Chapter 13: Her Late Husband ’s Decision

Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Her Late Husband ’s Decision

Flora left the building and walked towards the garden.

This garden was her favorite place in the whole mansion.

Whenever her heart was heavy, she comes here. Her late husband had planted the white roses himself. He used to say, "When you are worried, come and sit with the flowers. They will listen."

But today, even the flowers could not calm her. Her hands were shaking.

She wanted to be alone.

She sat down on the small wooden bench near the roses. The sun was soft. The air was quiet. She could hear birds chirp.

She took a deep breath and opened the email.

The subject was: *ESTATE VERIFICATION NOTICE - COURT OF LAW.*

She opened it.

Her eyes moved slowly over the words.

Dear Mrs. Flora Darwins,

This is to inform you that the court is aware of the estate matter concerning your late husband, Chief Darwins.

_We write to request that your papers are needed for estate verification as authorized in the Will by your late husband.

_Please note that this verification is a legal decision that should take place 5 years after his death, according to the instruction left in his Will.

_If you need more details about this verification, you should meet your family lawyer.

_If you choose to come to court for more information, the court is still available to explain to you.

_Thank you._

_Registrar, Supreme Court.

Flora read it again. And again.

Five years after his death.

Why would her husband write that? Why would he want the court to call her after five years? He had already given her everything. The house, the company, the lands. Why this again?

Her chest became tight.

"What does this mean?" she whispered to herself. "What paper? Are they planning to take everything?."

She tried to call Barrister Martins. His number was not going through.

She looked at the roses. Her husband’s face came to her mind. The night before he died, he had held her hand and said, "Flora, after I am gone, protect our name. I know a lot will unfold when I leave this world, but I trust you to face it with courage."

At that time, she thought he was just sick and talking. Now those words were coming back.

She felt worried. Very worried. Her heart was beating fast.

"Is there something he did not tell me?" she said quietly. "Is there something hidden in the Will?"

She stood up and started walking around the garden. Her favorite garden now felt strange. The quiet that used to give her peace was now making her fear worse.

She remembered Andrew. Her husband’s brother. Since her husband died, Andrew had been asking questions about the estate. He has been coming to the office with his lawyers .Harassing her staff . Demanding for the company’s vital informations.

Could this be a set up from Andrew?

Flora sat down again. She pressed her phone to her chest.

"I cannot go to court alone," she said. "I need to involve my lawyer. I don’t trust Martins and Andrew especially now that the properties are involved."

She made a decision.

She would go with her lawyer and meet Martins .She would carry all the papers - the Will in her custody, the land documents, the company files, everything her husband left.

She stood up from the bench. The wind blew the roses.

For the first time in five years, Flora felt that her husband’s death was not the end of the story. It was the beginning of another problem.

She held her phone tight and walked slowly back into the mansion, her heart full of worry and many unanswered questions.

Flora walked to the end of the garden . Her heart was still beating fast.

She called her immediate younger brother, Benson. He was also the General Manager of her company.

"Benson, are you free?" she said.

"Yes, sis. I called you earlier to confirm transactions".Your line was busy."

"Oh that, I was on call with my lawyer. I got an email from the court. They said my papers are needed for estate verification. That it was written in my husband’s will and the order should take place five years after his death."

Benson was quiet for a moment.

"Five years? That is now. Did Martins tell you about this?"

"No. Am still in shock . My husband loves his privacy and avoids drama,he would not tolerate this ,if he was still alive."

"Don’t panic," Benson said. "Arrange the papers for tomorrow. I will follow you to Martins’ office. We need clarity on this will ."

As he was talking, Flora heard a soft movement behind her back. Like someone walking.

She turned quickly. "Who is there?"

No answer.

She stood up, looked around the garden. No one was there.

Maybe it was just her mind. She was too tense.

She continued the call while going upstairs to check on Maya. Maya was sleeping peacefully.

Flora smiled small. Then she went back to her room to rest, but her mind could not rest.

She later slept off.

She did not plan to sleep. She only wanted to close her eyes for some minutes after talking to Benson. But her body was tired. Her heart was tired. The worry about the court email had drained her.

She slept.

Then a hard bang on her door woke her up.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Flora jumped. Her heart jumped with her.

"Who is that?" she shouted, still half asleep.

It was Grace. Her maid.

"Madam! Madam! Open the door!"

Flora stood up quickly. She checked her phone for time. It was 8:20 pm. She had slept for almost three hours. The room was already dark.

She opened the door.

Grace was breathing fast. Her eyes were wide. Her apron was not tied well, like she ran very fast.

"Grace, what is it? Why are you banging like that?" Flora asked.

"Madam, sorry ma. It is serious. Come, come quick!"

"What happened?"

"Simon caught somebody in your study room."

Flora’s sleep cleared at once. "What? Who?"

"The chef. Simon caught her red-handed. She entered inside your study room, Madam. She had your documents in her hand."

Flora froze. For two seconds she could not move. Then she pushed past Grace.

"Where is she now?"

"Still in the study. Simon is holding her there. He said we should call you."

Flora did not wear her slippers well. She ran down the stairs almost barefoot. Grace ran behind her.

When she got to the study room, everyone was already there.

Simon was standing by the door, his face hard and angry. He was blocking the door so nobody could escape. The two security guards were also inside.

And in the middle of the room was the chef.

She was kneeling on the floor, crying. Her hands were shaking. In her hands were some papers.They were her husband’s land documents and the copy of the Will.

Flora’s blood became hot.

Maya also came down when she heard voices. She was in her night wear.

"Mummy, what is happening?" Maya asked, rubbing her eyes. "Why is everybody shouting?"

Flora did not answer Maya at first. She looked straight at the chef.

"What is this?" Flora asked. Her voice was low but full of anger.

The chef was crying louder now. "Madam, sorry Ma. Sorry Ma, please."

Flora walked closer. "I said, what is this? What are you doing with my documents in your hand?"

The chef was shaking. "Madam, I... I was only cleaning..."

"Cleaning?" Flora shouted. "Cleaning in my private study? Who gave you the key to my study?"

The whole room became quiet.

Maya moved closer to Flora. "Mummy, maybe she is cleaning," Maya said softly.

Simon shook his head. "No, Miss Maya. She is not telling the truth. I saw her with my own eyes. She did not enter to clean. She entered and went straight to the drawer. She was searching. She already had the key in her hand before I caught her."

"Madam, forgive me," the chef cried, falling on the floor. "They forced me. They said if I don’t bring the paper, they will ....."

Flora’s eyes widened. "Who? Who sent you?"

The chef kept crying and did not answer.

Flora became more angry. She bent down and collected the documents from her hand.

"Who sent you?" she shouted again. "Look at me! Who sent you to steal from me?

But the chef kept crying. She did not answer. Her tears were falling on the floor. Her shoulders were shaking.

I am talking to you," Flora said, her voice louder. "Who sent you to my study?"

The chef only cried more. "Madam, forgive me... forgive me..."

Flora was angry. This woman had worked for her for four years. She trusted her. She took her when she was stranded. She begged for four months for this job.

Today, she broke the ladder I used to lift her. Now she has learned that human beings change. Their loyalty only last as long as their need.

Simon stepped closer. He looked at the chef with a serious face.

"Chef ", Simon said calmly, "talk now. Tell Madam the truth so that Madam won’t involve the police."

When Simon said police, everyone was shocked.

Grace put her hand over her mouth. The two security men looked at each other.

The chef stopped crying for a second. She looked up with fear in her eyes.

Flora understood what Simon was doing. She played along.

She brought out her phone and pretended to press numbers.

"Yes, you are right, Simon," Flora said. "I think I should call the police now. If she does not want to talk to me, she will talk to the police. This is stealing. This is a crime."

She put the phone near her ear.

"Hello, police?" Flora said loudly. "Yes, I want to report a case of theft in my house..."

"Madam, please, don’t call police! Don’t call police!"

Flora looked down at her. "Then talk. Who sent you?"

Flora lowered her phone. She did not actually call anyone. She was only pretending.

"Okay, talk. We are listening," Flora said.

Everyone in the study room became quiet. Maya moved closer to her mother. Grace held her breath. Simon folded his arms.

The chef took a deep breath..