Chapter 5: The Man Who Wanted My Daughter
I drove home faster than I should have.
Rebecca followed in her own car, while Daniel stayed behind to secure the financial records.
My mind kept returning to Vanessa's final words.
Who her real father is.
Maya was my daughter.
I had been there when Lily gave birth. I had held Maya in the hospital room, counted her tiny fingers, and promised Lily that our little girl would never have to face the world alone.
There had never been another man.
Unless someone was trying to convince me otherwise.
When I pulled into the driveway, a black Mercedes was parked beside Vanessa's SUV.
A tall man in a charcoal suit stood on the porch.
Edward Hayes.
He looked older than I remembered, but his silver hair was neatly combed, and his expensive watch caught the afternoon sunlight.
He smiled when he saw me.
"Marcus. It's been a long time.""
I didn't return the greeting.
"What are you doing here?""
"Waiting for you.""
"You asked to see my daughter?""
"I asked to speak with the family.""
"Then you can speak to me.""
Edward glanced toward the front door.
"Perhaps we should go inside.""
I stepped closer.
"Answer my question first.""
His smile disappeared.
"Your father left some unfinished business.""
"My father is dead.""
Edward tilted his head.
"Are you certain?""
I stared at him.
Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
"Marcus, please come inside.""
I ignored her.
"Why did you tell Vanessa you wanted Maya?""
Edward adjusted his cuff.
"Because the girl may be entitled to something that belongs to her.""
"What?""
"Her grandfather's estate.""
I almost laughed.
"My father had a will. I handled his estate.""
"Did you?""
He reached into his briefcase and removed a brown envelope.
"Then perhaps you should look at this.""
I didn't take it.
Edward placed it on the porch table.
"Your father revised his will shortly before his death.""
I glanced at the envelope.
"Who witnessed it?""
"Two attorneys.""
"Where was it filed?""
Edward smiled faintly.
"That's the interesting part.""
Rebecca's car pulled into the driveway.
She approached us carrying a leather folder.
"Mr. Hayes, I'm Rebecca Mills. I'm representing Marcus Carter.""
Edward nodded politely.
"Of course.""
Rebecca picked up the envelope.
"Anything you provide will need to be independently verified.""
"Naturally.""
She opened it.
Inside was a photocopy of a legal document.
I scanned the first page.
My father's name.
His signature.
And a paragraph identifying Maya as a beneficiary of a substantial estate.
I read it twice.
"How much?""
Edward answered.
"Approximately $1.8 million in assets, including property and investment accounts.""
I looked up.
"Why wasn't this included in the original probate?""
"Because the assets were transferred into a private holding structure before his death.""
Rebecca's expression sharpened.
"Who controls that structure?""
Edward didn't answer immediately.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"That depends on whether the family wants to cooperate.""
I turned toward my wife.
"Why is he looking at you?""
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"Marcus, I can explain.""
I shook my head.
"Not another explanation.""
Edward stepped forward.
"Your father believed Maya needed protection.""
"From whom?""
He glanced toward the front windows.
"From people who would use her inheritance to control the family.""
I felt a chill move through me.
"Are you accusing Vanessa?""
"I'm suggesting that certain financial decisions were made without your daughter's best interests in mind.""
Rebecca closed the folder.
"Mr. Hayes, this meeting is over until we verify the documents.""
Edward gave a small smile.
"That's your choice.""
He turned toward his car.
Then he stopped.
"One more thing, Marcus.""
I waited.
"Your father didn't die from natural causes.""
My entire body went rigid.
"What did you say?""
Edward looked directly at me.
"The official report was incomplete.""
Rebecca stepped between us.
"That's an extremely serious allegation.""
"Then investigate it.""
He opened his car door.
Before getting inside, he added, "Ask Vanessa what happened the night your father disappeared.""
Then he drove away.
Inside the house, Vanessa sat on the living room sofa.
Her hands were trembling.
I stood in front of her.
"Tell me what happened.""
She stared at the floor.
"I didn't know he was coming.""
"Don't lie.""
"I'm not.""
"Edward just told me my father's death wasn't natural.""
She covered her mouth.
I lowered my voice.
"Did you know my father before he died?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
She hesitated.
"Before we got married.""
"How?""
"Lily introduced us.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"Lily introduced you to my father?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Vanessa began crying.
"She wanted someone to help her with the trust.""
"What trust?""
"The one she created for Maya.""
I sat across from her.
"Start from the beginning.""
Vanessa rubbed her eyes.
"Lily was afraid your father was going to change his will. She believed he was being manipulated by Edward.""
"That doesn't explain why you were involved.""
"She asked me to help her find documents.""
"Why you?""
"Because I worked in financial administration. I understood the paperwork.""
I stared at her.
"And Rachel?""
"Rachel helped too.""
"Then why did both of you end up connected to the company that received Maya's money?""
Vanessa looked up.
"Because we were trying to keep it safe.""
"By transferring it away from her?""
"I was going to return it!""
"When?""
She had no answer.
I leaned forward.
"Did you know Edward was coming here today?""
"No.""
"Did you know my father had changed his will?""
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
I felt something sink inside me.
"How long have you known?""
"Since last year.""
"And you said nothing?""
"I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
She looked toward the staircase.
"Maya.""
I frowned.
"What does Maya have to do with this?""
Vanessa's lips trembled.
"Lily told me that if anything happened to her, I had to make sure Maya never learned what your father had done.""
I stared at her.
"What did my father do?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know everything.""
"Then tell me what you know.""
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a small envelope.
The paper was yellowed, and Lily's handwriting was visible across the front.
*For Marcus, if the truth ever comes out.*
My throat tightened.
I took it carefully.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
It began:
Marcus, if you're reading this, it means someone has finally opened the door I spent years trying to keep closed.
I stopped breathing.
The next paragraph was even worse.
Your father knew about Maya's existence before she was born. He also knew something about the circumstances of her conception that I never had the courage to tell you.
I read the sentence again.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
"What does this mean?""
She began shaking her head.
"I didn't write that.""
"I know.""
I turned the page.
At the bottom, Lily had written one final sentence.
Before you question Maya's identity, look at the hospital records from October 14.
The same date as the photograph.
The same day Lily had been standing beside my father.
Then I noticed something else.
The letter wasn't dated four years earlier.
It was dated just three months before Lily died.
May you like
And underneath her signature was a handwritten warning.
*Edward Hayes knows the truth.*
