Chapter 2 - THE MAN IN THE GARDEN
Clara woke at 2:13 in the morning.
Something had struck her window.
Tap.
She sat up.
Tap.
Another pebble hit the glass.
Clara crossed the room and looked outside.
A man stood near the hedge.
She almost screamed.
Then he stepped into the moonlight.
Arthur.
Clara remembered him.
He used to sneak chocolate cookies into the library when her mother said she had already eaten too many.
He raised one finger to his lips.
Then pointed toward the old greenhouse.
Clara hesitated.
Vanessa’s warning echoed in her head.
Stay out of my things.
But Arthur had belonged to the world before Vanessa.
The world where her mother was alive.
Clara pulled on her robe.
She slipped downstairs.
The house was silent.
She reached the greenhouse ten minutes later.
Arthur was waiting.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Clara whispered.
“Neither should you.”
“Then why did you call me?”
Arthur looked toward the mansion.
“Because we’re running out of time.”
Clara swallowed.
“I saw Mom’s necklace.”
Arthur’s face changed.
“Where?”
“Vanessa has it.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
“That confirms it.”
“Confirms what?”
He crouched in front of her.
“Clara, I need you to listen carefully.”
“Is my mom alive?”
Arthur froze.
Clara stared at him.
“You know something.”
“I know many things.”
“Is she alive?”
Arthur looked away.
That was enough.
Clara grabbed his coat.
“Tell me!”
“Lower your voice.”
“Tell me!”
Arthur covered her hands with his.
“Yes.”
The world seemed to stop.
Clara stared at him.
“What?”
“Your mother is alive.”
Clara slapped him.
Arthur did not move.
“You’re lying!”
“I wish I could have told you sooner.”
“Three years!”
Tears poured down Clara’s face.
“Three years!”
Arthur reached for her.
She backed away.
“She let me think she was dead?”
“She was protecting you.”
“From who?”
Arthur looked toward the mansion.
“Your father.”
Clara went still.
Arthur told her only part of the truth.
Three years earlier, Evelyn discovered Daniel had been stealing money from the Whitmore family trust.
Millions.
Vanessa had helped him create false companies and transfer assets.
Evelyn planned to expose them.
The night of the crash, Daniel discovered her plan.
“He tried to stop her from leaving.”
“How?”
Arthur hesitated.
“Your mother will tell you.”
“Why didn’t she come back?”
“Because Daniel controlled the police report, the house, the company lawyers, and most importantly, you.”
Clara shook her head.
“He loves me.”
Arthur’s expression softened.
“I believe part of him does.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Adults can love someone and still do terrible things to protect themselves.”
Clara wiped her face.
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“I want her.”
“I know.”
“Now.”
“Clara—”
“You said she’s alive!”
Arthur looked toward the house again.
Then he reached into his pocket.
He handed Clara a tiny phone.
“One number.”
Clara stared at it.
“Her?”
“Yes.”
Her hands shook.
“Can I call?”
“Not from the house.”
“Why?”
“Because your father monitors more than you realize.”
A light suddenly turned on inside the mansion.
Arthur grabbed Clara.
“Down.”
They crouched behind a stone planter.
A flashlight moved across the lawn.
Then Vanessa stepped outside.
She was wearing a robe.
And carrying Clara’s shoes.
Clara looked down.
Her feet were bare.
Vanessa had found the empty bedroom.
“Clara!”
Her voice echoed across the grounds.
Arthur whispered, “Go through the servants’ entrance.”
“What about you?”
“Go.”
Clara ran.
She reached the kitchen seconds before Vanessa entered from the main hallway.
Clara grabbed a glass and filled it with water.
Vanessa appeared behind her.
“What are you doing?”
Clara turned.
“Getting water.”
“Barefoot?”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
Vanessa studied her.
Then looked at the muddy marks on Clara’s feet.
“You walked outside.”
Clara’s heart stopped.
“No.”
Vanessa stepped closer.
“You’re lying.”
Daniel appeared upstairs.
“What’s happening?”
Vanessa didn’t look away from Clara.
“Your daughter has started keeping secrets.”
Daniel sighed.
“She’s nine.”
Vanessa smiled.
“Exactly.”
She took Clara’s hand.
“Come upstairs.”
Clara pulled away.
“I can walk.”
Vanessa squeezed harder.
“So can I.”
When Clara returned to her bedroom, the window had been locked.
The next morning, a security company arrived.
By noon, new cameras covered the estate.
At breakfast, Daniel barely looked up from his phone.
“It’s for your safety.”
Clara stared at him.
“From what?”
Daniel finally looked at her.
“People who want what we have.”
Vanessa sipped her coffee.
Clara thought about Arthur’s phone hidden beneath her pillow.
One number.
One chance.
And somewhere in the world, her mother was waiting.
Then Clara noticed something on Daniel’s tablet.
A security-camera image.
The greenhouse.
Timestamped 2:24 a.m.
Two figures stood inside.
May you like
One was Clara.
The other was Arthur.
