Chapter 8: My Mother's Last Lie
"Mom?""
She didn't answer.
I moved closer.
"Did you know Dad was alive?""
She shook her head.
"Not until tonight.""
"Then why would he say you were responsible?""
Her lips trembled.
"I don't know.""
Emily stepped between us.
"Michael, don't do this. We need to hear the whole story.""
I looked at her.
"How much more can there be?""
My mother lowered herself into a chair.
Then she reached for the photograph.
"Your father and I had a terrible marriage toward the end.""
I sat opposite her.
"Because of Grandpa?""
"Because of Thomas. Because of money. Because of things I didn't understand.""
She looked toward the window.
"After your grandfather discovered the missing money, your father confronted Thomas. They fought in the driveway. Your father threatened to report him.""
"What happened?""
"Thomas told your father that if he went to the police, he would reveal the truth about your birth.""
I shook my head.
"Grandpa had already told Dad.""
"Yes. But Thomas had something else.""
"What?""
My mother hesitated.
"He had documents showing your father had signed some of the estate transfers.""
I frowned.
"Was that true?""
She nodded.
"Your father had signed them, but he claimed he didn't know what they were. Thomas told him they were routine business documents.""
I leaned back.
"So Dad was involved.""
"Not willingly.""
"Mom, I need the truth.""
She looked directly at me.
"Your father discovered that Thomas had been using his identity to move money. He confronted him. Thomas threatened to destroy our family.""
"And then Dad disappeared.""
My mother nodded.
I looked at her.
"What did you do?""
She began crying.
"I called Thomas.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"Your father had left the house. I didn't know where he was. Thomas told me he could bring him home.""
"Then what?""
"He said David had been in an accident.""
I stared at her.
"Did you believe him?""
"I did.""
"Why?""
"Because he showed me blood on his clothes.""
Emily covered her mouth.
My mother continued.
"He told me your father had been badly injured. He said the police were involved and that I couldn't see him until the investigation was complete.""
I felt sick.
"Did you ever see a body?""
"No.""
"Did you ever speak to the police?""
She shook her head.
"Thomas told me that if I cooperated, the family would be protected.""
I stood up.
"So you helped him fake Dad's death?""
My mother looked at me with tears running down her face.
"I thought he was already dead.""
"That's not what I asked.""
She pressed her hands together.
"I signed the papers he gave me.""
"What papers?""
"Documents confirming his personal effects and authorizing the release of his insurance benefits.""
I stared at her.
"Did you know the death certificate was false?""
"No.""
"Did you question it?""
"I was grieving.""
I walked to the window.
I wanted to believe her.
But the evidence was becoming impossible to ignore.
My phone rang again.
Lauren.
I answered.
"Michael, where are you?""
"With my mother.""
"Good. Don't go anywhere alone. I've just received an alarming message from the independent trustee.""
"What happened?""
"Someone submitted a request to liquidate the remaining trust assets.""
"Who?""
"Thomas Harris.""
I closed my eyes.
"Can he do that?""
"Not legally. But the request includes a document claiming that Emily has voluntarily surrendered her beneficiary rights.""
Emily stood up.
"What?""
I put the call on speaker.
"Lauren, that's impossible.""
"I assumed so. But the document carries Emily's signature.""
Emily shook her head.
"I never signed anything.""
"That's why I need you to come to my office immediately. We must file an objection before the trustee processes the request.""
I looked at the clock.
"How much time do we have?""
"Until noon tomorrow.""
I checked my phone.
It was already 10:20 p.m.
Lauren continued.
"There's another problem. The submission was accompanied by a notarized statement from Vanessa.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"What did she claim?""
"That Emily has been financially dependent on your mother and is incapable of managing the inheritance.""
Emily looked devastated.
"She's trying to take everything.""
"Not if we can prove the documents are fraudulent," Lauren said.
The call ended.
I looked at my sister.
"Have you ever signed anything Vanessa gave you?""
Emily shook her head.
"Never.""
Then she suddenly stopped.
"Wait.""
"What?""
"About six months ago, Vanessa asked me to sign a delivery receipt.""
I stared at her.
"What delivery receipt?""
"She said a package had been delivered to the wrong address. She needed my signature because the courier was leaving.""
"What did the paper look like?""
"Just a form.""
"Did you read it?""
Emily looked uncomfortable.
"No.""
I felt a chill.
"Where was this?""
"At your house.""
I turned toward my mother.
"Did you see it?""
She shook her head.
Emily began searching her phone.
"Maybe I have a photograph.""
She scrolled through her messages.
Then she stopped.
"Here.""
She showed me a photograph of the document.
It was a courier receipt.
But beneath the delivery information was a second page.
A legal declaration.
The heading read:
*VOLUNTARY WAIVER OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST.*
Emily's signature was at the bottom.
I looked at her.
"That's what you signed?""
"I thought I was signing for a package!""
My mother began sobbing.
I took a screenshot.
"Lauren needs this.""
I sent it immediately.
Then my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered.
"Where are you?""
"At the house.""
"Are you safe?""
She hesitated.
"I think so.""
"Is Thomas there?""
"No. He left.""
"What did he want?""
"The trust papers.""
"Did you give them to him?""
"No.""
I didn't believe her.
"Vanessa, listen carefully. Emily's signature was used on a legal waiver. Did you arrange that?""
She started crying.
"Michael, I didn't know what he was going to do with it.""
"Did you arrange it?""
"I thought it was just a receipt.""
I closed my eyes.
"You used my sister's signature without her permission.""
"Thomas told me it was necessary.""
"Why are you listening to Thomas?""
"Because he has the original documents.""
"What original documents?""
She whispered:
"Your father's.""
I gripped the phone.
"What about them?""
"Thomas has the original death certificate, the insurance records, and the medical report.""
I stared at the floor.
"Vanessa, the death certificate is fake.""
There was a long silence.
Then she said:
"I know.""
My heart stopped.
"You know?""
"I found out three years ago.""
"Three years?""
She began sobbing.
"Thomas showed me the paperwork. He told me your father was alive, but that he had disappeared because he wanted to escape the family.""
"Where is he?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"I'm not!""
I lowered my voice.
"Then why did you tell me not to look for him?""
"Because Thomas said if David came back, he would expose everything.""
"What everything?""
Vanessa whispered:
"The money wasn't the only thing they took.""
I waited.
She continued.
"Your father had a daughter before he married your mother.""
I froze.
"What?""
"She was born before you. Thomas knows where she is.""
I stared at my sister.
Emily was watching me.
Vanessa's voice broke.
"And Michael, she's the reason your grandfather created the trust.""
The call disconnected.
I looked at my mother.
She had gone completely pale.
"Mom?""
She closed her eyes.
Then she whispered:
"Her name is Claire.""
I felt the room go silent.
"Who is Claire?""
My mother looked at me.
"Your father's first daughter.""
I shook my head.
"Where is she?""
My mother reached into the drawer and pulled out one final photograph.
A little girl stood beside my father.
She couldn't have been more than five.
On the back was a handwritten message.
*Claire Harris. My first child. My greatest regret.*
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And underneath it, another sentence.
*If Michael ever meets his sister, tell him why she was given away.*
