“Then show me the proof.”
He paused for a second.
Then he unlocked a metal filing cabinet and retrieved a heavy document box.
The box contained copies of an original birth certificate, estate papers, handwritten notes, and a vintage picture of Jane cradling an infant.
I grabbed the photograph with trembling fingers.
It was me.
Paul explained, “Your official identity was changed, but the actual inheritance was never destroyed. It was frozen entirely, waiting for undeniable proof of the heir’s life or death. Mary demanded it be done that way. Your grandfather ordered the same thing before his passing.”
I glared at the stack of papers. “Why did you all wait until right now?”
“Because Mary was convinced the danger was very real for a long time, and later she felt the lie had grown too deep to safely undo. She ordered me to freeze everything unless you showed up with hard evidence, or unless she gave a different command. Your ancestry kit results serve as that evidence.”
“Was Jane murdered?” I asked him bluntly.
Paul selected his response very cautiously. “I do not have evidence of that. But I can verify that her passing greatly rewarded individuals who were already stealing money and influence from the business. I can also verify that John eventually assisted in keeping specific documents hidden.”
“Was my adoptive mom aware of this?”
