Learning The Whole Truth
Her husband had given her a painting as a gift, but it had been undervalued because of its alleged invalid value. She set out on the most thrilling and heartbreaking journey of her life with her determination to expose the truth. Her perspective of the man she loved and admired and everything she claims to know about him would be completely altered if she discovered a hidden note beneath a layer of paint.
Learning The Whole Truth
Match Made In Heaven
Despite their lack of financial resources, Charlotte and John were able to live comfortably together. His love for her was undeniable, and over the course of their long marriage, they rarely ran into a problem they couldn’t solve together. However, there was one lingering thought in their relationship’s backstory: the fact that they were dating. It was something the two of them had to deal with on a frequent basis.
Match Made In Heaven
He Was A Private Person
Charlotte was caught off guard by how private John appeared to be after meeting him for the first time. He didn’t say much more about his family members and had his own peculiarities. Charlotte hoped that as time passed, he would become more transparent, but even when he was with his wife, he remained closed off. It was a character trait that caused a lot of tension between them, even after he died.
He Was A Private Person
Odd Behavior
John would regularly return home late from work without giving a clear justification for his absence. “Don’t be concerned,” he’d say, explaining that he wasn’t with anybody. “I wasn’t with anyone. You just don’t need to know where I’ve been or what I’m doing all the time. Just know I’m not doing wrong by you.” He’d say it over and over again, and Charlotte felt she had no alternative but to believe him. She, on the other hand, was the only one who was aware of what had occurred.
Odd Behavior
A Press That’s Always Locked
It apart from his mysterious outings, John kept a media player in their bedroom wardrobe, which he made a point of locking. Charlotte tried several times to open it but was unsuccessful evey time. She had enough confidence and trust in him to not put any pressure on him. When the time was right, she assumed he’d tell her. She had no idea he would tell her so late in the game.
A Press That’s Always Locked
There Was Enough Time To Prepare
The family members was not surprised when John passed away. To their great disappointment, they had been anticipating it for quite some time. They were all able to say their final goodbyes and be present for him. It was a lot more than a lot of other people got. While this didn’t make John’s loss any less painful, it did give him a moment of opportunity to plan beforehand.
There Was Enough Time To Prepare
A Painting As A Gift
Before John died unexpectedly, he gave Charlotte a painting and told her she should never, ever give it away. He informed her it was incredibly valuable and that she should inspect it thoroughly. Charlotte couldn’t understand why he thought she’d be interested in a painting at this time. With a slight smile and a respectful nod, she accepted the painting. For so many years, her husband had such a close connection to this painting, but she had no idea how much he care deeply until recently. There was, however, a valid reason for it.
A Painting As A Gift
His Art
It didn’t appear that the painting was especially remarkable. It wasn’t even close to being an antique or masterpiece – surely if it had been, he would have told her? Charlotte was devastated by John’s death, which happened not long after. Despite the fact that she had her children to console her, they were all grown up and living their own lives away from home. Charlotte was left alone to ponder her thoughts. Though there was one thing that has kept resurfacing in her thoughts.
His Art
Mysterious Message
To be accurate, the painting. She sat there staring at it when she recalled what he had said about it. Charlotte’s depression was compounded by the fact that he had given her such a cryptic message about it, further confusing her. She couldn’t understand a word he said. So what is it about him that compelled him to speak to her in mysteries? For the first time, she wished that he would simply be truthful with her and tell her everything, and it was then that everything fell into place.
Mysterious Message
Looking Real Close
The painting might be the answer to everything after all. We now know everything he’s been keeping secret for the last half-century. He said something to her in his final moments that she repeated several times. “Take a closer look,” she whispered. The artwork in front of her caught her attention as she repeated his words. “Look closer, look closer, look closer,” says Charlotte. As she struggled to get to her feet, she took a step towards the artwork on the wall.
Looking Real Close
One Last Task
For some reason, Charlotte felt like she was on assignment from him for the rest of their lives as husband and wife. Maybe this is the answer to all the privacy and confidentiality for the last 50 years? Before getting into her car, Charlotte took the painting down from its wall-mounted hook and put it in a bag. Regardless of the obstacles, her goal was to solve this puzzle.
One Last Task
It’s Not Worth Anything
Just as she had predicted, when Charlotte took the painting to an appraiser, he told her it was absolutely useless. Even so, “Are you certain? Could you please take another look?” The last thing Charlotte wanted to do was admit that she was wrong. She took his word for it when he said it would help her. Why would he say something like that if that weren’t the case?
It’s Not Worth Anything
Getting Others’ Opinion
Her late husband had assured her that the painting was valuable, so it couldn’t be meaningless. After returning home with the painting, Charlotte was disappointed, but she was not going to give up. She contemplated her next move while she poured herself a cup of coffee. Her realization of the importance of always seeking a second opinion on such matters came at that moment. Despite the fact that it was possible that he was mistaken, she sought help from a colleague.
Getting Others’ Opinion
It Didn’t Make Sense
Tony, a self-taught art restorer, helped her out. He assured her he would take a look at it and give her his honest opinion. Charlotte had the painting in hand and was on her way to his house in less than a minute. The original artwork appraiser had told her something that didn’t make any sense, and she explained why to him. He was of the same opinion as her. A friend of Charlotte’s late husband named Tony suspected there was a problem.
It Didn’t Make Sense
Finding Out The Hidden Truth
In the time that Tony had known John, he had always thought of him as an honorable and reserved person who would never say anything that he didn’t mean or that was simply untrue. Something special about the artwork must have compelled its inclusion in this collection. In the final moments of his life, John would never say or do something like that without making some sort of implied accusation. The more Tony learned about this piece of art, the more enamored he became.
Finding Out The Hidden Truth
Something’s Hidden
Not long after Tony began inspecting the painting, he noticed that it had a shockingly thick coat of varnish atop an even stranger coat of paint, and that the varnish had built up on the painted surface. He examined the painting more closely, paying close attention to the brushstrokes’ curves. He looked for the paint under his microscope for a short time before realizing there was a problem. He checked his notes one last time.
Something’s Hidden
The Wait Game
Using his blue-lighting torchlight, he scanned the problematic area to determine the source of the problem. He was sweating profusely as he worked in the hot studio. Charlotte sipped on sweet tea while anxiously waiting in his living room. A natural environment wouldn’t have seen those sudden increases in paint. Something was waiting just below the surface.
The Wait Game
There Was A Note
As soon as Tony got through with his research, he called Charlotte over and asked her to come take a closer look. After that, he began to chip away at the paint with great care so as not to damage it further. Unexpectedly, a tiny, strange piece of paper appeared before her eyes. Tony took great care when removing it from the canvas. On the front of the card, her late husband’s handwriting penned the name Charlotte. Her skin grew paler and her eyes grew more sluggish.
There Was A Note
What’s With The Bank?
Taking a piece of paper from her pocket, Charlotte flipped it over in her hands and then approached for another. On a piece of paper, her husband had written a location and a code that she identified. Her mind was racing with ideas. The building at that address was a local bank. Charlotte hurried to her vehicle and drive to the address Tony had given her after thanking him profusely for his assistance. What did her beloved late husband want to say to her?
What’s With The Bank?
She Couldn’t Figure It Out
She broke down and cried as she was driving to the bank, thinking about him. She pondered what he might have done differently this time and why he had kept quiet. That’s the one time she wished he was there with her so she could yell at him.
She Couldn’t Figure It Out
VIP
Charlotte made it to the bank in the end. She went straight to the banker and asked for help right away. When she showed him the note, he reacted in an unexpected way. Incredulous, he asked her to follow him when she showed the note. She assumed something was wrong. That’s exactly what happened.
VIP
She Was Surprised And Confused
A green light appeared when she placed her finger on the safe scanner as directed by the employee. A silver plate next to the safe had her late husband’s name engraved on it. As she searched for answers, her heart was racing. What was it he had been keeping from her all this time? Another note with her name on it was in plain sight when the safe’s door finally opened.
She Was Surprised And Confused
Finally, The Truth
As Charlotte recognized her late husband’s handwriting for the very first time, tears welled up in her eyes. She asked the employee to give her a few minutes so she could read his letter. The letter weighed in at over a page. Furthermore, it’s one of the most heartwarming letters she’s ever received. He’d kept secrets from her for years, but as she read, they all came flooding out.
Finally, The Truth
The Reason Why
To begin with, John actually explained why he had the safe and the absurdly high pile of money it contained. Aside from working as a carpenter, John held an extra position in addition to that of carpenter. Charlotte appeared to be clueless as to what he did for a living. Even though Charlotte was aware of John’s wealthy uncle, who also happened to be a well-known painter, she mistakenly assumed that all of his works had been marketed. Contrary to popular belief, this wasn’t the case.
The Reason Why
Inheritance
John was the sole heir to his uncle’s asset. He inherited the entire body of work he had done as a painter. Paintings that John auctioned and looked after while working as a carpenter’s assistant. It was a combination of money he received as an inheritance and money he made selling his paintings and lithographs. He went on to say that she had to put up with all the secrecy because of this. However, why is this the case?
Inheritance
The Life He Wanted
John was raised by his wealthy uncle and resented being singled out for special treatment because of his wealth. He was surrounded by quacks who preyed on him. John was determined not to follow in his father’s footsteps. As a consequence, he was able to keep his affairs private and enjoy a happy marriage with his beloved wife. As a father, he did well raising his children and leading a peaceful existence. Despite her tears, Charlotte couldn’t keep a smile on her face.
The Life He Wanted