He sighs, bitterness in his sad smile. “When your mother died, your father cut off all contact with you. I tried so hard for grandparent’s rights, but he matched me at every piece of litigation, citing my past.”
“What past?”
I’m confused, and he sighs. “I had a few convictions that went against me.”
“What convictions?”
I’m astonished, and he groans, “I’m ashamed of my past, Alice. I wasn’t the perfect husband or father, and my temper was legendary. It’s why your grandmother left me and took your mom.”
“What did you do?”
I’m almost scared to ask, and he appears defeated as he lowers his eyes and whispers, “I was convicted for domestic abuse and swerved a custodial sentence because I paid off the judge.”
I glance at Simeon, who appears disgusted, and my heart goes into free fall.
“Your grandmother took your mom and half of my fortune, and I was warned to keep away, so I did. Then your mom met Enrico and married him. I could only watch from afar because she wanted nothing to do with me. Since the day she left, I have never even had a conversation with her. She cut me off and I couldn’t warn her about him.”
“What warning?”
It’s as if my stomach is tied in knots as he paints a dark picture of Mom’s life.
“That he was ruthless, emotionless, and used people to further his ambitions. I was aware he was marrying your mom for her money, and I have never been proven wrong. I took steps to counteract that, but under the terms of my divorce, your mom’s inheritance was no longer under my control, and I pleaded with her mother to advise her. To her credit, she listened, via my lawyer, I might add, because she never spoke a word to me since the day she left.”
He appears so contrite I am hovering on forgiveness, and he sighs heavily.
“She persuaded your mother to put the inheritance in your name, and I have a strong feeling that’s the reason I was never allowed to see you. Enrico needed you for your inheritance, at least the collateral that guaranteed his investments.”
“But I have never seen a penny. I’m not even aware of it.”
“You may be unaware of its existence, but it’s there. Locked away under piles of red tape that only you can access.”
My mind turns to the key, and I wonder if somehow that is the key to the inheritance, and Simeon interrupts, “I still don’t understand how Enrico can use Alice’s inheritance.”
“Because when Sarah died, the inheritance transferred to him as her husband. He was able to act on Alice’s interests and use the funds to grow the pot, as they say.”
My blood chills as the penny drops, and I glance at Simeon, noting the fire in his eyes.
“Tell us about Sarah.” He asks, his intention riveted on my grandfather.
“What can you tell us about her death?”
He is staring at him with a hard expression, and I shiver at the dark expectation in his eyes. Simeon is a dark force to bereckoned with and could strip the truth from inside you with one glance in your direction.
I hold my breath for answers because if my grandfather knows whether my mom is still alive, Simeon will get to the truth one way or another.
CHAPTER 35
SIMEON
Any respect I had for Edward Goldsworthy left when I learned how he treated his wife and daughter. It’s obvious he was a cruel man who took his anger out on women unable to defend themselves. I was aware of the conviction. Jack does his homework well, but the charge was a lesser one played down to the courts, and I understand why. He paid off the judge, and the records were altered to get him off the hook. It happens a lot, I should know, and the fact he had to pay the judge off in the first place reveals how serious his crime was.
Edward’s pain is obvious as he brushes a tear away from his eye.
“She died in a collision on the mountain. I was informed by the cops who came to my office.”
“Did you ever see the body?”
“No,” he sighs wearily. “Enrico identified her and they buried her before I was told. Yet another cruel form of manipulation on Enrico’s part. Even her mom was unaware, and it sent her to an early grave.”
