Arthur had always believed the estate’s gardens held secrets, but he never expected to find one buried beneath the roses. For years, he’d worked under Jared, a generous man who treated him like a friend. But when Jared’s son, Stuart, took over, everything changed. Arrogant and cruel, Stuart fired staff on a whim and turned the estate into his personal party ground.
Arthur tolerated the abuse for Eli’s sake—his grandson was all he had left. But when Stuart accused Eli of scratching his car and fired Arthur in front of the entire staff, the old gardener simply nodded and walked away.
As he dug one last time in the garden he and Jared had loved, his fingers brushed against wood. Beneath the soil lay a chest, packed with cash and gold—and a note from Jared. “For the man who made this place bloom.”
Arthur smiled through his tears. Jared had known Stuart would destroy everything—and he’d made sure Arthur wouldn’t suffer for it. Years later, as Stuart’s ruined reputation followed him, Arthur and Eli thrived, thanks to a friend’s final act of kindness.
