Chapter 4 - The Fall
Eleanor denied pushing Rebecca.
Immediately.
“I did not touch her.”
“Then what happened?”
“Rebecca was hysterical.”
“Why?”
“She discovered Richard had been seeing me.”
Adrian laughed once.
“She was seven months pregnant and your lover was her husband. Hysterical seems understandable.”
Eleanor flinched.
Good.
Then she told the story.
Richard promised Rebecca divorce.
Rebecca refused.
Not because she loved him.
Because her father had invested heavily in Ashford Holdings.
Divorce would trigger financial disputes.
Then she learned Eleanor had given birth to Adrian.
She arrived at Ashford Manor on Christmas Eve.
Confronted Richard.
Then Eleanor.
Rebecca threatened to expose everything publicly.
At the top of the staircase, Richard grabbed her arm.
She pulled away.
Lost balance.
Fell.
Eleanor insisted it was accidental.
“Why hide it?”
“Because Richard touched her.”
Not pushed.
Grabbed.
Still dangerous.
Still potentially criminal negligence.
The family attorney arrived before police.
Rebecca’s father did too.
Deals happened.
Statements changed.
A private trust was created for—
Eleanor stopped.
“For who?”
She refused.
Adrian knew that meant the trust mattered.
Then Lily appeared in the doorway holding Mrs. Bell’s hand.
Adrian softened.
“You should be upstairs.”
Lily wiped her eyes.
“Grandma said Mommy ran away.”
Adrian looked at Eleanor.
“Did you tell her that?”
Eleanor said nothing.
Lily continued:
“But Mommy didn't run away.”
“How do you know?”
“She told me she had to find the lady in the picture.”
Adrian crouched.
“What picture?”
Lily pointed toward the photograph of Rebecca.
Adrian’s heart tightened.
“Lily, did Mommy show you this?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
“That the lady didn’t die.”
Everyone froze.
Eleanor whispered:
“No.”
Lily looked confused.
“What?”
Adrian’s voice became very calm.
“Mother.”
Eleanor shook her head.
“Rebecca died.”
“Then why did Victoria tell Lily otherwise?”
“I don't know.”
But Mrs. Bell was staring at Eleanor.
Adrian noticed.
“You know.”
Mrs. Bell’s eyes filled.
“I never saw Rebecca after the ambulance.”
“That’s not enough.”
“I saw the body covered.”
“Did you see her face?”
“No.”
Adrian turned back to Eleanor.
“Did you?”
Eleanor whispered:
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“At the hospital.”
“Alone?”
“No.”
“With who?”
“Richard.”
Then Mrs. Bell said:
“You told me you weren't allowed in.”
Eleanor looked at her.
Silence.
Another lie.
Adrian called the hospital archives.
No Rebecca Ashford admitted that night.
There was an unnamed pregnant woman.
Transferred elsewhere.
Destination redacted.
Death certificate issued three days later by a private physician.
The physician:
Dr. Harold Vale.
Rebecca’s father.
Adrian stared.
Her own father signed her death certificate.
May you like
And according to records—
without a body ever entering the county morgue.
