Chapter 17 - THE HOUSEKEEPER’S TESTIMONY
Ruth Palmer walked slowly toward the witness stand.
She had served Margaret for twenty-six years.
Elena had believed Ruth retired after the funeral.
In reality, Benjamin had paid her to disappear.
Ruth looked at Elena with tears in her eyes.
“I am sorry.”
“You knew my grandmother was being poisoned.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you remain silent?”
“Because Mr. Cross threatened my grandson.”
Benjamin’s attorney objected.
The judge allowed Ruth to continue.
Ruth described Margaret’s final months.
Margaret had discovered that Benjamin was stealing from Elena’s trust.
She planned to fire him and report him.
Benjamin responded by turning the family against one another.
He told Victoria that Elena intended to sell the estate.
He told Adrian that Victoria planned to expose his failing company.
He told Catherine that Margaret had never searched for her.
Each lie pushed them closer to the conflict he needed.
“Why did Benjamin want control of the estate?”
Ruth looked toward him.
“There is something beneath the east garden.”
The courtroom became silent.
Margaret had discovered it during a renovation.
She ordered the garden closed and dismissed the workers.
Benjamin learned about the discovery.
He drafted the amendment to ensure he could control whichever heir gained the property.
The judge asked what had been found.
Ruth’s voice trembled.
“Human remains.”
Elena’s breath caught.
“Whose remains?”
“I do not know.”
“Margaret believed they belonged to a young woman who disappeared in 1987.”
“Her name was Anna Cross.”
Benjamin’s mother.
Every face turned toward him.
Benjamin remained motionless.
Ruth continued.
“Anna worked at the estate.”
“She had an affair with Charles Hartley.”
“She threatened to expose the stolen charity money.”
“Then she disappeared.”
Elena understood why Benjamin had spent years controlling the family.
He was not merely stealing money.
He was searching for proof that Charles killed his mother.
Benjamin rose from his chair.
“My mother was buried like an animal while Margaret protected her husband.”
Ruth began crying.
“Margaret helped bury her.”
Benjamin’s voice shook with rage.
“She raised Elena with blood money.”
“She hid Catherine.”
“She protected Victoria.”
“She watched every child in that family suffer so the Hartley name could survive.”
The judge ordered him to sit down.
Benjamin suddenly grabbed a court officer’s weapon.
People screamed.
He pointed it toward Victoria.
“Tell them what your grandmother confessed.”
Victoria stood frozen.
May you like
Benjamin’s finger tightened on the trigger.
“She said Anna was still alive when they buried her.”
