Chapter 9: The Last Will and the First Betrayal
The Hawthorne family chapel had been locked for eighteen years.
At 8:20 a.m., Arthur stood before its enormous oak doors with Maya, Thomas, and Detective Collins.
The chapel was located in a secluded wing of the estate, beyond a corridor decorated with portraits of former Hawthorne generations.
Dust covered the floor.
The stained-glass windows were dark.
The smell of old wood and extinguished candles lingered in the air.
Arthur inserted the original chapel key.
The lock turned.
The doors opened.
For several seconds, he simply stood there.
He remembered running through this room as a child.
He remembered Elizabeth sitting in the front pew, teaching him how to pray.
He remembered his father placing a hand on his shoulder during his first family Christmas after Margaret's death.
Now he knew that almost every memory contained a secret.
Maya stepped inside.
"Where did Thomas say the document was hidden?""
Arthur looked toward the altar.
"Behind the stained-glass wall.""
The chapel contained a large stained-glass panel depicting a sailing ship beneath a golden star.
The Hawthorne family emblem.
Arthur approached it.
He examined the edges.
There was no visible handle.
Maya ran her fingers along the wooden frame.
"There's a pressure mechanism here.""
She pressed a small carved star.
A quiet click sounded.
The lower section of the panel moved outward.
Behind it was a narrow compartment.
Inside lay a wooden box.
Arthur removed it.
The lid bore two initials.
R.H.
And M.C.
Richard Hawthorne.
Margaret Collins.
Arthur opened the box.
Inside were several photographs, a marriage certificate, and two sealed envelopes.
Maya picked up one of the photographs.
It showed a young woman standing beside Richard.
She had dark hair and bright eyes.
Maya stared.
"That's my mother.""
Arthur looked at the photograph.
The resemblance was undeniable.
He picked up the marriage certificate.
It was dated twenty-five years earlier.
The signatures were clear.
Richard Hawthorne.
Margaret Collins.
Witnesses: Thomas Collins and Eleanor Hawthorne.
Arthur looked at the final name.
His grandmother had known.
She had witnessed the marriage.
"She knew everything," he whispered.
Maya opened the first envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter from Margaret.
My dearest child,
If you are reading this, then I was unable to watch you grow up. I need you to know that I never wanted to leave you. Your father and I fought for the right to build a family together, but my illness made the decision for us.
Elizabeth promised to raise you with all the love she could give. She will be your mother in every way that matters.
And one day, if the family is ready to accept the truth, you will learn why your name was placed inside the Hawthorne trust.
Maya read the final paragraph aloud.
Your cousin will always be your brother in everything that matters. Never let money make strangers of the people who love you.
Maya lowered the letter.
Arthur looked away.
For several moments, the only sound in the chapel was the ticking of the old clock above the entrance.
Then Thomas spoke.
"Your mother wanted you both to know each other.""
Maya looked at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Edward was watching every person connected to the family. After Margaret died, I believed keeping you away from the Hawthornes was the only way to protect you.""
Arthur closed his eyes.
"Everyone was protecting someone.""
He looked at the second envelope.
"What's this?""
The paper was thicker.
It bore an official legal seal.
Arthur opened it.
Inside was the original Hawthorne trust agreement.
He scanned the first page.
Then the second.
His expression changed.
"There's a problem.""
Maya moved closer.
"What?""
Arthur pointed to a paragraph.
The original agreement contained a provision stating that Richard's biological children would inherit the majority of the family estate.
However, if a biological child died without descendants, the estate would pass to the next surviving direct descendant of Margaret Collins.
Maya looked at him.
"So the estate belongs to me?""
"Not exactly.""
Arthur turned the page.
There was a handwritten amendment.
It had been signed by Richard three months before the yacht explosion.
The amendment transferred control of the estate into a shared trust between Arthur and Maya.
Arthur read the final paragraph.
"Neither beneficiary may exercise unilateral control over the family holdings. Both must approve any transfer exceeding ten percent of the estate's total value.""
Maya stared.
"Your father wanted us to share it.""
Arthur nodded.
Then he noticed something.
A second signature.
Edward Blackwood.
He had witnessed the amendment.
But beneath the signature was a handwritten note.
*THIS AGREEMENT IS INVALID UNLESS THE ORIGINAL HAWTHORNE STAR IS PRESENT AT THE SIGNING.*
Arthur frowned.
"Why would the necklace matter?""
Thomas leaned closer.
"Because the compartment contains the authentication seal.""
Arthur remembered the small metal cylinder.
The hidden code.
The original sapphire had to be present for the trust to be legally recognized.
And Edward had stolen the replica while the real necklace remained in police custody.
Maya looked toward Collins.
"Can the police secure it?""
Collins nodded.
"I'll arrange it.""
Before he could move, a phone rang.
Arthur answered.
An unfamiliar male voice spoke.
"Mr. Hawthorne?""
"Who is this?""
"Your mother's physician.""
Arthur's heart began pounding.
"Is she alive?""
"Yes. She's conscious.""
Arthur gripped the phone.
"Where is she?""
"She was brought to St. Catherine's under an assumed identity.""
Arthur looked at Maya.
"Why?""
The physician lowered his voice.
"Because someone attempted to access her medical records. We believe the person was working with Edward Blackwood.""
Arthur closed his eyes.
"Can I speak to her?""
"Of course.""
A moment later, a weak voice came through.
"Arthur?""
His entire body went still.
"Mom?""
"My darling.""
Arthur began crying.
"Where are you? Are you hurt?""
"I'm all right.""
"Why didn't you tell me you were alive?""
Elizabeth was silent.
Then she whispered:
"Because I was afraid you would discover what happened to Margaret.""
Arthur looked at Maya.
"Mom, we know.""
A small gasp came through the phone.
"You know?""
"We found the marriage certificate.""
Elizabeth began crying.
"Oh, Arthur.""
He sat down on the chapel steps.
"I need to see you.""
"Come quickly.""
Then her voice changed.
"Arthur, there's something else.""
He wiped his face.
"What?""
"Edward wasn't working alone.""
Arthur looked toward Collins.
"Who was helping him?""
Elizabeth took a trembling breath.
"Your grandmother.""
Arthur closed his eyes.
"She told us about the yacht.""
"She told you only part of it.""
"What did she leave out?""
Elizabeth's voice became almost inaudible.
"She was the one who gave Edward the original birth certificate.""
Maya looked up.
Arthur felt cold.
"Why?""
"Because she believed Margaret's child would destroy the Hawthorne family. She wanted you to be raised as Richard's heir, without anyone knowing about your biological mother.""
Arthur stared at the marriage certificate.
"But why would she help Edward?""
"Because Edward promised her that he would keep Margaret's name out of the public records.""
Arthur slowly stood.
"Is that why she attacked the truth for eighteen years?""
Elizabeth was silent.
Then she said:
"Arthur, listen to me. Eleanor is not the person who raised you. She's the person who decided which parts of your life you were allowed to remember.""
The call ended.
At 9:10 a.m., Arthur returned to St. Catherine's.
Eleanor was awake.
Her expression changed when he entered.
"Arthur.""
He placed the marriage certificate on her bedside table.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Eleanor looked at the document.
Her face crumpled.
"Oh, my boy.""
"Don't call me that.""
She reached for his hand.
He stepped back.
"Did you help Edward?""
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"I made a terrible bargain.""
"What bargain?""
"Your grandfather hated Margaret. He believed she had married beneath the family. When she became pregnant, he threatened to disinherit Richard.""
Arthur stared.
"So you helped hide the marriage.""
"I wanted to protect Richard.""
"By stealing his child from his own family?""
Eleanor began crying.
"I believed Elizabeth could give you a safer life.""
"And Edward?""
Eleanor looked toward the window.
"He promised to keep the original marriage certificate hidden.""
"Why?""
"Because if the truth emerged, the family trust would change. Edward had already been manipulating the company accounts. He wanted the estate to remain under my control until he could complete the transfers.""
Arthur leaned forward.
"Did you know he planned to kill my father?""
"No.""
"Did you know he planned to kill Thomas?""
"No.""
"Did you know he was holding my mother?""
Eleanor shook her head.
Arthur looked at her for a long moment.
Then he placed the final document on the table.
A copy of the amendment to the trust.
"Did you sign this?""
Eleanor examined it.
Her expression changed.
"Where did you find this?""
"In the chapel.""
She shook her head.
"That isn't the original.""
Arthur frowned.
"What?""
"The real amendment had three signatures.""
"Whose?""
"Richard's. Mine. And...""
She stopped.
Arthur leaned closer.
"Who?""
Eleanor looked directly at him.
"Margaret.""
Maya stepped forward.
"That's impossible. My mother died before the amendment was signed.""
Eleanor nodded slowly.
"Exactly.""
She pointed to the date.
The amendment had been signed six months after Margaret's supposed death.
Maya examined the document.
Then she noticed something.
The signature was not Margaret's.
It belonged to someone else.
Someone who had been present at the wedding.
Someone who had been present at the hospital.
Someone who had been trusted with the family's most private records.
Maya looked up.
"Edward forged it.""
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes.""
Arthur stared.
"Then the shared trust is invalid?""
"Not necessarily.""
Eleanor reached beneath her pillow.
She removed a small envelope.
Inside was a handwritten note.
Richard's handwriting.
The original agreement is not in the chapel. It is where the family first began.
Arthur frowned.
"Where?""
Eleanor looked at him.
"Your grandfather's ship.""
Arthur went still.
The original Hawthorne vessel had been retired decades earlier and converted into a private maritime museum.
It was docked in Boston.
And Edward had just received a court order granting him temporary control of the family estate.
Arthur's phone vibrated.
A news alert appeared.
*HAWTHORNE SHIPPING FROZEN FOLLOWING EMERGENCY COURT PETITION.*
Below it was a photograph of Edward Blackwood standing outside the courthouse.
He was smiling.
The headline continued:
*TRUST DISPUTE: FAMILY HEIR ARTHUR HAWTHORNE FACES REMOVAL AS NEW BENEFICIARY EMERGES.*
Arthur looked at Maya.
"We need the original agreement.""
Maya nodded.
Then another message appeared.
This time from an unknown number.
A photograph showed the interior of the retired Hawthorne ship.
Someone had placed a chair in the center of the old captain's cabin.
And sitting in that chair was Daniel Mercer.
His hands were tied.
His face was bruised.
Beneath the photograph was a final message.
*BRING THE ORIGINAL STAR TO BOSTON. THIS TIME, THERE WILL BE NO SECOND CHANCE.*
Arthur stared at the screen.
Then he noticed the time printed on the photograph.
It had been taken only three minutes earlier.
Daniel was still alive.
May you like
And Edward knew exactly where they were going.
The final battle for the Hawthorne dynasty had begun.
