Chapter 6 - White Roses Meant Richard Was Watching
Margaret used white roses during the early Hale Development years.
According to Claire, she sent them whenever she wanted Henry to know
Richard was nearby and conversations should stop.
It sounded absurd.
Then Samuel confirmed part of it.
Margaret frequently arranged white roses for Richard’s office before
sensitive meetings.
Richard assumed she simply liked them.
Henry interpreted them differently.
A warning.
Ethan remembered his childhood.
White roses at anniversaries.
White roses after arguments.
White roses at Richard’s funeral.
He had adopted the habit without knowing why.
Emily looked at the flowers still lying near the mansion doorway.
Something beautiful could carry a meaning nobody intended anymore.
Ethan asked Claire what Richard said during his final visit.
Richard apologized.
He told her Henry had been right.
He had found the original Northstar ledger.
He planned to correct the record.
But he was afraid Margaret would destroy the company rather than let the
truth emerge.
“Why didn’t he go public?”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“Same reason everyone in these families did everything. He said he was
protecting Ethan.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
He was beginning to hate that sentence.
Richard believed public disclosure could expose Hale Development to
lawsuits and destroy Ethan’s inheritance.
So instead of telling Ethan, he built a delayed trust mechanism.
At thirty-five, Ethan would gain enough voting power to order an
independent investigation without Margaret stopping him.
Emily said:
“He still made the choice for you.”
“Yes.”
Richard’s plan was better than permanent silence.
It was still silence.
Then Samuel called.
Someone had entered his former law office overnight.
Nothing valuable appeared missing.
Only File 117’s storage cabinet had been forced.
The original file was safe because Samuel had brought it home after
meeting Ethan.
Security footage showed a man entering through the rear hallway.
Ethan recognized him immediately.
His cousin, Lucas Hale.
May you like
Margaret’s nephew.
And Hale Development’s chief financial officer.
