Chapter 8: Brooke's Last Warning
Brooke's words followed Daniel all the way home.
Dad wasn't the only person who kept secrets.
He replayed them repeatedly, trying to understand what she meant.
By the time we reached our driveway, he had already called Rebecca twice.
She advised us not to respond to Brooke until she had reviewed Emily's documents.
But Brooke wasn't interested in waiting.
At 7:30 that evening, she arrived at our house.
She didn't knock.
She used the spare key Patricia had given her.
I was in the kitchen preparing dinner when the front door opened.
Brooke walked in carrying a large leather folder.
"Where's Daniel?""
I put down the knife.
"Hello to you too.""
She ignored me.
"Where is he?""
"Upstairs.""
She walked past me.
I followed.
"Brooke, you need to stop entering our home without permission.""
She turned around.
"Then take away the spare key.""
"I will.""
She smiled.
"You're becoming very confident for someone who doesn't understand what's happening.""
Daniel appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Brooke. What do you want?""
She lifted the folder.
"We need to settle this.""
He came downstairs.
"There's nothing to settle until you explain the money.""
Brooke placed the folder on the dining table.
"Fine. Let's talk.""
Patricia emerged from the living room.
"Daniel, please. Not another argument.""
He looked at her.
"Mom, I need you to answer some questions.""
Brooke pulled out a chair.
"Your sister Emily has been telling you stories.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"She has letters from Dad.""
"Forged letters can be produced by anyone.""
"She has bank records.""
"Bank records without context.""
"She has returned letters addressed to me.""
Brooke looked away.
For the first time, she seemed uncertain.
Then she leaned forward.
"Daniel, you need to understand something. Dad's estate was complicated. Mom was overwhelmed. I helped her manage things.""
"You took three hundred thousand dollars.""
"I invested it.""
"Where is it?""
"Some investments failed.""
"Then why did you ask Emily to sign away her claim?""
Brooke's expression hardened.
"Because she suddenly appeared after twelve years demanding money!""
Daniel stared at her.
"She's Dad's daughter.""
"And I'm his daughter too!""
The words came out louder than she intended.
Silence filled the room.
I looked at her.
"Nobody is denying that.""
Brooke turned toward me.
"You have no idea what it's like to spend your entire life being overlooked.""
I shook my head.
"Emily was the one who was overlooked.""
Brooke slammed her hand on the table.
"Stop defending her!""
Daniel stood.
"Enough. Give me the complete trust records.""
Brooke laughed.
"You don't have authority to demand those.""
"I'm a beneficiary.""
"Not anymore.""
Daniel went still.
"What?""
Brooke opened the folder and removed a document.
She placed it in front of him.
It appeared to be a trust amendment.
Daniel read the heading.
Then the date.
It had been signed seven years earlier.
According to the document, certain beneficiary rights had been reassigned.
Daniel looked at Patricia.
"Did you sign this?""
Patricia began crying.
"I had no choice.""
"Why?""
"Your father left things in a terrible condition.""
"That doesn't answer me.""
Brooke pointed to the document.
"Mom transferred certain administrative rights to me so I could protect the remaining assets.""
Daniel scanned the page.
"Why does it say the trust was amended to exclude Emily?""
Brooke shrugged.
"She had already received support.""
Emily's documents showed otherwise.
I stepped closer.
"She received nothing.""
Brooke looked at me.
"How would you know?""
"Because she showed us the records.""
Brooke turned toward Daniel.
"You're going to destroy everything over a woman you've never even met?""
Daniel's voice became quiet.
"She's my sister.""
Brooke laughed bitterly.
"Then perhaps you should ask her why she waited twelve years.""
Daniel took a step forward.
"She sent me letters.""
Brooke's face changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
"You intercepted them, didn't you?"" he asked.
Brooke didn't answer.
Daniel looked at Patricia.
"Did you know?""
Patricia began shaking her head.
"Please don't do this.""
"Did you know Brooke was hiding Emily's letters?""
Patricia covered her face.
That was answer enough.
After Brooke left, Daniel sat at the dining table for nearly an hour.
I brought him water.
He didn't drink it.
"She was supposed to be my big sister," he said.
I sat beside him.
"She still is your sister. But that doesn't mean you have to excuse what she's done.""
He looked toward the staircase.
"Do you think Mom was involved in everything?""
"I think we need proof.""
He nodded.
Then his phone vibrated.
An email from Rebecca.
*Subject: Urgent — Property and Trust Records*
Daniel opened it.
Rebecca had attached a preliminary report.
The property document Brooke had presented was not a completed transfer.
However, there was evidence of an attempted application to use our home as collateral.
More importantly, Rebecca had identified several discrepancies in the trust records.
She wanted us to meet the following morning.
Daniel looked relieved.
"At least the house hasn't been transferred.""
I nodded.
"Not yet.""
Then another message arrived.
This one was from Emily.
Daniel, I found something else in Dad's old papers. I didn't want to send it until I was sure.
An attachment appeared.
It was a scanned letter.
The date was twelve years earlier.
Daniel opened it.
The first paragraph made him sit upright.
If anything happens to me, I want Daniel and Emily to receive equal protection from the trust. Neither child should be excluded because of my marriage or anyone else's resentment.
He continued reading.
Then he reached the final paragraph.
I am especially concerned about Brooke's financial situation. She has asked me to transfer control of certain assets to her. I have refused.
Daniel stared at the screen.
"Brooke was already trying to take control while Dad was alive.""
I nodded.
Then he read the final handwritten note.
If Patricia ever tells Daniel that there was no inheritance, he must contact my solicitor immediately.
Daniel looked at me.
"Who was Dad's solicitor?""
I read the name.
"Mr. Harold Bennett.""
Daniel immediately searched for the contact details.
But before he could call, a message arrived from Emily.
I spoke to Mr. Bennett yesterday. He remembers Dad's instructions.
Then another message appeared.
He also told me that Patricia visited his office three days after Dad died.
Daniel frowned.
"Why?""
Emily sent one final line.
She asked him to destroy the original trust agreement.
Daniel stood.
"She tried to destroy Dad's instructions?""
I looked at the message again.
There was more.
Emily had attached a photograph of a handwritten note from the solicitor.
It read:
*I refused. Patricia then threatened to accuse me of professional misconduct if I disclosed the trust to either beneficiary.*
Daniel slowly lowered his phone.
For twelve years, his mother had known exactly what his father wanted.
She had hidden his inheritance.
She had concealed his sister.
And now she was helping Brooke take his house.
But the most disturbing part was still ahead.
Because at the bottom of Emily's message was a final sentence.
Daniel, Mr. Bennett says your father left one more document. A document naming the person who would inherit control of the trust if anything happened to him.
Daniel stared at the screen.
"Who?""
May you like
Emily replied.
You won't believe it.
