Chapter 5: The Woman Who Called Me Her Sister
I didn't sleep that night.
At 6:30 the following morning, I sat in Margaret's office with a cup of untouched coffee and a photograph of my mother spread across the desk.
Margaret had spent most of the night reviewing the documents Samuel provided.
She had also contacted an attorney in Massachusetts who specialized in inheritance disputes.
By eight o'clock, she had an answer.
"Catherine Whitmore has agreed to meet you.""
I looked up.
"When?""
"Tomorrow afternoon. She's willing to speak privately before involving the estate attorneys.""
I nodded.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Patricia.
You need to stop this nonsense immediately. You have no idea what you're doing to this family.
I showed Margaret.
She read it and placed the phone down.
"Don't respond.""
Another message arrived.
Daniel has already sacrificed enough. Don't destroy his future because you're jealous.
I almost smiled.
Jealous.
That was the word Patricia had chosen.
Not fraudulent.
Not dishonest.
Not cruel.
Jealous.
I turned my phone off.
That afternoon, I returned to the house with Margaret and a sheriff's deputy to collect the rest of my belongings.
Daniel opened the door.
He wore a navy sweater and held a coffee mug.
For a moment, he looked like the man I had married.
Then I noticed Vanessa standing behind him.
She was wearing another one of my dresses.
A green cashmere sweater dress.
I looked at Daniel.
"Did you run out of her clothes?""
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Excuse me?""
I ignored her.
"I need my personal documents, clothes, and anything that belongs to my family.""
Daniel stepped aside.
"Fine. Take whatever you want.""
Patricia appeared in the hallway.
"Not everything. Some of those things were purchased with marital funds.""
Margaret immediately intervened.
"Mrs. Bennett, please direct any property-related questions to my office.""
Patricia laughed.
"You're acting as if this woman is some kind of victim.""
The deputy cleared his throat.
"Ma'am, we're here to keep the peace. Let's keep things civil.""
I walked toward the office.
Daniel followed me.
"Nia, can we talk?""
"No.""
"Just five minutes.""
I turned.
"You've had seven years.""
He lowered his voice.
"Vanessa is pregnant. You need to understand that things are different now.""
"Yes. I understand that you're having a child with another woman.""
"That's not what I mean.""
"Then what do you mean?""
He rubbed his face.
"Your father left a complicated financial situation. I was trying to protect you.""
I stared at him.
"By forging my signature?""
"I never forged anything.""
"Then whose signature is on the mortgage application?""
He looked away.
I stepped closer.
"Whose?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"You're going to ruin everything.""
I almost laughed.
"You ruined everything when you decided I was something you could use.""
I entered the office and opened the bottom drawer.
My father's letter was gone.
So was the small leather notebook he had kept beside his desk.
I turned around.
"Where are they?""
Daniel blinked.
"What?""
"My father's letter. His notebook. They were in this drawer.""
"I don't know.""
"Daniel, I saw them here.""
He shrugged.
"Maybe you moved them.""
Margaret entered the room.
"What's missing?""
"My father's personal documents.""
She looked directly at Daniel.
"Did you remove them?""
"No.""
Vanessa appeared at the door.
"Daniel, your mother said you should come downstairs.""
He ignored her.
I searched the desk, the cabinets, and the shelves.
Nothing.
Then I noticed a small white envelope tucked behind the filing cabinet.
It had my mother's handwriting.
I pulled it out.
Inside was a receipt from a storage facility.
The date was two weeks before my father died.
A handwritten note was attached.
If anything happens to me, look in Unit 214. Ask for Mr. Reed.
I showed Samuel's name to Margaret.
She took a photograph.
"We'll investigate this after we've secured the property records.""
Before leaving, I walked into the bedroom.
The bedspread was different.
My bedside lamp was gone.
The framed wedding photograph had been removed.
On the dresser sat a new photograph of Daniel and Vanessa.
They were standing in front of a beach.
Daniel had his arm around her.
Vanessa was holding a small sign that read:
Baby Bennett arriving soon.
I stared at it.
Then I picked up the photograph, turned it face down, and walked out.
Daniel followed me to the front steps.
"Nia.""
I didn't stop.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
I turned.
"No, Daniel. I'm correcting one.""
I left.
The following afternoon, Margaret and I flew to Boston.
Catherine Whitmore had chosen a quiet restaurant overlooking the Charles River.
She was waiting near the window when we arrived.
She looked to be in her late fifties.
Dark hair.
Elegant clothes.
A silver necklace.
And my mother's eyes.
The moment she saw me, she stood.
"Oh, my goodness.""
I stopped several feet away.
She looked at my face as though she were searching for someone.
Then she whispered:
"You have her smile.""
I swallowed.
"You're Catherine?""
She nodded.
"And you're Nia.""
I sat opposite her.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she reached across the table.
"May I?""
I looked at her hand.
Then I placed mine in it.
Her fingers trembled.
"I've wanted to meet you for years.""
"Why didn't you?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Because your mother asked me not to interfere with your life.""
"Did you know she was pregnant?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know I existed?""
Catherine nodded.
"I knew from the beginning.""
I looked away.
"Everyone knew except me.""
"Not everyone.""
She opened her handbag and removed a small photograph.
It showed a much younger Catherine holding a baby.
The baby was me.
"Your mother sent me this after you were born. She said your father was a good man and that you would be loved.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Then why did Patricia pay for my mother's funeral?""
Catherine's expression changed.
"Because Patricia was afraid.""
"Of what?""
Catherine took a slow breath.
"Your mother knew something about Richard's estate. Something that could have changed the inheritance distribution.""
"What?""
"Richard had promised your mother that if he died before you reached adulthood, a portion of his private holdings would be placed in a protected account for you.""
I frowned.
"But Samuel said the trust was worth millions.""
"That's a separate trust your father created using his own investments. Richard's estate is another matter.""
She leaned closer.
"Patricia's husband was Richard's business associate. When Richard died, several documents disappeared.""
I stared at her.
"Who took them?""
Catherine lowered her voice.
"My mother.""
Patricia's mother.
I felt sick.
"Why?""
"Because she believed Richard's legitimate children should receive everything. She thought your mother was trying to steal money from the family.""
"But Patricia knew.""
"She helped conceal it.""
I sat back.
For the first time, the connections became clear.
Patricia had known my biological father.
She had known about the inheritance.
She had helped Daniel gain access to my financial information.
But why would she want my house?
Catherine seemed to read my thoughts.
"Because your house is not just a house.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"Richard owned the land beneath it.""
I stared at her.
"That's impossible. I bought the property six years ago.""
"Not the land rights.""
She pulled a folded document from her bag.
It was an old development map.
My address was marked in red.
Beside it was a handwritten note.
*Whitmore Family Redevelopment Parcel 17.*
Catherine continued.
"Your property sits on the edge of a development zone. A major commercial project is scheduled to begin there. Whoever controls the underlying development rights could receive a substantial payment.""
"How much?""
"Several million dollars.""
My hands went cold.
"Daniel knows?""
Catherine nodded.
"He's been trying to obtain those rights for almost a year.""
I looked at the map.
Then at her.
"How do you know?""
She hesitated.
"Because I received a letter from him last month.""
She opened her handbag again and produced a printed email.
The sender was Daniel.
The subject line read:
*The Final Arrangement.*
I began reading.
Once Nia signs the transfer, the property will be under my control. Patricia has already secured the necessary documents. Vanessa's pregnancy will make the separation easier to explain.
I felt my throat tighten.
Then I reached the final line.
After the sale, we'll divide the proceeds and make sure Catherine never gets involved.
I looked up.
"Why would he mention you?""
Catherine's face had turned pale.
"Because Daniel knows something I haven't told you.""
"What?""
She stared at me.
Then she said:
"Your biological father didn't leave you twelve million dollars.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"He left you something much more valuable.""
She reached into her bag and removed a second envelope.
Inside was a document bearing Richard Whitmore's signature.
A document dated three weeks before his death.
Catherine pointed to the final paragraph.
I read it once.
Then again.
It stated that I was entitled to control a majority voting interest in Whitmore Development Group upon verification of my biological identity.
I looked at her.
"How much is the company worth?""
Catherine swallowed.
"Approximately two hundred and forty million dollars.""
I couldn't breathe.
May you like
Then she added:
"And Patricia's family has been running it illegally for twenty-three years.""
