Chapter 4
I canceled the engagement publicly that night.
Not because Rowena existed.
Because Verena did what she did before knowing whether Rowena was truthful.
She had entered my private history through a stranger because jealousy offered a shortcut around trust.
She removed Evelyn’s things.
Used my authority.
Misled Harlan.
Upset Milo.
That was enough.
Verena took off the ring herself.
No drama.
Placed it beside the urn.
I moved it.
Again, objects do not need theatrical placement to matter.
Then I asked one final question.
“Did Rowena tell you where the ashes were going?”
“No.”
“Did she tell you why she wanted Evelyn’s possessions?”
“She said they belonged together.”
Everything.
Ashes.
Letters.
Clothes.
Photographs.
Baby blanket.
Why baby blanket?
That did not “belong” with Evelyn’s remains.
Unless Rowena wanted more than memorial items.
I asked Harlan to list everything removed.
One object caught my attention.
A silver music box.
Evelyn’s.
Given to her by her mother.
She never liked it.
Kept it anyway.
Why would Rowena care?
Then another.
A blue recipe notebook.
Evelyn hated cooking.
Why take it?
This was not sentimental selection.
It was targeted.
Someone had told Verena to remove specific categories while pretending the goal was emotional cleansing.
I looked at her.
“Did Rowena provide the list?”
Verena closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
There.
She had not invented the selection.
She merely executed it.
“What did she say was in those things?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why those?”
“She said they were the parts of Evelyn you wouldn’t let go.”
No.
Some I barely remembered owning.
May you like
Meaning Rowena knew exactly what she was looking for.
And used Verena’s jealousy as access.
