“I Feel Sorry for the Man Who Marries Her,” He Said — By Autumn, He Was the One Saying the Vows
Chapter 9
Daniel told Clara everything.
She was silent for a long time.
“My father knew something.”
“Yes.”
“Your father knew.”
“Yes.”
“And your uncle?”
“We don’t know.”
Clara looked at him.
“You think he did?”
Daniel nodded.
“I think he knows more than he’s saying.”
They went to the old Whitmore house.
Daniel searched his father’s study.
Behind a loose stone in the fireplace, he found another packet.
Inside was a confession.
Jonathan Bennett had discovered that Edmund Whitmore was stealing from the mill.
Not money.
Land.
Edmund had been using false debts to acquire farms from struggling families.
Clara’s father had found the evidence.
He had threatened to expose him.
Edmund paid him to remain silent.
But Jonathan Whitmore had kept copies.
The final page read:
If I die before this is resolved, give these papers to my son when he is old enough.
Tell him not to become the kind of man who believes money gives him the right to own people.
Daniel’s eyes burned.
His father had known.
And he had waited too long.
Clara touched his arm.
“You aren’t him.”
Daniel looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“Because you gave me my choice.”
He took her hand.
Then the door opened.
Edmund stood there.
His face was pale.
“You found them.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You murdered my father?”
Edmund’s expression changed.
“No.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
Edmund looked at Clara.
“Your father died because he refused to remain silent.”
Clara’s breath stopped.
“Did you kill him?”
Edmund said nothing.
Daniel understood.
