THE MISSING SECRET

The days following their meeting with Claire Dubois passed in a blur of activity.Katherine and Lucien had opened a door that couldn't be closed, and now the past demanded to be fully revealed. Claire had agreed and volunteered herself to help them in their investigation, providing family keepsakes and oral histories passed down through generations. Each story added more pieces to the puzzle, and with each revelation, the truth of Celeste's life and legacy came more sharply into focus.

Katherine felt a newfound sense of purpose, but the threats against them continued. The tension around the estate grew thicker, like a storm waiting to break. Despite her fears, Katherine pressed on, determined not to let the shadows of the past intimidate her into silence.

One afternoon, while sorting through a new batch of documents retrieved from the ruins of the chapel,Katherine stumbled across something extraordinary—a ledger listing transactions from the estate during the 1800s. What stood out was a small entry buried among the accounts of harvests and labor costs.

"Payment to Emmeline Beaulieu, June 1824: Discretionary funds for chapel restoration."

Katherine frowned, running her finger over the faded ink. "Discretionary funds," she murmured to herself. "What were you really using this money for, Emmeline?"

When she showed the ledger to Lucien, he immediately recognized its significance. "If Emmeline was diverting funds from the estate, it would explain how she was able to support the escape network," he said.

Katherine nodded, her mind racing. "We need to find more records. If we can prove that Emmeline used estate resources to aid Celeste and others, it could change how we understand the history of this place."

Their search led them to a storage room in the east wing of the house, a space that hadn't been opened in decades. Dust coated every surface, and the air was thick with the smell of mildew. As they rummaged through old trunks and crates,Katherine found a set of ledgers bound together with twine.

"These might be what we're looking for," she said, holding them up.

Lucien helped her carry the ledgers back to the study, where they spent hours poring over the pages. Sure enough, the records showed a pattern of small, unexplained expenditures over several years, all tied to Emmeline's name.

"She was funding the escape network," Lucien said, his voice filled with admiration. "Right under her family's nose."Katherine couldn't help but smile. "She was brilliant—and brave. But why did she stop? What happened to her?"

The answer came unexpectedly. Among the documents was a letter written by Emmeline herself, dated just a few months after Celeste and her child had escaped.

To whomever finds this,I write this letter knowing I may not live to see the day when the truth is revealed. My actions have put me at odds with my family, and I fear they will not forgive my betrayal. But I cannot regret what I have done. Celeste and her child deserved freedom, and if I must pay the price for ensuring it, so be it.

If this letter survives, let it serve as my confession and my plea: remember the lives that were saved, not the cost of saving them. Let the truth be known, even if it comes too late for me.

The letter ended abruptly, as though Emmeline had been interrupted while writing. Katherine stared at the page, her chest tightening. "She knew the risks," she whispered. "And she accepted them."

Lucien's jaw tightened as he read over her shoulder. "My family tried to bury her story. They erased her because they didn't want anyone to know what she stood for."

The discovery of Emmeline's letter marked a turning point for Katherine and Lucien. They decided to take their findings public, organizing a community meeting in the village square to share what they had uncovered.

The event drew a crowd—villagers, historians, and descendants of those who had lived and worked on the Beaulieu estate. Claire stood beside Katherine and Lucien, her presence a quiet but powerful statement of solidarity.

Katherine took the stage, her voice steady despite the weight of the moment. She spoke of Celeste's courage, Emmeline's sacrifices, and the legacy that had been hidden for far too long. As she shared the documents, letters, and family histories, the audience listened in rapt silence.

When she finished, there was a moment of stillness before the crowd erupted into applause.Katherine felt tears sting her eyes as she looked out at the faces before her—some filled with pride, others with sorrow, but all united in their recognition of the truth.

That night, back at the estate, Katherine and Lucien sat together in the study, reflecting on the day's events.

"You did something incredible today," Lucien said, his voice filled with admiration.

Katherine smiled, leaning against him. "We did it together. I couldn't have done this without you."

He reached for her hand, his gaze earnest. "You've given this place new life,Katherine.You've turned it into a place of hope instead of pain."

She met his eyes, her heart swelling with emotion. "And you've shown me what it means to let go of the past and build something new. I never thought I'd find that here—or with you."

Their lips met in a kiss that spoke of love, healing, and the promise of a future unburdened by the weight of history.