Chapter 10 - Caroline’s TruthThe address led to a farmhouse in Vermont.
The bullet passed through his shoulder without damaging major vessels.
Doctors called him lucky.
Lena called him an idiot.
She waited until he was fully conscious before confronting him.
His hospital room overlooked the East River.
Sunlight streamed across white sheets.
Lena stood beside the window.
“You lied.”
Julian sighed.
“Yes.”
“You told me Evelyn told you to marry me.”
“Yes.”
“She didn’t.”
“No.”
“Then why me?”
Julian looked uncomfortable.
Good.
Lena wanted him uncomfortable.
“When I saw you outside the gate,” he said, “I had already spent three weeks trying to find someone I could marry.”
Lena’s stomach tightened.
“Candidates?”
“Yes.”
“How romantic.”
“None worked.”
“Why?”
“Some wanted ownership in the company. Some wanted publicity. One wanted a guaranteed Senate campaign donation.”
“And then you saw the poor caterer feed Grandma.”
Julian winced.
“That is not how I thought about it.”
“How did you think about it?”
He looked directly at her.
“I thought you were incorruptible.”
Lena laughed bitterly.
“Nobody is incorruptible.”
“You refused money.”
“Once.”
“You argued with Victoria when you had everything to lose.”
“That doesn’t mean you knew me.”
“No.”
“Then why did you say Evelyn chose me?”
“Because I knew you wouldn’t accept if I told you the truth.”
Lena stared.
“So you manipulated me.”
“Yes.”
The word cut.
At least he didn’t hide from it.
“Anything else?”
Julian looked away.
Her chest tightened.
“Julian.”
“There was another reason.”
“Of course.”
He hesitated.
“When Marcus investigated you, we found records from your mother.”
Lena froze.
“What records?”
“She worked for Ashford Development.”
Lena stared.
“No, she didn’t.”
“She used Brooks after she left. Before that, her surname was Mercer.”
Lena’s world shifted.
“My mother was Anna Mercer.”
“Yes.”
“So?”
“She worked as an accounting analyst under my father.”
Lena gripped the window frame.
“My mother cleaned offices.”
“After she left Ashford.”
“Why did she leave?”
Julian’s voice softened.
“Because she discovered financial irregularities involving Richard.”
Lena stopped breathing.
“No.”
“We didn’t know how far it went until Nathan confirmed it.”
“Stop.”
“Lena—”
“My mother died in a car accident.”
Julian went silent.
The room tilted.
Lena remembered rain.
A police officer at her aunt’s door.
Her mother’s dented blue sedan.
Everyone saying black ice.
A tragic accident.
“Was Richard involved?”
Julian’s eyes told her before he spoke.
“We don’t know.”
Lena backed away.
“You knew this before we married?”
“I knew she worked for the company. I didn’t know she investigated Richard.”
“But you didn’t tell me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I was afraid you’d walk away.”
Tears burned behind Lena’s eyes.
“That wasn’t your decision.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
She grabbed her coat.
Julian sat up too quickly.
Pain crossed his face.
“Lena.”
“We had one rule.”
“I know.”
“No important lies.”
“I know.”
“And you broke it before we even signed the contract.”
“Yes.”
She opened the door.
His voice stopped her.
“I fell in love with you.”
Lena closed her eyes.
That was cruel.
Because some part of her had wanted to hear those words.
Just not like this.
Not surrounded by lies.
She turned.
“You don’t get to use love as a defense.”
“I’m not.”
“Then don’t say it.”
“I’m saying it because you deserve the truth.”
“The truth would have been useful before the wedding.”
Julian looked shattered.
Lena hated that she cared.
She left.
For three days, she stayed at Rebecca’s guest apartment.
She ignored Julian’s calls.
Ignored flowers.
Ignored Marcus.
She visited Evelyn once.
Evelyn looked weaker.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“You knew?”
“Not about your mother.”
“About Julian choosing me.”
“Yes.”
Lena laughed without humor.
“So everybody lied.”
“Yes.”
“Wonderful family.”
Evelyn reached for her hand.
“He thought you’d refuse.”
“I would have.”
“That does not justify it.”
Lena looked at her.
“You’re taking my side?”
“I’m dying. It makes honesty easier.”
Lena almost smiled.
Then Evelyn became serious.
“Your mother was brave.”
“You knew her?”
“Briefly.”
Lena stared.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t realize who you were until after Julian’s investigation.”
“Was her accident really an accident?”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“I don’t know.”
That answer somehow hurt more than certainty.
Meanwhile Richard was denied bail.
Federal investigators opened cases involving fraud, bribery, kidnapping, conspiracy, and attempted murder.
Victoria negotiated cooperation.
Nathan disappeared again.
And Caroline remained hidden.
Then, on the fourth morning, Lena received a letter.
Hand-delivered.
No return address.
Inside was a photograph of her mother.
Alive.
Standing beside Caroline Vale.
The date stamp was one month before Anna’s death.
On the back, someone had written:
Your mother saved my life. Now I need to tell you why she died.
Beneath it was an address.
Lena stared at the photograph.
Then called Marcus.
Not Julian.
Marcus answered immediately.
“Where are you?”
“I need your help.”
“With what?”
May you like
Lena looked at the address again.
“Finding Caroline.”
