Chapter 6: The Letter Written Before the Funeral
Seraphina did not read the letter over the telephone.
She drove to the mansion with the wooden box on the passenger seat and the envelope resting in her lap. She arrived just after nine, when the rain had begun to strike the windows in thin, slanting lines.
Theron was waiting in the entrance hall.
He had not changed clothes. He had spent the last hour pacing between the study and the front windows, unable to concentrate on anything else.
When Seraphina entered, he reached for the box.
She pulled it away.
"Not here.""
He frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"Not in the hallway. Not with staff walking past. And definitely not while Corisande can still access the house.""
Theron looked toward the stairs.
"She's staying at her mother's tonight.""
"That doesn't mean she can't come back.""
"Then we'll lock the doors.""
"Theron, listen to yourself.""
He stopped.
Seraphina softened her voice.
"We're talking about Mother. If this letter changes what we know about her death, we need to read it carefully.""
He nodded reluctantly.
They went into the study and closed the door.
The wooden box was small enough to fit on a bookshelf. Its surface had been polished smooth with age, and a brass clasp held it shut.
Seraphina opened it.
Inside lay a bundle of letters tied with blue ribbon, several photographs, a bank statement, and a small envelope bearing Theron's name.
He recognized his mother's handwriting immediately.
The sight of it struck him harder than he expected.
For a moment, he was twenty-four again, standing in a hospital corridor while his father explained that Eleanor had suffered a sudden medical crisis.
He remembered the smell of disinfectant.
The muted voices.
His father's hand on his shoulder.
She was very sick, Theron. There was nothing anyone could do.
He had believed him.
Seraphina passed him the envelope.
"Do you want me to read it?""
He shook his head.
"No. I'll do it.""
He opened the seal.
The letter began with a date.
Three days before Eleanor's death.
My darling Theron,
If you are reading this, then I have either failed to speak to you or someone has finally allowed you to see what I was trying to protect you from.
Theron's fingers tightened around the paper.
He read on.
I need you to understand that your father has not always been the man you believe him to be. I know how much you admire him. I know how hard you have worked to earn his approval. That is why I have waited too long to tell you the truth.
Edmund has been moving money out of the family trust. He says he is protecting the company, but I have seen the statements. Large sums have been transferred through accounts I do not recognize. When I asked him about them, he told me I was confused.
When I asked again, he told me I was ill.
Theron stopped.
Seraphina leaned forward.
"Keep going.""
He continued.
I am not confused. I know what I have seen. I also know that Edmund has been meeting with Julian Vale privately. The doctor says my symptoms are consistent with a progressive illness, but no one has explained why I am getting worse so quickly.
I asked for a second opinion. Edmund refused.
Yesterday, I found a copy of a document bearing my signature. It gives Edmund control over the family trust if I become incapacitated. I did not sign it.
Theron looked up.
"The same thing happened with my signature.""
Seraphina nodded slowly.
He returned to the letter.
I have hidden copies of the financial statements and the original documents in a place Edmund will not think to search. If anything happens to me, do not confront him until you have the evidence.
I am afraid, Theron.
The next line was written more heavily, as though Eleanor had pressed the pen into the paper.
Not because I believe he will hurt me directly, but because he has convinced everyone around me that I cannot be trusted.
Theron's throat tightened.
He remembered his mother's last months.
Her long silences.
Her sudden exhaustion.
The way she had sometimes looked at him as if she wanted to say something but could not find the courage.
He had mistaken her fear for illness.
I love you. I have always loved you. Please do not allow anyone to make you believe that protecting the family means protecting its secrets.
The letter ended with a short sentence.
And whatever happens, protect Seraphina. She is braver than she knows.
Theron lowered the paper.
For a long time, neither sibling spoke.
Then Seraphina reached across the desk and took his hand.
"I thought she was sick," she whispered.
"I thought she was just getting worse.""
"So did I.""
"What if she was trying to tell us?""
Theron looked at the letter.
"Then we weren't listening.""
The words hurt because they were true.
He had been old enough to recognize his mother's fear. He had been educated enough to question the documents. He had been close enough to ask why the family physician never permitted a second opinion.
Instead, he had accepted the explanation that made his life easiest.
His father had told him what to believe.
And he had believed it.
A knock sounded at the door.
Marcus entered carrying a folder.
"I've had preliminary results from the document examiner.""
Theron wiped his face.
"Tell me.""
"The two amendments to your marriage agreement contain signatures that appear inconsistent with the samples we've reviewed. That's not a definitive finding, but there are enough irregularities to justify a full forensic examination.""
"And the recording?""
"The file appears to have been edited from a longer source, though we don't yet know who made the edit. The voices are consistent with the people you've identified, but formal verification will take time.""
Theron handed him Eleanor's letter.
Marcus read the first page, then looked up.
"This could be significant.""
"Could be?"" Theron demanded.
"My mother says she was being controlled. She says documents were forged. She says the doctor refused a second opinion.""
"Those are serious allegations. We need corroborating evidence.""
"Then find it.""
"We will. But I need to ask you something.""
Theron waited.
"Who had access to your mother's medical records?""
"My father. Dr. Vale. The family office.""
"Anyone else?""
Theron looked at Seraphina.
She slowly shook her head.
"Not that I know of.""
Marcus turned a page in his folder.
"There's another issue. Corisande's attorney has requested a formal meeting tomorrow morning. They want to discuss temporary custody arrangements.""
Theron laughed once, without humor.
"After everything we've discovered?""
"These discoveries are not yet verified, and the custody matter is moving independently.""
"She hit my daughter.""
"And that must be addressed. But we also need to ensure that your actions yesterday don't become the only issue before the court.""
Theron looked at the window.
Rainwater slid down the glass.
"What does Corisande want?""
Marcus consulted his notes.
"She wants Eirlys to live with her at Vivienne Ashcombe's residence until the dispute is resolved. She's also requesting that you have supervised visits pending an assessment.""
Theron felt as though someone had struck him in the chest.
"Supervised visits?""
"That's what she's asking for. It hasn't been granted.""
"She's the one who hit Eirlys!""
"I know.""
"And now she wants to take her away from me?""
Marcus met his eyes.
"She wants to use the video to establish that you pose a risk. We need to respond with evidence, not anger.""
Theron turned away.
He wanted to tear the document apart. He wanted to call Corisande and demand to know how she could look at Eirlys after striking her, then present herself as the child's protector.
But the image of his daughter asking whether he would kick her remained lodged in his mind.
He could not allow his rage to make another decision for him.
"Fine," he said.
"We prepare the response.""
Marcus nodded.
"I'll also recommend an independent assessment of Eirlys's needs. The goal should be to protect her, not to use her as a weapon.""
"Agreed.""
After Marcus left, Seraphina opened the bank statement from the wooden box.
She studied it in silence.
Then she leaned closer.
"Theron.""
"What?""
"Look at these transfers.""
He moved beside her.
The statement showed a series of payments from an account associated with the Viremont family trust. The amounts were large, and the recipients were unfamiliar.
One transfer had been made to a private medical company.
Another had gone to an account in the name of Ashcombe Holdings.
Theron pointed at the name.
"That's Corisande's family company.""
"I know.""
"How much?""
Seraphina added the amounts with her phone calculator.
Her face drained of color.
"Almost six million dollars.""
Theron stared at the statement.
"Over what period?""
"Three years.""
Three years.
Corisande had entered his life four years earlier. They had married the following spring. Eirlys had been born less than a year after that.
The money had been moving before the wedding.
He sat down heavily.
"She didn't marry me for the trust.""
Seraphina looked at him.
"Maybe she married you for more than one reason.""
He shook his head.
"She knew about the transfers before we met.""
"We don't know that.""
"But she was already connected to Ashcombe Holdings.""
Seraphina tapped the page.
"Then let's find out who authorized the payments.""
Theron picked up the bank statement.
A signature appeared beside each transfer.
Most were difficult to read.
But the final payment, dated just two weeks before Eleanor's death, carried a clear authorization.
Edmund Viremont.
Beneath his signature was a handwritten note.
*Final payment. Ensure the original records are destroyed.*
Theron stared at the words.
His father had not simply kept a secret.
He had paid someone to erase it.
A soft knock interrupted them.
Mabel appeared in the doorway.
"Mr. Viremont, I'm sorry, but Mrs. Viremont is on the telephone. She says it's urgent.""
Theron looked at Seraphina.
"Put her through to the study.""
A moment later, Corisande's voice came through the speaker.
"Theron.""
"What do you want?""
"I want to see Eirlys.""
"No.""
A brief silence followed.
"Excuse me?""
"You struck her. You frightened her. She needs stability, not another confrontation.""
"I am her mother.""
"Then start behaving like one.""
Corisande's breath caught.
For a moment, Theron thought she might shout.
Instead, her voice softened.
"Theron, I know you're angry. I know what happened was terrible. I shouldn't have slapped her.""
He gripped the edge of the desk.
"Then why did you tell everyone I was the danger?""
"Because you kicked me into a pool!""
"You hit a three-year-old child.""
"And you assaulted me!""
The words rang through the room.
Theron closed his eyes.
Corisande continued, her voice trembling.
"I have been trying to keep this family together. I have spent years living under your father's rules, your family's expectations, and your obsession with control. I made one terrible mistake, and you made yours in front of our daughter.""
He said nothing.
"Let me see Eirlys," she pleaded.
"Please. I want to apologize to her.""
For one dangerous moment, he considered agreeing.
Perhaps she meant it.
Perhaps the humiliation of being exposed had finally forced her to understand what she had done.
Then she added, "And Theron? You should know that your father is already aware of what you've found.""
Theron's eyes opened.
"How?""
"Because he called me an hour ago.""
"What did he say?""
"He told me to destroy anything connected to your mother's death.""
Seraphina stood abruptly.
Theron leaned toward the phone.
"Why would he tell you that?""
"Because he knows what happened. And he knows that if the truth comes out, the entire Viremont family will fall apart.""
Theron felt his heart hammering.
"Where is he now?""
"I don't know.""
"Corisande, listen to me. If you're involved in what happened to my mother—"
"I didn't kill your mother!""
The suddenness of the denial silenced him.
He had not accused her of murder.
Not yet.
Corisande seemed to realize her mistake.
Her breathing changed.
"Theron, I have to go.""
"Wait.""
But the call ended.
He stood staring at the phone.
Seraphina approached slowly.
"She knows something.""
"Yes.""
"And she just told us Father is trying to destroy evidence.""
Theron looked down at the letter.
At the bank statement.
At the signature authorizing the final payment.
Then he noticed something he had missed earlier.
The date of the final transfer was not two weeks before Eleanor died.
It was three days before her death.
The same date as the letter.
His mother had discovered the payments on the very day someone authorized the final one.
Theron felt the floor shift beneath him.
"Marcus needs to see this immediately.""
Seraphina gathered the papers.
But before either of them could move, a notification appeared on Theron's phone.
It was a message from an unknown number.
*Your mother didn't die because she was sick. She died because she discovered who had been poisoning her.*
A second message appeared.
*And the person who supplied the poison is still alive.*
Theron stared at the screen.
Then the phone rang.
The caller ID showed a name he had not seen in twenty years.
*Dr. Julian Vale.*
He answered.
A man's exhausted voice came through the line.
"Theron Viremont?""
"Who is this?""
"You know who I am.""
Theron's fingers tightened around the phone.
"Did you treat my mother?""
A long silence followed.
Then the doctor spoke.
"Yes.""
"Did you lie about her illness?""
The old man's breathing grew unsteady.
"I did more than lie.""
Theron could barely force the next words out.
"Did you poison her?""
On the other end of the line, Dr. Vale began to cry.
"Your father paid me to keep her quiet," he whispered.
"But I need you to understand something before you hear the rest.""
Theron stood frozen.
"What?""
"The poison wasn't meant to kill Eleanor.""
The doctor swallowed.
"It was meant to make her appear mentally unstable long enough for Edmund to take control of the trust.""
Theron looked at Seraphina.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
"Then what killed her?"" he demanded.
Dr. Vale's answer came in a broken whisper.
"Your father changed the dose.""
A sound escaped Seraphina's throat.
Theron could not speak.
For twenty years, he had carried his mother's death as a private sorrow, a wound he believed time had taught him to live with.
Now he understood that her final days might have been part of a deliberate plan.
May you like
And before he could ask another question, Dr. Vale said the words that changed everything.
"Theron, I have proof. But you need to come alone. Because the last person who tried to help your mother was murdered before he could tell you the truth.""
