Chapter 3: The Inheritance Richard Was Desperate to Hide
For a long moment, neither Daniel nor I moved.
Richard's name glowed on the phone screen.
Then the call ended.
A second later, another message appeared.
*This is a family matter. Do not involve lawyers who don't understand what Lucas did.*
Daniel read it twice.
"He's panicking," he said.
I looked down at the envelope.
"Why would he care what Lucas wrote to me?""
"Because he knows something is in there.""
"Something worth threatening me over?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Maybe.""
I picked up the letter again.
My hands were steadier now, but my heart was beating so hard that I could feel each pulse in my throat.
I had spent three years believing the Carter family was wealthy because Richard had built a successful investment business.
I knew there were properties, company shares, and accounts I would never understand.
I knew Lucas had grown up with privileges I hadn't experienced.
But I had never cared about any of that.
I had fallen in love with a man who brought me cheap flowers from the grocery store because he remembered that I liked yellow roses.
A man who made pancakes at midnight when I couldn't sleep.
A man who had once driven forty minutes through a snowstorm because I'd mentioned, in passing, that I wanted a particular kind of tea.
I didn't want his money.
I wanted him.
Now he was gone, and his father seemed more frightened of a piece of paper than he had been of my grief.
I turned to Jonathan's note.
"The controlling beneficiary of an asset Richard has spent twenty years trying to obtain," I read aloud.
Daniel dragged a hand through his hair.
"That sounds like a company.""
"Or property.""
"Could be.""
"Why would Lucas leave it to me?""
Daniel sat down.
"Because he trusted you.""
I looked at him.
"Then why didn't he tell me?""
"Maybe because he didn't know how much danger you were in until shortly before the accident.""
The word danger hung between us.
I looked at the door, suddenly aware of every sound in the hallway.
"Can Richard come here?""
"Not without your permission.""
"Can he make me go back to that house?""
"No.""
"Can he take my baby?""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Not because he's angry with you. And if he tries, we'll get the right people involved.""
I nodded, but the reassurance didn't erase the fear.
My phone buzzed.
This time, the message was from an unknown number.
*You should ask Daniel what happened at the office the night Lucas died.*
I read it once.
Then again.
The room seemed to tilt.
I slowly raised my eyes toward Daniel.
He was staring at his own phone.
"Who sent you that?"" he asked.
"I don't know.""
He held out his hand.
I gave him the phone.
He studied the message, then looked away.
"What happened at the office the night Lucas died?"" I asked.
Daniel said nothing.
"Daniel.""
He stood and walked to the window.
For several seconds, he watched the traffic below.
Then he turned around.
"I went to Lucas's office that night.""
The words landed like a stone.
"Why?""
"He called me.""
"When?""
"About forty minutes before the police contacted you.""
My stomach tightened.
"You told me you were home when I called you yesterday.""
"I was home when you called. But before that, I was at his office.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't want to add to what you were already dealing with.""
I stared at him.
"Don't make that decision for me.""
He closed his eyes briefly.
"You're right.""
"What happened there?""
Daniel returned to the chair.
"Lucas had been working late. He asked me to come because he wanted someone he trusted to witness something.""
"What?""
"He had found a set of financial records that suggested someone was using his signature to authorize transactions he hadn't approved.""
I felt cold.
"Someone forged his signature?""
"That's what he suspected.""
"Did he know who?""
"He thought he did. But he wanted to verify the records before accusing anyone.""
"Who did he suspect?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Richard.""
I pressed my hand over my mouth.
"No.""
"Emily—"
"No. His father?""
"I know how that sounds.""
"Richard raised him.""
"I know.""
"Lucas loved him.""
"I know that, too.""
Daniel's voice broke slightly on the last word.
He looked down at his hands.
"That's why he was struggling with it. He kept telling me there had to be another explanation.""
I thought of Richard standing in the kitchen, telling me that Lucas had made mistakes.
Had he already known what his son had discovered?
Had that been why he had looked so frightened when Jonathan called?
"Did Lucas have proof?"" I asked.
"Some records. Not enough to establish everything. He wanted to meet with his lawyer the next morning.""
"But he never made it.""
Daniel nodded.
The silence that followed was unbearable.
I reached for the letter again.
"Then we need to find out what he left behind.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Emily, there's something else.""
I closed my eyes.
Of course there was.
"What?""
"When I arrived at the office, Lucas asked me to take a small black drive from his desk and keep it somewhere safe.""
"Do you have it?""
"Yes.""
"Where?""
"At my apartment.""
"What's on it?""
"I don't know. Lucas told me not to open it unless Jonathan instructed me to.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?""
"Because I wanted to hear what Jonathan had to say first. And because I made Lucas a promise.""
I looked away.
Every person around me seemed to have made promises to my husband that I knew nothing about.
I was his wife.
I was carrying his child.
Yet everyone appeared to know a different version of the man I had loved.
"I need to see that drive," I said.
Daniel nodded.
"I'll get it.""
"No. Not alone.""
He frowned.
"Emily, you need rest.""
"And you need to stop deciding what I can handle.""
He stared at me for a moment.
Then, slowly, he nodded.
"Okay. We'll go together when the doctor says you're ready.""
My phone rang again.
Jonathan Price.
I answered immediately.
"Mr. Price?""
"Mrs. Carter, I need to ask you something. Has Richard contacted you?""
I looked at Daniel.
"Yes. He told me to stop reading Lucas's letter.""
Jonathan exhaled.
"That confirms my concern.""
"What concern?""
"That Richard may attempt to persuade you to sign documents before you fully understand your legal position.""
"What documents?""
"A waiver, a release, or an agreement regarding the estate. I don't know what he may present, but I want you to be prepared.""
I looked at the papers on my lap.
"Jonathan, what is this asset Lucas left me?""
"I can tell you the name of the entity. The details will take longer to explain.""
"Please.""
He paused.
"The Carter family has been trying to acquire the controlling interest in a company called Meridian Development for nearly twenty years.""
"Meridian Development?""
"Yes. It's a privately held property and infrastructure company with significant commercial holdings. Its value is substantial, though I won't give you a figure until the latest records are reviewed.""
I stared at the wall.
"What does that have to do with me?""
"Lucas acquired an interest in Meridian several years ago through a separate investment vehicle. He later transferred that interest into a trust designed to protect his immediate family.""
"His immediate family?""
"You and your child.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"How much of the company does the trust own?""
"That is one of the details I need to verify against the original records. What I can tell you is that Lucas's interest gives the trust rights that Richard has been attempting to secure.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Does Richard know Emily is the beneficiary?""
"I believe he suspected Lucas had made provisions for her. I don't know whether he knew the exact terms.""
"Then why did he throw her out?"" Daniel demanded.
Jonathan was silent for a moment.
"That is precisely why I believe we need to act carefully.""
I swallowed.
"Can Richard take the trust away from me?""
"Not simply because he wants to. The documents have legal protections, and we will review them with independent counsel. But I need you to understand something, Mrs. Carter.""
"What?""
"Your inheritance is not the only reason Lucas left these instructions.""
I held my breath.
"What is the other reason?""
"He wanted you to know that the company records he discovered might connect to a much larger problem.""
"Do you think Richard stole from him?""
"I think there are financial discrepancies that deserve a proper investigation. I will not accuse anyone without evidence.""
"And Vanessa?""
"I have no verified evidence establishing her involvement.""
I thought about her standing in the kitchen, watching Richard shove me out into the cold.
"She called you, didn't she?""
"Yes.""
"What did she want?""
"She asked whether Lucas had left a will and whether you were named in it.""
"Did you tell her?""
May you like
"No.""
"Then how
