Chapter 13 - THE SECRET IN THE JOURNAL

A week later, I found Grace’s journal tucked in the back of her desk drawer. I had looked through it before, shortly after she died, but I had been too broken to really read it. Now I sat down and turned every page slowly.

Most entries were ordinary. Lily’s first steps. Dinner parties. Business meetings. But as I neared the end, the entries changed. They became urgent. Carefully coded.

*Marcus has been asking questions about the trust. He knows the activation date. I’ve caught him in my study twice, going through files. I’m watching him. I’m watching everyone.*

*Elena is in debt. Large amounts. She won’t tell me why. But Marcus seems to know. He’s been too helpful lately. Too generous. I don’t like it.*

*I’ve spoken with Arthur. He’s evasive. Hiding something. I don’t trust him anymore. So I’m writing this down. If anything happens to me… look to the people closest to you. The ones who stand to gain. Check the books. Watch the bear.*

The final entry was dated three days before she died.

*I’m afraid. Not for myself. For Lily. For Adrian, who trusts too easily and loves too hard. If you’re reading this, Adrian… I love you. I protected Lily the best I could. Now you protect her. Trust no one blindly. And remember: the truth may be painful, but it is always safer than a lie.*

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I closed the journal and sat there for a long time. Grace had known everything. She had seen it all coming. And she had prepared the way—through Teddy, through the journal, through the backup plans she had put in place while I was too busy grieving to notice.

She had saved us. Even from the grave.