Chapter 8: The Voice From the Past
Nolan barely slept that night.
The photograph sat on the desk in his study.
The same study where his father had once taught him everything about the Ashford legacy.
Now every memory felt different.
Every conversation.
Every warning.
Every silence.
At sunrise, Mae found him there.
“You should rest.””
Nolan looked up.
“I’ve rested for four years.””
She understood what he meant.
Mae stepped inside.
Nora was asleep upstairs with one of the estate blankets wrapped around her.
For the first time, Nolan allowed himself to say the word.
“My daughter.””
Mae smiled sadly.
“Yes.””
He looked down.
“I missed everything.””
Mae sat across from him.
“You didn’t know.””
“But I should have.””
“Nolan.””
“I should have found you.””
“You tried.””
He looked up.
“What?””
Mae nodded.
“After I left, you came looking.””
Nolan frowned.
“I don’t remember.””
“I know.””
She reached into her bag.
Then placed an old envelope on the desk.
Nolan stared.
“What is that?””
“A letter you wrote me.””
His hands froze.
“I wrote this?””
“Yes.””
He opened it carefully.
The handwriting was his.
The words were his.
Mae,
I don’t understand why you’re gone. Everyone keeps telling me to move on, but something feels wrong. I know you wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye.
Nolan stopped reading.
His throat tightened.
There was more.
I found a ring in my desk drawer. I don’t remember buying it, but I know what it means. I know I was supposed to give it to you.
He looked up.
“The ring.””
Mae nodded.
“The one Celeste had.””
Nolan continued reading.
If anyone tells you I don’t love you, don’t believe them.
A tear escaped Mae’s eye.
Nolan closed the letter.
“Why didn’t I remember writing this?””
“Because the next day, Henry told you I was gone because I betrayed you.””
Nolan looked at the letter again.
“He erased the truth.””
“Yes.””
A knock interrupted them.
Marcus stood outside.
Nolan looked surprised.
“What do you want?””
Marcus entered slowly.
“I found something.””
Nolan said nothing.
Marcus placed a small recorder on the desk.
“I kept it because I knew someday the truth would come out.””
Mae looked at him.
“You knew.””
Marcus lowered his eyes.
“I knew enough.””
Nolan picked up the recorder.
“What’s on it?””
Marcus hesitated.
“A conversation.””
“Between who?””
Marcus looked toward the window.
“Henry and your father.””
Nolan pressed play.
Static filled the room.
Then a voice.
His father.
Older.
Tired.
“If anything happens to me, Nolan must know the truth.””
Nolan stopped breathing.
Another voice answered.
Henry.
“You’re being dramatic.””
“No. I’m being careful.””
The recording continued.
“My son loves Mae Carter.””
Henry responded coldly.
“And that woman threatens everything.””
“She is not a threat.””
“She is a weakness.””
Nolan’s hands tightened around the recorder.
His father continued:
“She carries my future granddaughter.””
A pause.
Then Henry’s voice.
“Then perhaps Nolan should never know.””
The recording ended.
The room was silent.
Mae covered her mouth.
Nolan stared at Marcus.
“Where did you get this?””
Marcus looked away.
“Your father gave it to me.””
“Before he died?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you play it?””
Marcus swallowed.
“Because Henry found out I had it.””
Nolan stood.
“You had proof.””
“I was afraid.””
Nolan looked at him.
“Of Henry?””
Marcus nodded.
“He destroyed everyone who stood against him.””
Before Nolan could respond, the study door opened.
Celeste stood there.
But she wasn’t alone.
A woman stood beside her.
Older.
Elegant.
And wearing the same pearl bracelet from the photograph.
Nolan froze.
The woman looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“Nolan.””
His voice barely worked.
“Mom?””
Mae turned white.
Because Nolan’s mother had been declared dead five years earlier.
The woman stepped forward.
“I’m sorry.””
Nolan couldn’t move.
His entire life split apart in a single second.
“You’re alive.””
She nodded.
And whispered:
“I came back because Henry is about to destroy the last piece of evidence.””
Nolan stared.
“What evidence?””
His mother looked at Mae.
Then Nora.
May you like
Then him.
“The truth about why your father died.””
