The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 26

It was 9:00 PM by the time they returned to the Lehman Estate.

Claiming she wasn't feeling well and needed to rest, Annelise declined Lizzie's "gracious" offer to join her for a late-night snack and went straight up to the guest room.

The moment she walked in, she locked the door behind her.

Harriet followed her, watching her swaying figure with red, teary eyes.

"Ms. Sargent, today... you suffered so much."

Annelise didn't speak.

She walked over and collapsed into the plush sofa, sinking deeply into the cushions.

She stayed completely silent, so long that Harriet thought she had fallen asleep.

Then, Annelise's eyes snapped open.

There was no grievance or sorrow in them—only a dead expanse of burnt-out ash, and beneath it, a relentless spark that refused to die.

"Harriet."

She spoke. Her voice was hoarse but unnervingly calm.

"My head is a mess right now."

"Help me list out exactly what we know. Everything."

Harriet paused for a second before understanding what she meant.

They were taking inventory of the pitifully few chips they had in this game.

"Right." Harriet steadied her nerves and began listing them one by one.

"One. Four years ago, Mr. Hackett used your appendectomy as a cover to tie your tubes."

"Two. Mr. Hackett and Clarissa have a child together out there. Manuel. He's about two."

"Three. Barnum and Lizzie likely know all about this, but they've chosen to cover it up."

Annelise nodded and added one more.

"Four. There's someone secretly feeding me information."

She remembered the anonymous text warning her about the safe's passcode being changed.

After establishing these four points, a long silence stretched between the two women.

Any single one of these facts was enough to trigger an earthquake in high society.

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