PART 5 — THE FAMILY THAT NEVER WANTED HER TO KNOW

Henrik entered the cabin without waiting for an invitation.

He was accompanied by two men from Garnet Falls, both wearing heavy coats and carrying documents.

His eyes moved from Torvald to Sigrid.

“Well,” he said coldly. “So this is where you’ve been hiding.”

Sigrid stood beside the table.

“I haven’t been hiding.”

“Your sister has been worried sick.”

“Clary knows where I am.”

Henrik gave a dismissive wave.

“Your mother is ill. Your sister has enough troubles without you disappearing into the mountains.”

Sigrid felt the familiar pressure of guilt.

For years, those words had been enough to bring her running.

But something had changed.

“What do you want, Uncle?”

Henrik placed a document on the table.

“Your signature.”

She glanced at the paper.

It was a transfer agreement for the old Edwardson property.

The land included the family home, a small orchard, and the timber rights her father had once worked so hard to preserve.

Sigrid frowned.

“I thought Father left everything to Mother.”

“He did. And your mother has decided to sell.”

“Then why do you need my signature?”

Henrik hesitated.

“Because your father placed part of the property in a trust. You are named as a beneficiary.”

Sigrid slowly raised her eyes.

“What?”

Henrik’s expression hardened.

“You don’t understand legal matters. Just sign, and I’ll handle everything.”

Torvald stepped closer.

“She has a right to read the document.”

Henrik looked at him with open irritation.

“This is a family matter.”

“Then you shouldn’t have brought strangers to pressure her.”

One of the men shifted uneasily.

Sigrid picked up the document.

The transfer would give Henrik complete control of the orchard and timber rights.

But the signature section was not simply asking her to approve a sale.

It required her to surrender every claim to the inheritance.

She placed the paper down.

“I won’t sign.”

Henrik stared at her.

“You have no idea what you’re refusing.”

“Then explain it.”

“You’ve spent your whole life depending on this family. We fed you, housed you, and gave you work.”

Sigrid’s hands тιԍнтened.

“I worked for every meal I ate.”

“You were never grateful.”

The words struck an old wound.

For a moment, she was twelve again, standing in the kitchen while Clary received a new dress and she was told to be thankful for her father’s old coat.

Then she remembered Torvald’s letter.

Strength should not be a punishment.

“No,” Sigrid said quietly. “I was useful. That isn’t the same as being valued.”

Henrik flushed.

He snatched the document from the table.

“Your mother will hear about this.”

“Then tell her I want to speak with her myself.”

He turned toward the door.

But before leaving, he looked at Torvald.

“You should know something, Cain. The woman you’re protecting has a sister who understands how the world works.”

Torvald’s voice remained calm.

“Then perhaps her sister can explain why you need Sigrid’s signature so badly.”

Henrik slammed the door.

That night, Sigrid could not sleep.

She kept thinking about her mother.

Had she truly agreed to sell the property?

Or had Henrik simply used her illness to get what he wanted?

At dawn, Sigrid found Torvald in the barn.

“I need to go to Garnet Falls.”

He stopped brushing the horse.

“It’s dangerous to travel in this weather.”

“I know.”

“I’ll go with you.”

She shook her head.

“I want to speak to my mother alone.”

Torvald studied her face, then nodded.

“Then I’ll take you as far as the lower trail. I’ll wait there.”

When they reached the valley, Sigrid went straight to the Edwardson house.

Clary opened the door.

Her golden hair was pinned neatly, and she wore a new wool dress.

For a moment, the sisters simply looked at each other.

Then Clary whispered:

“You actually came back.”

“I came to see Mother.”

“She doesn’t need more upsetting news.”

“Is she really selling Father’s property?”

Clary glanced toward the hallway.

“Uncle Henrik says it’s the only way to pay her debts.”

“What debts?”

Clary hesitated.

Sigrid noticed the hesitation.

“Clary, tell me the truth.”

Her sister lowered her voice.

“Henrik says Father borrowed money before he died. The property is supposed to cover it.”

Sigrid frowned.

“Father never borrowed money from Henrik.”

“You don’t know everything.”

“No. That’s why I’m asking.”

Clary looked toward the staircase.

Then she reached into her dress pocket and pulled out a folded paper.

“I found this in Father’s old desk.”

Sigrid opened it.

It was a receipt from the county land office.

The date was eleven days before her father’s death.

The receipt confirmed that he had registered a second deed.

And the property description was not the orchard.

It was the mountain land surrounding Torvald’s cabin.

Sigrid looked up.

“Why would Father give Torvald land?”

Clary shook her head.

“He didn’t give it to him.”

She pointed to the bottom of the document.

“He put it in your name.”

Sigrid’s breath caught.

Before she could ask another question, a door opened behind them.

Their mother stood at the top of the stairs, pale and trembling.

“Sigrid,” she whispered. “You mustn’t let Henrik find out you have that paper.”

“Mother, what is happening?”

Her mother gripped the railing.

“Your father didn’t leave us poor, sweetheart.”

She swallowed.

“He left us something worth more than all the money in Garnet Falls.”

Then her voice dropped to a frightened whisper.

“But Henrik has been searching for it ever since.”