Chapter 11 - Rachel’s FileDaniel searched Claire’s office.

Behind tax records he found a folder bearing the name of his late wife.

RACHEL CARTER.

Daniel’s breathing stopped.

Claire had never met Rachel.

At least that was what she had always claimed.

Inside were copies of Rachel’s bank statements.

Medical insurance documents.

A photograph of Rachel standing outside Carter Ridge Dairy six years earlier.

And handwritten notes.

Rachel located Covenant?

Ask Robert.

Ethan beneficiary?

Daniel sat down.

Rachel had died in a highway accident when Ethan was three.

Daniel had spent years believing every unresolved question about her life had ended that night.

Now Claire possessed a file suggesting Rachel had been investigating Carter Ridge.

He called Rachel’s older sister, Laura.

“Did Rachel ever talk to you about the farm documents?”

Laura became quiet.

“She made me promise not to tell you.”

Daniel closed his eyes.

“Tell me now.”

“About two months before the accident, Rachel said she discovered inconsistencies in the farm ownership.”

“What kind?”

“She thought your grandmother had protected the property through some kind of covenant.”

“Did she find it?”

“I don’t know.”

“She mentioned Ethan?”

“Yes.”

Daniel sat straighter.

“What did she say?”

Laura hesitated.

“She said, ‘If anything happens to Daniel, Ethan can’t lose that farm.’”

Daniel looked toward Ethan playing outside.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“After Rachel died, your father contacted me.”

“My father?”

“He said Rachel had misunderstood old paperwork and that bringing it up would hurt you.”

Daniel’s jaw tightened.

“Did Robert contact you?”

A pause.

“Yes.”

“When?”

“The week after the funeral.”

Daniel stared at Rachel’s file.

Claire wasn’t merely exploiting a decades-old family secret.

She had researched Rachel.

Possibly before marrying Daniel.

That changed everything.

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