
Julian placed the page down.
“I don’t know.”
“Would it change anything?”
“No.”
“Then why do you look afraid?”
“Because every truth in this family seems to have been hidden inside another lie.”
Mrs. Dallow entered carrying a wooden box recovered from her old room. Police had searched it before allowing her to keep it.
Inside were photographs, staff records, and letters written by Thomas.
One letter was addressed to Julian but had never been sent.
My son,
There are events in this family’s history that I was too ashamed to tell you. My father created a private division within the estate to acquire distressed properties. It began legally. Under later management, it became predatory.
A man named Adrian discovered the division and learned how to use it. He believes Ashford House belongs to him by inheritance, though the claim is based on a secret even I have not been able to prove.
Eleanor found the payment ledger. She intended to expose everyone involved. I helped her because silence had already destroyed too many lives.
If Mary Jane reaches Ashford House, then Eleanor and I have failed to stop him.
Protect the child.
Do not trust anyone who knows the old song.
Julian looked toward the antique music box they had recovered from the chapel.
Mary Jane turned its handle.
The melody was simple and sad.
Mrs. Dallow sat down heavily.
“I know that song.”
“Who taught it to you?” Julian asked.
“Your mother.”
Julian’s chest tightened.
His mother, Celeste Ashford, had died when he was nine.
Mrs. Dallow continued.
“She played it whenever your older brother became frightened.”
Julian stared at her.
“My what?”
The room became silent.
Mrs. Dallow closed her eyes.
“I promised Thomas I would never tell you.”
“You will tell me now.”
“Celeste had a son before you. His name was Adrian.”
Mary Jane stopped turning the music box.
Julian could barely speak.
“My brother died before I was born.”
“That is what Thomas told the public.”
“What really happened?”
“Adrian was taken from the estate after a custody dispute. Celeste’s first husband claimed him. Years later, Thomas learned the boy had been raised under another surname.”
“Vale?”
“No. Whitmore.”
Charles Whitmore.
Julian’s godfather.
The man who had known every room in Ashford House.
The man who had worn an Ashford signet ring for decades.
Julian stood so abruptly that his chair fell backward.
“Charles is Adrian?”
“I do not know. But Charles arrived in Thomas’s life shortly after the real Adrian disappeared.”
Mary Jane looked at the torn DNA result.
“If Adrian was Julian’s brother, the test would show we were related.”
Julian understood.
The comparison sample had not been used to prove he was Mary Jane’s father.
It had been used to determine whether Mary Jane was his niece.
His phone rang.
Victoria’s attorney was calling.
Julian answered.
A woman spoke from the guarded hotel.
“Mr. Ashford, my client is prepared to provide a full statement in exchange for protection.”
“When?”
“Immediately.”
Victoria came onto the line.
Her voice was low.
“Charles knows you found the DNA report.”
“How?”
“Because Helena Frost works for him.”
“Where is she?”
“Alive, for now.”
“Is Charles Adrian?”
Victoria hesitated.
“Charles is one of his names.”
Julian looked at Mary Jane.
Victoria continued.
“He never wanted your estate because of money. He wants the world to recognize that Thomas stole his life.”
“And Mary Jane?”
“She is his insurance.”
“His daughter?”
“I never saw the complete report.”
“Then why did you agree to take guardianship?”
“Because he promised that after the transfer, I would control the Vale companies.”
“You locked a child beneath my ballroom for a company?”
“I locked her there because she knew where Eleanor hid the ledger.”
“You knew Eleanor would be killed.”
“I knew Adrian wanted her silenced. I did not know how far he would go.”
Julian’s anger turned cold.
“Where is Charles?”
Victoria began to answer.
A man’s voice sounded behind her.
May you like
“You always did talk too much.”
The line went dead.
