Chapter 5 - A MOTHER’S CHOICE
Caleb heard Beatrice’s voicemail from the study.
Grace saw him through the doorway.
He stood frozen, one hand braced against the desk, face stripped of color.
When the recording ended, he walked into the hall as if every step cost him something.
“Play it again,” he whispered.
No one moved.
“Please.”
Detective Ruiz looked at Katherine.
Katherine’s face was pale, but she nodded once.
The voicemail played again.
Beatrice’s voice.
You were right.
If he tries to blame you, don’t let him.
This isn’t you.
Caleb sank into a chair.
His grief changed shape in front of everyone.
For six years, he had worshiped a lie because the truth demanded a harder target.
His uncle.
His mentor.
The man who sat beside him at Beatrice’s funeral and whispered, We will make her pay.
Caleb looked at Katherine.
“I didn’t know.”
Katherine stared at him with exhausted eyes.
“You chose not to know.”
He flinched.
“I loved Beatrice.”
“So did I,” Katherine said. “That is why I tried to stop the tour.”
Caleb covered his mouth.
“I loved you too.”
Katherine’s face changed.
Not softened.
Wounded deeper.
“No,” she whispered. “You studied me.”
Grace stepped between them.
“Caleb, do not speak to her again tonight.”
He looked at his mother.
“Mom—”
“No.”
That one word hurt Grace to say.
It also saved something inside her.
For years, she had thought motherhood meant standing beside her son.
That night, she understood motherhood also meant standing in front of the woman he had harmed.
Caleb was not arrested that night, but he was removed from the house under an emergency protective order after giving an initial statement. Frank was detained for questioning once Detective Ruiz obtained Beatrice’s voicemail and the original Ridgeway files.
By dawn, the family estate looked nothing like a wedding house.
Police cars had come and gone.
The flowers in the garden sagged under early dew.
The champagne from the reception had turned warm.
Katherine sat wrapped in Grace’s blue robe at the kitchen table, her wedding dress folded upstairs like evidence.
Grace placed tea in front of her.
Katherine did not drink.
“I’m sorry,” Grace said.
Katherine looked up.
“You didn’t do it.”
“No. But I invited you into this family believing it was safe.”
Katherine’s eyes filled again.
“I thought he loved me.”
Grace sat across from her.
“I did too.”
Robert entered quietly.
His face looked older.
“Caleb is at the hotel with Officer Reyes outside his room,” he said. “Frank’s attorney called twice.”
Grace did not look away from Katherine.
“Let him call.”
Robert sat.
For a while, no one spoke.
Then Katherine said, “I need an annulment.”
Grace nodded.
“Yes.”
“And I need Beatrice’s file reopened.”
“Yes.”
“And I don’t want Caleb near me.”
Grace’s throat tightened.
“Yes.”
Katherine’s voice broke.
“Can you still say yes when it is your son?”
Grace reached across the table, palm up, not touching.
Katherine looked at the hand.
After a moment, she placed her fingertips in Grace’s.
May you like
Grace answered quietly.
“Especially because he is my son.”
