Chapter 11
Sarah cried when she told me the rest.
“Elena started asking me to taste nothing.”
I looked at her.
“What does that mean?”
“She said if Genevieve sent food upstairs, don’t touch it.”
My chest tightened.
“Did she tell you why?”
“No.”
Sarah wiped her face.
“She only said your aunt was trying to make her look weak.”
That matched the pattern.
Not necessarily kill.
Undermine.
Make Elena sick.
Make me distracted.
Make my household look unstable.
Always politics disguised as family concern.
Sarah continued.
“Then Elena got sick at the lake house.”
“And?”
“After that, she told me she was leaving the estate with Ethan for a while.”
My jaw tightened.
“She never told me.”
“She said she would after she reached her sister’s place.”
I felt anger.
Then understood.
Elena had been afraid I would confront Genevieve before she was safely away.
Just like Khloe in another family.
Like Evelyn.
Like too many women around powerful men.
Fear of what our protection would unleash.
Sarah looked down.
“She never made it.”
My wife died on the road.
I closed my eyes.
“What happened before she left?”
Sarah hesitated.
“Julian came to the garage.”
Julian went completely still.
I turned.
“What?”
He shook his head.
“I spoke to her.”
“About what?”
“My mother.”
Genevieve’s eyes hardened.
Julian continued.
“I told Elena to stop accusing her.”
My hands tightened.
“Did you touch the car?”
“No.”
“Did anyone?”
“I don’t know.”
Genevieve laughed.
“Convenient.”
Julian turned on her.
“You told me to keep Elena there until you arrived.”
Silence.
My eyes moved to Genevieve.
“Did you arrive?”
She said nothing.
Julian’s face changed.
He finally understood.
“You said she had already left.”
Genevieve remained silent.
I felt the room disappear around me.
Three years ago, Julian delayed my wife.
Genevieve followed.
Then Elena died before reaching safety.
May you like
The birthday cake had not created the mystery.
It reopened one Genevieve had believed died with my wife.
