Chapter 199 New Beginnings Epilogue - Benedict POV
"Sir, I found these in one of Mrs. Cargill's trainers." One of the maids holds out a folded page and a smaller one from a notebook.
My heart skips a beat with trepidation as she hands me the papers.
I've made peace with the fact that I may never know what Ben said to Caroline in that suicide note. Was it under this roof the whole time? In a shoe?
I have officially sold the house that has been in my family for generations. Miguel doesn't want it, and neither do I. I don't think I was ever happy under thsi roof, apart from maybe when my kids were small.
I walk to my office wjth those papers clutched in my hand.
Yes, I d still consider Ben my son, Regardless of DNA, I still raised him as mine, and that is how I will always think of him, despite everything that he did.
I lock the door behind me. I don't know why, it's not like anyone wikll come in to disturb me when I will finally know what he said beofre he took those drugs. They still haven't found Caroline's killers, but I don't care of they do. They rid the world of a vile woman, and in turn did me a huge favor.
I slowly sit down behind my desk, probably for the last time. It's really the end of an era. My father sat at this very chair before me, and his father before him. My children will never sit here, and it's for the best.
I unfold the smallest paper first, and freeze.
It's a list of names, with the first three names crossed off.
I'm last on the list.
That botch.
I knew there had to be something fishy in teh way Samuel died, but how? How did she do that even doctors weren't suspicious of his death?
Samuel
Jeffrey
Robert
Smon
Madison
Miguel
Benedict
Seven an,es and she managed to kill three. Caroline got exactly what was coming for her, I jus wished it was me who saw the last breath leave her body. Ben was already dead, and she wanted to kill my only son, too.
I would never in my heart find forgiveness for what she's done. Nver.
I'm so scared to open the other page, knowing that waht is in there will probably gut me. But I have to read it, because I need closure. I need something that tells me Ben wasn't really bad to his core, he was a result of Caroline's influence. And if he was, then it's good he decided to end it himself.
My hands shake when I open the page, fearful for what I will find.
Mom,
When you read this, you probably found me dead. I know it will be you, because you are the only person who really loved me.
Don't miss me too much, and if you, think of all the times we spent together. You are the only one who truly understood me, when we were in bed together, I felt free from all the noise in my head.
They are going to say a lot of negative things about me, and I just can't see myself in jail for the rest of my life. You know I don't belong there.
So go out and live for me. Do the things you really want.
In my underwear drawer is the keycard to my apartment. In my bedroom in the closet at the bottom, you will find a safe. The code is 250801. It's Madison's birthday. It's stupid, I know, but I really wanted that girl, because I saw Miguel look at her the first day of school like she was already his. I wasn't going to let him have her.
Madison destroyed me. Don't ever forgive her.
You will find everything in that safe that you may ever need, including my most valuable connection.
Remember that I love you on the days it might seem too hard.
Love,
Ben
The words start blurring in front of me.
Nothing about me. Not even a mention.
I'm both sickened and relieved by the words. He hated Miguel. He didn't want Miguel to hav eanything that he couldn't, including Madison.
I'm sure there was cash in that safe, the reason why Caroline was able to disappear without a trace. Who was Ben's most valuable connection though? I will give Miguel that information, along woth Caroline's hit list that she luckily wasn't able to fulfill.
But Ben's letter?
I get a lighter out of the desk drawer and set the letter alight, throwing it in the fireplace taht i never even used in the office.
It's over now. Ben and Caroline are dead, and this house is hopefully bought by a family who will be able to find happiness here.
I walk out of there, knowing it will be my last time.
I don't go back to the new penthouse that I bought. No, I go to my son's house, where they are expecting me for Thiago's bathtine routine.