Part 15
The next morning, I called Rebecca and told her about the journals and the hidden deed.
She arrived at my house within an hour, her legal curiosity clearly piqued.
We sat at the kitchen island, spread out the journals, and examined the small silver key.
Rebecca carefully inspected the parchment map, using her phone to cross-reference the coordinates.
"This is unbelievable," she murmured, her eyes scanning the digital map on her screen.
"The property is located on a secluded cliffside about three hours north of here. It’s prime coastal land."
"Is it legally safe?" I asked, my voice laced with caution.
"If my mother finds out about it, can her lawyers make a claim?"
Rebecca shook her head, a confident smile spreading across her face.
"According to these notes, your father established this before they even married, using a pre-marital inheritance.
He kept it completely segregated from all communal assets.
When he passed, it automatically transferred to an offshore corporate entity that lists you as the sole beneficiary upon turning thirty.
And guess what? You turned thirty three months ago."
The realization hit me like a wave of warmth. I was the absolute owner of a piece of land nobody else knew about.
"What do you want to do?" Rebecca asked, looking at me intently.
I looked over at Charlotte, who was sitting on the living room rug, carefully painting a picture of the ocean.
She looked so peaceful, completely untouched by the ghosts of our past.
"I want to see it," I said softly. "I want to see the place my father saved for us."
We decided to make a weekend trip out of it.
I packed a small suitcase for Charlotte and myself, making sure Mr. Buttons was safely buckled into the backseat.
As we drove north, the highway wound through dense pine forests and jagged rocky coastlines.
The air grew cooler, crisper, carrying the sharp scent of pine and saltwater.
Charlotte watched the scenery change out the window, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Are we going on an adventure, Mama?" she asked.
"Yes, sweetie," I smiled, reaching back to squeeze her hand. "A very special adventure."
We turned off the main highway onto a narrow, unpaved road lined with ancient oak trees.
The branches arched overhead, creating a natural tunnel of green and gold leaves.
The car bounced gently over the gravel as we climbed higher up the coastal ridge.
Finally, the trees cleared, and the view opened up, causing me to gasp and pull the car to a sudden halt.
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We were standing on the edge of a breathtaking cliff, looking out over a vast, sapphire-blue ocean.
And there, nestled perfectly against the landscape, was a beautiful, weathered stone cottage.
