The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 44

This horrifying realization coiled around Annelise's heart like a venomous snake, leaving her sleepless through the night.

Clarissa's ambition was far more monstrous and vicious than she had ever imagined.

Every step Annelise took now was like walking a tightrope over an abyss—one wrong move and she would be shattered to pieces. She needed to find more evidence to confirm her theory!

Early the next morning, as dawn was just breaking.

Harriet quietly slipped out of the house, following Annelise's instructions.

She didn't use the family chauffeur; instead, she took a cab to the address provided by the anonymous tipster.

The secret 'home' where Hackett and Clarissa had hidden their secret.

Harriet's heart was a tangled knot of nerves, pounding erratically in her chest.

In her hand, she carried a gift basket filled with the freshest imported fruit.

This was the excuse Annelise had prepared for her.

"Mrs. Lehman sent me to check on the boy, to see if he needs anything."

It was a perfectly logical reason, backed by the authority of the Lehman family matriarch—an excuse no one could refuse.

The apartment building was new, with tight security.

Harriet used the intercom downstairs and stated her identity.

She waited nearly five minutes before the door was finally opened.

The woman who answered was in her fifties, wearing clean house clothes, her expression looking somewhat guarded and tense.

"Are you... Harriet?"

"Yes, it's me! Zoey, it's been a while," Harriet said, immediately plastering a warm smile on her face.

The nanny, Zoey Zucker, was a distant relative of Lizzie's from her younger days. She was an honest, simple woman who had fallen on hard times, leading Lizzie to recommend her for domestic work at the Lehman estate for a few years. She and Harriet were acquainted.

Seeing a familiar face, Zoey visibly relaxed.

She ushered Harriet inside, muttering softly, "Why did you come so suddenly? Ms. Sherwood and Mr. Hackett didn't tell me anything."

"Oh, you know Mrs. Lehman. She was fussing over the young master, worried you'd have your hands full all by yourself, so she specifically sent me to check in," Harriet explained smoothly, placing the fruit basket on the entryway cabinet.

The two women sat down on the sofa and began casually chatting about everyday matters.

Relying on her status as a veteran staff member of the Lehman household, and her supposed mandate from Lizzie, Harriet spoke with confident authority.

Beating around the bush, she easily coaxed plenty of useful information out of the simple-minded Zoey.

Manuel was two years and three months old.

He looked exactly like his father.

When Harriet asked "who the father was," Zoey unconsciously blurted out the truth.

"Well, he looks just like Hackett, of course! Those eyes, it's just..."

Mid-sentence, as if suddenly realizing her blunder, Zoey's face paled and she quickly corrected herself.

"I... I mean, he looks like Elias! Yes, like poor Mr. Elias who passed away!"

This clumsy cover-up only confirmed everything.

Harriet made a mental note of it, pretending not to have noticed the slip, and smoothly transitioned to asking about the child's daily routine.