Page 57 of Fallen Roses


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Mama makes no attempt to look for herself and Titus shrugs. “Love letters found in Veronica Scott-Stanley’s London home. There are many more, all saying the same thing.”

Mama shrugs. “Then ask her. I have never seen them before.”

“You know I can’t. She’s dead.”

Mama shrugs. “That is no concern of mine.”

Titus frowns and removes a letter from his jacket pocket. He unfolds it and reads:

My darling Veronica

How I miss your bright smile that lights my world. Has it really been two long months since I last held you in my arms? I have a favor to ask of you, my love. I know it’s another one, but this is important. I will meet you in Thorn House on the seventeenth of next month and explain everything. Until then, I will count the days and pray for time to pass quickly.

Yours always andforever

Your devoted

Andrei.

Mama pales as he unfolds another one.

My darling Veronica.

I am lost without you. Russia is a lonelier place, knowing you are so far from me.

Has it really been three months since I last held you in my arms?

If it wasn’t for my position and my family, I would be with you now. One day, this will all change. It must change. We will be together as we should have been, and this nightmare will be over.

As always, I can’t say much, but understand the deep love I hold in my heart is for you—it has always been you. Circumstances dictated we walk along different paths in life, but I glance over at you, walking alone with deep sadness and regret.

This should never have happened, but we must accept that sometimes sacrifices must be made for snatched moments of pleasure that cost us so dearly.

Until we meet next month, stay safe, my darling, and I am thinking of you every minute of the day.

Always yours

Andrei

Mama sobsand I feel helpless as I glance at Titus, his features set in tight fury and he says darkly, “I believe that in this letter, to contradict your earlier statement, he has made it very clear that he was interested inherand for some reason was killing time with you.”

I gasp as mama cries, “Why are you being so cruel, Titus? I’m your mother. These letters are fake.”

“Not according to the handwriting specialist I employed to authenticate them.” He adds brutally, andshe stares at him in shock, the blood draining from her face as she whispers, “Why are you punishing me?”

I feel so bad for her and lean across and take her hand in mine.

“We only want the truth, mama. You owe us that.”

“Owe you?” She shakes her head sadly. “I owe you nothing, Ana. I gave you life. I fought for this family and it has been an uphill struggle for my entire married life. I have given everything to this family, and this is how you reward me. By accusing me of something that was never my crime in the first place.”

“Then tell us, mama. Tell us the truth and then we can move on because when I met Adele Kenricky, your friend from school who was a Heatherington back then, she told me that if I was looking for pa’s murderer, I should question you.”

“That woman.” Mama can barely conceal her dislike. “She used your father for personal gain. They all did.”

“All?”

Titus asks and her eyes flash as she hisses, “Yes, they used his business acumen and his ideas and formed an alliance. It was a master plan, genius in fact, and the person who made it all happen was your father.”

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