Chapter 4 - THE ENVELOPE
Nora stared at the envelope.
Julian stared at it too.
Neither touched it.
Chloe looked between them.
“What is it?”
Julian immediately crouched beside her.
“Where did you find this?”
“Under Grandma’s bed.”
“Did you open it?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Nora took the envelope.
“Why are you afraid of it?”
Julian stood.
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
He looked away.
Nora opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed a younger Eleanor standing beside a man Nora had never seen.
Beside them stood a much younger Julian.
Nora’s fingers trembled.
“Who is that?”
Julian didn't answer.
She looked closer.
The man in the photograph had dark hair, a narrow face, and an unmistakably cold expression.
David Vance.
But something else was written on the back.
Nora turned the photograph over.
Property transferred under Bennett Family Trust.
Below that was a date.
Twenty-one years earlier.
Nora looked at Julian.
“What does this mean?”
Julian sat down.
“My mother created a trust.”
“For whom?”
“I don't know.”
“Stop lying.”
“I’m not.”
“You recognized him.”
Julian rubbed his forehead.
“I knew David years ago.”
“How?”
“He worked with my father.”
“Doing what?”
“Financial consulting.”
Nora studied him.
“That isn't why you're afraid.”
Julian remained silent.
Chloe suddenly pointed at the photograph.
“Mommy.”
“What?”
“That’s not the picture I found.”
Nora looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“The one under Grandma’s bed had another person.”
Julian immediately stood.
“Where is it?”
“I put it back.”
“Who was in it?”
Chloe thought.
“A woman.”
“What woman?”
“I don't know.”
“What did she look like?”
Chloe frowned.
“She looked like Mommy.”
Nora felt the room tilt.
Julian stared at their daughter.
“That’s impossible.”
Chloe shook her head.
“No.”
She pointed toward Nora.
“She looked exactly like Mommy.”
Nora slowly turned toward Julian.
“What is she talking about?”
Julian couldn't answer.
Then the bedroom door opened.
Eleanor stood there.
Her face was pale.
“You found the photograph.”
Nora raised it.
“Who is the woman?”
Eleanor closed the door.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“She was your sister.”
