Chapter 19 - OWEN'S LAST CHOICE
Brooke told Natalie the rest.
The night before Owen died, she met him in a parking garage.
She wanted out.
Not because she suddenly became good.
Because Malcolm had started threatening her too.
Owen gave her cash and a phone number for a federal contact.
"Leave tonight," he told her.
Brooke did not.
Malcolm convinced her Owen was manipulating her.
The next day Owen died.
Brooke spent the next year telling herself she had not caused it.
Then she doubled down.
Helped Preston.
Stayed near Dominic.
Threatened Natalie.
Prepared the poison.
"Why tell me now?" Natalie asked.
Brooke answered, "Because he deserved one thing in the record that isn't about how he died."
Natalie hated her for making that sentence meaningful.
She also believed it.
People could tell truth without becoming forgiven.
Brooke pleaded guilty and received a long sentence with cooperation credit.
Malcolm and Preston went to trial.
Finch testified.
Vaughn testified.
Gregory returned publicly for the first time in six years.
Malcolm was convicted in Owen's death conspiracy and financial crimes.
Preston was convicted of trust fraud, kidnapping, obstruction, and conspiracy tied to Catherine's treatment.
Neither man looked powerful when the sentence was read.
Dominic attended Catherine's memorial garden opening months later.
The cottage was gone.
In its place stood apple trees, lavender, and a stone path Noah designed badly and proudly.
Natalie's new house sat farther uphill.
Smaller.
Her name alone on the deed held by her trust.
Dominic had no key.
That was intentional.
Noah ran toward him carrying a wooden sign.
"Uncle Dom, help."
The sign read:
CATHERINE AND OWEN GARDEN
NO SHOES ON THE FLOWERS
"Strong policy."
Not on a silver tray.
She no longer worked as a maid.
She had become operations manager for the Catherine Foundation after an independent hiring process.
"Careful. Brooke used to charge you for those."
May you like
"And now I expense them."
For once, the Mercer family laughed without anyone being afraid of who heard it.
