Chapter 3: The Man Who Knew Too Much
I couldn't move.
For twelve years, I had remembered my father as a man who laughed loudly, worked too hard, and always came home smelling of sawdust and coffee.
Now his voice was coming from Vanessa's phone.
And Richard was standing in front of me, looking as though someone had pulled the floor out from beneath him.
I turned off the recording.
"Play that again.""
Vanessa tightened her grip on the phone.
"I think you've heard enough.""
"Play it.""
"Marcus—"
"NOW.""
The word echoed through the ballroom.
She flinched.
Then she pressed the screen.
My father's voice played again.
"Richard, if anything happens to me, make sure Marcus never signs those papers.""
Richard's response followed.
"Don't worry. He'll never know.""
The recording ended.
I stared at Richard.
"What papers?""
He rubbed both hands over his face.
"Your father was under a lot of pressure at the time.""
"What papers?""
"Marcus, this is complicated.""
"Then start explaining.""
Richard looked toward the guests.
Several people had already begun whispering.
He motioned toward the side entrance.
"Let's talk privately.""
I shook my head.
"No more private conversations. Not after twelve years of lies.""
Vanessa stepped beside him.
"Marcus, please. Think about what you're doing.""
I looked at her.
"You knew about this recording.""
She said nothing.
"You knew my father's voice was hidden somewhere. You knew the book mattered. You tried to destroy it.""
"That's not what happened.""
"Then tell me what happened.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
But I no longer knew whether they were real.
"Your father was involved in things you don't understand.""
I almost laughed.
"My father built a furniture company from a two-car garage. He taught me how to balance a checkbook and fix a broken cabinet. What exactly don't I understand?""
Richard interrupted.
"Your father wasn't just running a furniture company.""
I turned toward him.
"What does that mean?""
He hesitated.
Then he looked at my mother.
"Evelyn, you should tell him.""
My mother shook her head.
"No. You tell him. You were there.""
Richard's shoulders dropped.
He pulled a chair out and sat down.
"Twenty years ago, your father and I started Carter Manufacturing. We made custom furniture for hotels, restaurants, and commercial buildings. It was small at first. Then we got a major contract with a national hotel group.""
"I know all that.""
"No, Marcus. You know the version we gave the newspapers.""
My jaw tightened.
"What version?""
"Your father discovered that several company executives were diverting money through shell companies. Millions of dollars.""
I looked at him.
"Why didn't he report it?""
"He did. Privately. He gave me the evidence and asked me to help him take it to the authorities.""
"And?""
Richard stared at the table.
"And I made a mistake.""
"What mistake?""
"I thought we could settle it quietly. I believed the people involved would return the money and resign.""
My mother let out a bitter laugh.
"That's not what happened.""
Richard looked at her.
"Please.""
"No, Richard. You have lied long enough.""
I turned to Mom.
"Do you know what happened?""
She nodded slowly.
"Your father came home one night and told me he was afraid.""
The words struck me harder than I expected.
My father had never seemed afraid.
"He told me someone had been following him," she continued.
"He said important documents were missing from the office. He started keeping copies of everything.""
"Where?""
Mom pointed at the cookbook.
"In there.""
I looked down at the red cover.
"All this time?""
"Not everything. Just the things he believed were too dangerous to leave at work.""
Richard stood abruptly.
"That's enough.""
I turned toward him.
"You don't get to decide that.""
"Marcus, listen to me. Your father made enemies. I tried to protect the family.""
"By hiding evidence?""
"By keeping you alive.""
The words stopped me.
Richard seemed to regret saying them.
My mother gripped the edge of the table.
"Tell him about November 14.""
Richard stared at her.
"I can't.""
"Tell him!""
Her voice cracked.
For the first time that evening, my mother wasn't crying.
She was furious.
Richard finally sat down again.
"Your father called me that morning. He said he had found the original ownership documents. He wanted me to meet him at the old warehouse.""
"What happened?""
"I went there.""
"And?""
"He was alive when I arrived.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"What?""
Richard nodded.
"He was standing beside his car. He had the blue folder with him.""
"Then what?""
Richard looked at Vanessa.
She lowered her eyes.
"Marcus," he continued, "your father told me he had evidence that would expose everyone involved. He said he was going to take it directly to the authorities.""
"Why didn't he?""
Richard's voice became quieter.
"Because someone had already contacted him.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
"That's convenient.""
Richard's hands trembled.
"Your father left before I could stop him. An hour later, I heard about the accident.""
I stared at him.
"Did you know he was going to die?""
"No!""
"Did you follow him?""
"No!""
"Did you arrange anything?""
Richard slammed his palm against the table.
"I DIDN'T KILL YOUR FATHER!""
The ballroom went silent.
My mother closed her eyes.
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Marcus, that's enough. You're upsetting everyone.""
I turned toward her.
"Why do you care?""
She looked genuinely offended.
"Because we're supposed to be getting married.""
I laughed once.
A cold, empty sound.
"You're worried about the wedding?""
"I'm worried about us.""
"Then tell me how you got that recording.""
She hesitated.
Richard's face changed.
I noticed immediately.
"Richard?""
He looked away.
"She was supposed to keep it safe.""
My blood ran cold.
"How long have you two been working together?""
Vanessa's eyes widened.
"Don't make accusations you can't prove.""
I stepped closer.
"Three weeks ago, you were in my mother's reading room. You were looking through this book, weren't you?""
She didn't answer.
"Vanessa!""
"Fine!""
Her voice cracked.
"Yes. I opened it.""
My mother made a quiet sound.
Vanessa continued.
"I knew your father had hidden documents. Richard told me there might be something valuable inside.""
I turned toward Richard.
"You sent her?""
He shook his head.
"I asked her to look. I didn't ask her to destroy anything.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"You told me the book was the only place left to find the ownership papers.""
"What ownership papers?"" I asked.
Richard looked at me.
"The company was never owned the way you think.""
I felt my pulse in my throat.
"What are you talking about?""
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded document.
"Your father created a private trust shortly before his death. The company shares, the warehouse properties, and several investment accounts were transferred into it.""
"Whose trust?""
Richard hesitated.
"Yours.""
I stared at the document.
"Then why have you been running the company?""
"Because you were young. Your father appointed me temporary administrator.""
"Temporary?""
Richard lowered his eyes.
"The arrangement was supposed to end when you turned thirty.""
I was thirty-four.
Four years had passed.
"Why didn't it end?""
He didn't answer.
I snatched the document from his hand.
The first page contained a list of assets.
The second page contained a signature.
My father's.
And the third page contained a name I didn't recognize.
*Eleanor Whitmore.*
I looked up.
"Who is Eleanor Whitmore?""
Richard's expression collapsed.
Vanessa whispered, "Oh, God.""
My mother took one step backward.
I looked from one face to another.
"Who is she?""
Richard finally spoke.
"Your father had another beneficiary.""
"Another beneficiary?""
He nodded.
"Someone he trusted more than any of us.""
I stared at the unfamiliar name.
"Was she a business partner?""
Richard shook his head.
"No.""
"An employee?""
"No.""
"Then who was she?""
He looked directly at me.
"Your father's daughter.""
The document slipped slightly in my hand.
I couldn't understand the words.
My father had one child.
Me.
At least, that was what I had believed my entire life.
My mother began trembling.
"Marcus...""
I turned toward her.
"Mom?""
She couldn't meet my eyes.
Richard continued.
"Your father left instructions that Eleanor should receive forty percent of the family trust. But the original documents were never found.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"That's why you wanted the cookbook.""
She nodded slowly.
"Richard told me the papers could be worth millions.""
"And you decided to throw the book away?""
"I thought the documents were already gone!""
"Then why didn't you just tell me?""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Because I knew what would happen if you found out.""
"What?""
She took a shaky breath.
"Your father didn't just leave behind a secret daughter, Marcus.""
She looked at my mother.
Then she whispered the words that shattered the last piece of certainty I had.
"Your mother knew about her.""
My mother covered her face.
And just as I reached for her, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
May you like
One message appeared on the screen.
*Marcus, if you found the red book, don't believe Richard. He knows what happened to your father. I'm Eleanor. And I can prove it.*
