Chapter 4 - Penelope’s Voice
Tabitha stopped moving.
The garden gate stood only a few steps behind her, but she did not run.
Not yet.
Her hand rose to her mouth, diamonds flashing against pale skin, eyes stretched wide with panic she could no longer disguise as arrogance.
Paige stood in the middle of the rose path with the sealed envelope against her chest and the phone in her other hand.
“Penelope,” she said carefully, “you knew this existed.”
The estate attorney’s voice remained steady through the speaker.
“I knew your father had prepared contingencies.”
Tabitha whispered, “Turn that off.”
Paige looked at her.
“No.”
Penelope continued, “Are you alone?”
Paige’s gaze stayed on Tabitha.
“No.”
“Who is with you?”
Paige answered without hesitation.
“Tabitha.”
A pause.
Then Penelope’s voice hardened by one quiet degree.
“Is she leaving?”
Tabitha’s face twisted.
“I have every right to be here.”
Penelope did not speak to her.
That was somehow worse.
She spoke only to Paige.
“Do not hand her anything. Do not open the envelope. Do not leave the garden.”
The instructions made Tabitha recoil.
“Who do you think you are?”
Paige’s eyes narrowed.
“She is my father’s attorney.”
Tabitha’s mouth curled, but fear shook the expression apart.
“Former attorney.”
Penelope’s voice cut through the phone.
“That is incorrect.”
Tabitha froze.
Paige felt the words settle over the garden like a gate locking.
Not revealing the will.
Not revealing the plan.
Not revealing what Calvin might receive.
Only correcting one lie.
Paige looked down at the envelope.
The paper was damp against her glove.
Her father had hidden this here.
Under his roses.
Where Kyle would never kneel.
Where Calvin would never look.
Where Tabitha would never lower herself unless there was something to steal.
Paige swallowed hard.
“What is it?”
Penelope’s answer came slowly.
“Your father left one final trap.”
Tabitha’s knees seemed to weaken.
The wind moved again.
White petals trembled between them.
May you like
The envelope remained unopened.
Read Chapter 5 👉 Because the attorney said trap, and Tabitha finally understood Paige’s father had expected betrayal before anyone admitted it.
