The Maid's Secret Changed Everything

Chapter 3 - What Charles Bennett Knew

The study smelled exactly as Adrian remembered.

Leather.

Cedar.

Old coffee.

He had avoided the room since his father's death because every object inside made the loss feel fresh.

Emma remained near the door.

Adrian searched drawers.

Nothing.

Then he remembered something his father used to say when Adrian was a child.

If something matters, never put it where people expect important things to be.

Charles kept his first company ledger inside an old chessboard.

Adrian opened it.

Under the velvet lining was an envelope.

His name was written across the front.

Inside were copies of medical invoices.

Payments from Margaret Bennett to Dr. Keller.

Private laboratory results.

And one handwritten letter.

Adrian,

If you are reading this, I either confronted Margaret too late or I am no longer here to explain it myself.

Adrian stopped.

Emma moved closer.

He continued reading.

Charles had discovered discrepancies in Adrian's medical records eight months before his death.

One laboratory report showed normal fertility.

Another, signed three days later, declared permanent infertility.

Charles confronted Keller.

The doctor denied everything.

Then Charles found financial transfers.

Margaret had paid him.

Why?

Charles believed Margaret wanted Victor to remain the only future heir.

But the letter contained something even worse.

I have begun to suspect your accident was not accidental.

Adrian sat down.

Emma whispered:

"What happened?"

Two years earlier, Adrian's car crashed after the steering system failed.

Margaret arrived at the hospital before anyone else.

She selected the doctors.

She moved Adrian into a private wing.

She told the family the injuries were worse than they truly were.

Then came the fertility diagnosis.

Emma read the next line over his shoulder.

Do not confront her without evidence. She has already shown she is willing to hurt you.

Adrian folded the letter.

"My father died six weeks after writing this."

Official cause:

Heart attack.

Emma looked at him.

"You think..."

"I don't know."

Then they heard footsteps outside.

Adrian quickly put the letter inside his jacket.

The door opened.

Margaret stood there.

She looked at Adrian.

Then Emma.

Then the pregnancy test accidentally left on the desk.

Her expression changed.

Only for a second.

But Adrian saw it.

"So," Margaret said softly.

"That's unexpected."