Chapter 5: The Woman Who Wanted My Granddaughter's Inheritance
Vanessa entered the living room first.
She had changed clothes and reapplied her makeup. Her hair was perfectly styled, and she carried herself as if nothing had happened the previous evening.
Behind her stood a tall man in a gray suit.
"Good morning, Darius," he said.
Darius remained beside the coffee table.
"Who are you?""
The man extended his hand.
"Martin Reeves. I'm representing your wife in a family matter.""
Darius didn't take it.
"Get to the point.""
Martin opened his folder.
"Vanessa has expressed concerns about Maya's emotional well-being. She believes the household has become increasingly unstable, and she would like to discuss temporary arrangements.""
Darius laughed once.
It wasn't a pleasant sound.
"Temporary arrangements?""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Please don't make this difficult.""
He turned toward her.
"You shaved my daughter's head yesterday.""
Vanessa's expression tightened.
"I've already explained that.""
"No. You haven't.""
Martin cleared his throat.
"Perhaps we should focus on the child's welfare.""
Darius pointed toward the door.
"Then start by explaining why your client has been discussing my daughter's inheritance.""
Martin froze.
Vanessa looked at him.
For a brief moment, something passed between them.
Darius noticed.
"So you know about the trust.""
Martin closed his folder.
"I am aware of certain financial arrangements.""
"Who told you?""
Vanessa interrupted.
"Enough, Darius. You're making accusations without understanding the situation.""
He picked up Claire's notebook.
"Would you like to explain this?""
Vanessa stared at it.
Her face lost color.
"Where did you find that?""
"In your locked drawer.""
She looked toward the staircase.
"You had no right to go through my personal belongings.""
Darius stepped closer.
"Those documents concern my daughter's money. They aren't your personal belongings.""
Martin shifted uncomfortably.
"Mr. Cole, perhaps we should arrange a formal meeting with all relevant parties.""
"Wonderful. I'll arrange one with the police, too.""
Vanessa gasped.
"You're threatening me?""
"No. I'm telling you that you will never be alone with my daughter again until I know exactly what happened.""
Her eyes filled.
"After everything I've done for you?""
Darius stared at her.
"Everything you've done?""
"I gave up so much to become part of this family!""
Maya appeared at the top of the stairs.
She had been listening.
Vanessa saw her.
Her expression changed instantly.
"Sweetheart, come here.""
Maya stepped backward.
Darius moved between them.
"Don't.""
Vanessa's voice softened.
"Maya, I know you're upset. But we can fix this.""
The little girl shook her head.
"You hurt me.""
Vanessa sighed.
"I didn't mean to.""
"You said Mommy didn't want me to be a princess.""
Darius looked at his wife.
"Did you say that?""
Vanessa's silence answered for her.
Maya began crying.
Darius picked her up.
"That's enough. We're leaving.""
Vanessa grabbed his sleeve.
"You can't just take her away!""
He pulled his arm free.
"Watch me.""
Martin stepped forward.
"Mr. Cole, I strongly advise you not to make any decisions before reviewing the documents I've brought.""
Darius looked at the folder.
"Show me.""
Martin hesitated.
Then he placed it on the table.
The first document was a draft petition requesting temporary guardianship.
The second was a psychological assessment.
Darius frowned.
"This is dated yesterday.""
"Yes.""
"Who evaluated Maya?""
Martin looked uncomfortable.
"The assessment was based on information supplied by Vanessa.""
"Where is the actual clinician's signature?""
Martin turned a page.
There was no signature.
Only a typed name and an address.
Darius picked up the phone and photographed every page.
"This is a draft, isn't it?""
Martin nodded.
"Yes. Nothing has been filed.""
"Then you can take it back.""
Vanessa suddenly raised her voice.
"You're not listening! Catherine was only trying to protect Maya!""
Darius turned.
"From what?""
"From being raised by someone who refuses to accept that she's traumatized!""
Maya buried her face against her father's shoulder.
He stroked her back.
"She is traumatized because someone she trusted hurt her.""
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"Claire made everything impossible.""
I felt Margaret stiffen beside me.
Darius spoke quietly.
"Don't say her name.""
"She left behind a child who expects everyone to worship her memory. You don't understand what it's like living in her shadow!""
Darius stared at her.
Then he reached into his pocket and took out his wedding ring.
He placed it on the table.
"I don't think I want to understand.""
Vanessa looked at the ring.
For a moment, she seemed genuinely shocked.
Then her expression hardened.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
"Maybe.""
"You'll regret this.""
"Maybe.""
She picked up her purse.
But before leaving, she turned toward Maya.
"You'll understand someday that I was only trying to help.""
Maya lifted her head.
"No, I won't.""
Vanessa stared at her.
Then she walked out.
Martin followed.
The front door closed.
Darius stood motionless, holding his daughter.
Margaret approached the table.
"There's something else you need to see.""
She had been examining the documents Martin left behind.
At the bottom of the guardianship petition was a reference number.
She searched it on her phone.
Then she looked up.
"Someone has already requested information about Maya's trust.""
Darius frowned.
"When?""
"Three months ago.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Who requested it?""
Margaret turned the phone toward us.
The request had been submitted by a financial consultant.
The name was familiar.
*Martin Reeves.*
Darius sat down.
"So Vanessa's lawyer has been investigating my daughter's inheritance for months.""
Margaret nodded.
"And there's something else. The trust administrator sent a notice to the family last week.""
"What notice?""
"An attempted change of beneficiary.""
Darius stared at her.
"Who tried to change it?""
Margaret scrolled.
Then she stopped.
The application had been submitted electronically.
The signature line carried Darius's name.
But Darius hadn't signed it.
He looked at the screen.
"That's not my signature.""
I took the phone.
The handwriting was close.
Very close.
But there was something wrong with the final letter.
"Someone forged it.""
Darius looked toward the staircase.
Maya had fallen asleep against his chest.
He gently carried her upstairs.
When he returned, his expression was different.
He wasn't just angry anymore.
He was determined.
"Mom, I'm calling Richard Hale.""
He dialed the number from Claire's note.
A man answered after two rings.
"Richard Hale speaking.""
Darius introduced himself.
There was a long silence when he mentioned Claire.
Then the attorney spoke.
"Mr. Cole, I've been expecting your call.""
Darius gripped the phone.
"Why?""
"Because your wife asked me to contact you if anything unusual happened to Maya's trust.""
"Claire?""
"Yes.""
Darius looked at me.
The attorney continued.
"Your wife left instructions concerning a second document. It was never included in the ordinary trust records.""
"What document?""
Richard lowered his voice.
"The original beneficiary protection agreement. And there's a clause in it that your current wife will find extremely difficult to explain.""
Darius closed his eyes.
"Tell me.""
Richard paused.
"First, I need to ask you something. Has Vanessa attempted to gain custody of Maya or access to her inheritance?""
Darius looked at the forged signature on the table.
"Both.""
May you like
The attorney exhaled.
"Then I think it's time you knew why Claire came to see me three days before she died.""
Related Stories
