Chapter 10: The Records She Was## Chapter 10: The Records She Was Never Supposed to See
The courtroom emptied slowly, but I remained seated.
Vanessa's final words kept repeating in my head.
*Tell them about Never Supposed to See
The courtroom emptied slowly, but I remained seated.
Vanessa's final words kept repeating in my head.
Tell them about the hospital records, Daniel.
Michael closed his briefcase and looked at me.
"What records is she talking about?""
I rubbed my palms against my trousers.
"Emily's medical records.""
"Why would those matter?""
"Because Vanessa shouldn't have them.""
Michael pulled out a chair.
"Start from the beginning.""
I stared at the courtroom door.
Emily had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer three years earlier. By the time doctors discovered it, the disease had already spread. We spent months fighting it with surgery, chemotherapy, and every treatment her specialists recommended.
During those final months, I was both her husband and her physician.
I never treated her myself. I couldn't. But I attended appointments, spoke with specialists, and made sure she understood every decision.
There was one particular incident I had never discussed with anyone outside the hospital.
Two weeks before Emily died, her condition deteriorated suddenly.
She developed severe abdominal pain and was admitted the hospital records, Daniel.*
Michael closed his briefcase and looked at me.
"What records is she talking about?""
I rubbed my palms against my trousers.
"Emily's medical records.""
"Why would those matter?""
"Because Vanessa shouldn't have them.""
Michael pulled out a chair.
"Start from the beginning.""
I stared at the courtroom door.
Emily had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer three years earlier. By the time doctors discovered it, the disease had already spread. We spent months fighting it with surgery, chemotherapy, and every treatment her specialists recommended.
During those final months, I was both her husband and her physician.
I never treated her myself. I couldn't. But I attended appointments, spoke with specialists, and made sure she understood every decision.
There was one particular incident I had never discussed with anyone outside the hospital.
Two weeks before Emily died, her condition deteriorated suddenly.
She developed severe abdominal pain and was admitted overnight.
The attending physician suspected an intestinal complication. A scan was ordered, but the results took several hours.
During that time, Emily asked to speak with me privately.
She was frightened.
"Daniel," she whispered, "I need you to overnight.
The attending physician suspected an intestinal complication. A scan was ordered, but the results took several hours.
During that time, Emily asked to speak with me privately.
She was frightened.
"Daniel," she whispered, "I need you to promise me something.""
I held her hand.
"Anything.""
"Don't let anyone make decisions about Ivy because they think I'm not here to defend her.""
I kissed her forehead.
"Nobody will.""
She looked toward the window.
" promise me something.""
I held her hand.
"Anything.""
"Don't let anyone make decisions about Ivy because they think I'm not here to defend her.""
I kissed her forehead.
"Nobody will.""
She looked toward the window.
"Promise me you'll read everything before you sign it.""
I didn't understand what she meant.
Then she asked me to contact her attorney.
Three days later, she amended Ivy's trust documents.
At the time, I believedPromise me you'll read everything before you sign it.""
I didn't understand what she meant.
Then she asked me to contact her attorney.
Three days later, she amended Ivy's trust documents.
At the time, I believed she was simply strengthening the protections around our daughter's inheritance.
Now Vanessa was suggesting there had been something more.
Michael interrupted my thoughts.
"Did Emily ever accuse anyone of interfering with her treatment she was simply strengthening the protections around our daughter's inheritance.
Now Vanessa was suggesting there had been something more.
Michael interrupted my thoughts.
"Did Emily ever accuse anyone of interfering with her treatment?""
I looked at him.
"Not directly.""
"Did she mention Vanessa?""
"No.""
"Margaret?""
I hesitated.
"She had met Margaret once. At our wedding.""
Michael leaned forward.
"Daniel, did Vanessa have?""
I looked at him.
"Not directly.""
"Did she mention Vanessa?""
"No.""
"Margaret?""
I hesitated.
"She had met Margaret once. At our wedding.""
Michael leaned forward.
"Daniel, did Vanessa have access to Emily's medical records?""
"After we married, she had access to some household paperwork. But Emily's hospital records were never kept at home.""
"Then we need to find out how she access to Emily's medical records?""
"After we married, she had access to some household paperwork. But Emily's hospital records were never kept at home.""
"Then we need to find out how she obtained them.""
My phone vibrated.
An email from the hospital's medical records department.
The subject line read:
*UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS INVESTIGATION — PATIENT EMILY CARTER*
I opened it.
The message explained that someone had recently requested obtained them.""
My phone vibrated.
An email from the hospital's medical records department.
The subject line read:
*UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS INVESTIGATION — PATIENT EMILY CARTER*
I opened it.
The message explained that someone had recently requested a complete copy of Emily's medical records using a signed authorization supposedly submitted by her legal representative.
The request had been rejected because the authorization contained an invalid signature.
But the request itself had been retained.
The name a complete copy of Emily's medical records using a signed authorization supposedly submitted by her legal representative.
The request had been rejected because the authorization contained an invalid signature.
But the request itself had been retained.
The name listed as the requester was Margaret Ellis.
I turned the screen toward Michael.
His expression hardened.
"That's significant.""
"Can they tell us when she submitted it?""
I sc listed as the requester was Margaret Ellis.
I turned the screen toward Michael.
His expression hardened.
"That's significant.""
"Can they tell us when she submitted it?""
I scrolled down.
The request date was November 18.
Three weeks before Emily's death.
I felt my stomach drop.
Margaret had requested my dying wife's medical records while Emily was still alive.
Why?
Beforerolled down.
The request date was November 18.
Three weeks before Emily's death.
I felt my stomach drop.
Margaret had requested my dying wife's medical records while Emily was still alive.
Why?
Before Michael could answer, my phone rang.
Rachel.
"Daniel, I need you to come over.""
"What happened?""
"Ivy wants to talk to you.""
"Is she okay?""
"She's fine. But she found something in Emily's old belongings.""
My heart skipped.
Michael could answer, my phone rang.
Rachel.
"Daniel, I need you to come over.""
"What happened?""
"Ivy wants to talk to you.""
"Is she okay?""
"She's fine. But she found something in Emily's old belongings.""
My heart skipped.
"What?""
Rachel lowered her voice.
"A letter. It's addressed to you, and there's another name written on the back.""
"Whose"What?""
Rachel lowered her voice.
"A letter. It's addressed to you, and there's another name written on the back.""
"Whose name?""
"Margaret.""
I stood immediately.
Michael gathered the documents.
"We're going together.""
When we arrived, Ivy was sitting at Rachel's dining table.
A small wooden jewelry box rested in name?""
"Margaret.""
I stood immediately.
Michael gathered the documents.
"We're going together.""
When we arrived, Ivy was sitting at Rachel's dining table.
A small wooden jewelry box rested in front of her.
"Where did you find this?"" I asked.
"In Aunt Rachel's closet. She said it belonged to Mom.""
Rachel nodded.
"I kept several of Emily's things after she passed. Ivy front of her.
"Where did you find this?"" I asked.
"In Aunt Rachel's closet. She said it belonged to Mom.""
Rachel nodded.
"I kept several of Emily's things after she passed. Ivy was looking through the Christmas decorations and found the box.""
I opened it.
Inside were two necklaces, a photograph of Emily holding Ivy as a baby, and a sealed envelope.
My name was written across the front.
On the was looking through the Christmas decorations and found the box.""
I opened it.
Inside were two necklaces, a photograph of Emily holding Ivy as a baby, and a sealed envelope.
My name was written across the front.
On the back, in smaller handwriting, were four words.
If Margaret gets involved.
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
I carefully opened it.
Emily's handwriting filled the page.
Daniel,
*If Margaret Ellis ever becomes back, in smaller handwriting, were four words.
If Margaret gets involved.
I felt my heartbeat quicken.
I carefully opened it.
Emily's handwriting filled the page.
Daniel,
If Margaret Ellis ever becomes involved in Ivy's financial affairs, please investigate before trusting anything she tells you.
I stopped reading.
Rachel covered her mouth.
The letter continued.
She approached me several months ago, claiming she wanted to help arrange Ivy's future. She asked detailed questions about the trust, the involved in Ivy's financial affairs, please investigate before trusting anything she tells you.
I stopped reading.
Rachel covered her mouth.
The letter continued.
She approached me several months ago, claiming she wanted to help arrange Ivy's future. She asked detailed questions about the trust, the life insurance, and who would control the money if I died.
I told her those decisions were already made.
She became angry.
She said a child shouldn't have access to that much money without someone life insurance, and who would control the money if I died.
I told her those decisions were already made.
She became angry.
She said a child shouldn't have access to that much money without someone in the family controlling it.
I looked up.
"Why didn't Emily tell me?""
Rachel's eyes filled with tears.
"She tried.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
Rachel sat down.
"Emily called me one night. She said Margaret had been asking questions and that she didn't trust her.""
in the family controlling it.*
I looked up.
"Why didn't Emily tell me?""
Rachel's eyes filled with tears.
"She tried.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
Rachel sat down.
"Emily called me one night. She said Margaret had been asking questions and that she didn't trust her.""
"Did she tell you about Vanessa?""
Rachel nodded slowly.
"She said Vanessa had been asking similar questions.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Emily asked me to wait until she could speak with you herself. Then her condition worsened.""
Rachel wiped her eyes.
"I thought"Did she tell you about Vanessa?""
Rachel nodded slowly.
"She said Vanessa had been asking similar questions.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Emily asked me to wait until she could speak with you herself. Then her condition worsened.""
Rachel wiped her eyes.
"I thought you knew.""
I looked down at the letter again.
The final paragraph made my hands shake.
*Daniel, if Vanessa ever becomes involved in decisions about Ivy's inheritance, please remember that she has never accepted the fact that Ivy's money belongs to Ivy alone you knew.""
I looked down at the letter again.
The final paragraph made my hands shake.
Daniel, if Vanessa ever becomes involved in decisions about Ivy's inheritance, please remember that she has never accepted the fact that Ivy's money belongs to Ivy alone.
Protect our daughter. And please don't let anyone use my illness to make you doubt what you know about being her father.
I folded the letter carefully.
Then I noticed something.*
Protect our daughter. And please don't let anyone use my illness to make you doubt what you know about being her father.
I folded the letter carefully.
Then I noticed something tucked behind it.
A second document.
It was a printed email exchange between Emily and her attorney.
The subject line read:
*Concern Regarding Margaret Ellis and Vanessa Carter.*
I read the tucked behind it.
A second document.
It was a printed email exchange between Emily and her attorney.
The subject line read:
*Concern Regarding Margaret Ellis and Vanessa Carter.*
I read the first message.
Emily had asked her attorney to investigate whether anyone had attempted to obtain unauthorized information about Ivy's trust.
The attorney's response was dated November 21.
*We have identified an inquiry first message.
Emily had asked her attorney to investigate whether anyone had attempted to obtain unauthorized information about Ivy's trust.
The attorney's response was dated November 21.
We have identified an inquiry made by an individual connected to your husband's future spouse. We recommend preserving all communications and maintaining the existing restrictions.
I stared at the date.
Three days after Margaret requested Emily's medical records made by an individual connected to your husband's future spouse. We recommend preserving all communications and maintaining the existing restrictions.*
I stared at the date.
Three days after Margaret requested Emily's medical records.
Emily had known.
She had been protecting Ivy while fighting for her own life.
And I had known none of it.
Michael photographed the documents.
"We need to send these to the investigator immediately.""
I nodded.
Then Ivy quietly approached.
"Dad?""
I looked down.
.
Emily had known.
She had been protecting Ivy while fighting for her own life.
And I had known none of it.
Michael photographed the documents.
"We need to send these to the investigator immediately.""
I nodded.
Then Ivy quietly approached.
"Dad?""
I looked down.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Was Mom scared of Vanessa?""
I crouched.
"Why do you ask?""
Ivy pointed to the letter.
"Because I remember Mom saying something about people who smile when they want something.""
My throat tightened.
"Do you remember anything else?""
She nodded.
"Mom told me that if someone ever made me feel like I had to earn"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Was Mom scared of Vanessa?""
I crouched.
"Why do you ask?""
Ivy pointed to the letter.
"Because I remember Mom saying something about people who smile when they want something.""
My throat tightened.
"Do you remember anything else?""
She nodded.
"Mom told me that if someone ever made me feel like I had to earn my place in a family, I should remember that I already belonged somewhere.""
I pulled her into my arms.
"You belong with me, sweetheart.""
She hugged me tightly.
Then Rachel's phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
"Daniel, it's Robert.""
I answered.
"What's happening?""
His voice was shaky.
"Marg my place in a family, I should remember that I already belonged somewhere.""
I pulled her into my arms.
"You belong with me, sweetheart.""
She hugged me tightly.
Then Rachel's phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
"Daniel, it's Robert.""
I answered.
"What's happening?""
His voice was shaky.
"Margaret is at the house. She knows you've found Emily's letter.""
"How?""
"I don't know. But she's destroying something.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
Robert whispered:
"An old computer. The onearet is at the house. She knows you've found Emily's letter.""
"How?""
"I don't know. But she's destroying something.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
Robert whispered:
"An old computer. The one she used to communicate with Vanessa.""
Then he said something that made Michael immediately reach for his phone.
"Daniel, I found an email on the screen before she smashed it.""
"What did it say?""
Robert took a breath.
"It was addressed to Samuel Pierce.""
And the subject line read:
**The Real Reason Emily she used to communicate with Vanessa.""
Then he said something that made Michael immediately reach for his phone.
"Daniel, I found an email on the screen before she smashed it.""
"What did it say?""
Robert took a breath.
"It was addressed to Samuel Pierce.""
And the subject line read:
May you like
*The Real Reason Emily Died.*
Died.**
