That tin held letters from Adam’s mother. In them was an old family matter. Years ago, Adam had made a serious mistake in the business. His father fixed it quietly and buried the damage. His mother wrote to me about it after, trusting me to keep those papers safe if anything happened to her.
After a break had been called, Adam asked to speak to me privately.
I had never told a soul.
Now I understood. Vanessa had searched my room before. She knew where I kept sentimental things. She found the letters and decided I was dangerous. A servant who knew too much. A woman Adam trusted. The person Ethan ran to first.
After a break had been called, Adam asked to speak to me privately.
He looked wrecked. “Clara, I am so sorry.”
I said, “Don’t insult me with quick remorse.”
He looked like I had struck him.
He shut his mouth.
“I protected your dignity for decades,” I told him. “When you were young, when you were foolish, when your parents needed someone loyal. I never used what I knew. Not once. And when I needed you, you let your wife hand me to the police.”
