Chapter 9: Vanessa's Other Family
I read my father's letter until the words blurred.
The money had been stolen to finance something Vanessa was hiding from Daniel.
What could that possibly mean?
I looked at my mother.
“Did Dad ever mention Vanessa having another relationship?””
She shook her head.
“Not to me.””
“Did he ever say he suspected her of cheating?””
My mother hesitated.
Then she looked away.
“Once.””
I sat forward.
“When?””
“About six months before he died. Your father came home from the bank looking very upset. He said he had seen Vanessa with another man.””
“Where?””
“Outside a restaurant. He said they were arguing.””
“Did he know the man's name?””
“No.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I thought it was none of my business. Daniel and Vanessa were already having problems.””
I looked at the letter again.
My father had known something.
And whatever it was, he had considered it important enough to document.
I called Mr. Whitmore.
He answered immediately.
“Did you read the letter?””
“Yes. What did Dad mean about Vanessa?””
“I was hoping you could help me understand that.””
“Did he ever mention another man?””
There was a pause.
“Yes. He mentioned someone named Richard.””
“Richard who?””
“He never told me the surname. He said Richard had been involved in a property investment with Vanessa.””
I felt a chill.
“Could that be the company receiving Dad's money?””
“Possibly. I have asked the forensic accountant to examine the records.””
I glanced toward my mother.
“There's another issue. Vanessa has some of Mom's jewelry, including Dad's watch.””
Mr. Whitmore became serious.
“Do not go to the house alone. And don't let Vanessa take anything from you.””
“I won't.””
“Carmen, I also want you to know that the emergency application has been filed. The property cannot legally be transferred while the court considers the dispute.””
I breathed out.
“Thank you.””
“There's one more thing. Your father's letter refers to a second beneficiary.””
“Who?””
“I haven't established that yet. But I found a reference to a private account opened shortly before his death.””
I frowned.
“Whose account?””
“The name on the preliminary record is Richard Hale.””
I wrote it down.
Richard Hale.
The same first name Dad had mentioned.
After ending the call, I searched the name online.
A property consultant appeared, operating through several small investment companies.
One photograph showed him standing outside a commercial building.
He looked to be in his late forties, with dark hair and a silver watch.
I recognized the watch.
It was my father's.
I stared at the photograph.
Then I noticed the person standing beside him.
Vanessa.
They were smiling.
The photograph was dated eight months before my father's death.
My stomach turned.
I showed it to my mother.
She stared at the screen.
“That's him.””
“Richard?””
She nodded.
“He was the man your father saw outside the restaurant.””
I immediately saved the photograph.
Then I heard a sound from the hallway.
Ethan was standing there.
He looked pale.
“Aunt Carmen?””
I turned.
“What's wrong?””
“I need to tell you something about Dad.””
He sat beside me and pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket.
“I found this in his desk before I came here.””
I unfolded it.
It was a handwritten note.
Richard says the payment must be completed before Friday. V says the original documents are safe. If C discovers the account, everything is over.
At the bottom were two initials.
D.M.
My brother's initials.
I looked at Ethan.
“Did your father write this?””
He nodded.
“I think so.””
I read it again.
C.
Could that be me?
Or someone else?
My mother looked over my shoulder.
“Your father used to call me Maggie. He called you Carmen. He never used just C.””
I felt a cold sensation spread through my chest.
“Maybe it refers to another person.””
Ethan shifted nervously.
“There's something else.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
“Dad has been keeping a second phone in the garage.””
My mother stood.
“Why?””
“I don't know. But I heard him talking to someone last night. He said he needed to get the original papers before Aunt Carmen found them.””
I looked at the note.
Then at the photograph.
Daniel and Vanessa were not simply fighting over our mother's house.
They were trying to recover something.
Something my father had hidden.
I called Mr. Whitmore again.
He told me to send photographs of the note and the image of Vanessa with Richard.
Then he said something unexpected.
“Carmen, I believe we need to speak with Evelyn Carter urgently.””
“Can you find her?””
“I have been trying.””
“What about the number Daniel used to contact you?””
“I checked it. It was registered to a prepaid phone.””
I leaned back.
“Then how do we find her?””
Mr. Whitmore paused.
“Your father left me an emergency contact. I never used it because Evelyn disappeared voluntarily.””
“Who is it?””
“Her sister.””
He gave me an address in a neighboring town.
I wrote it down.
Before I could ask anything else, the doorbell rang.
I looked through the peephole.
Vanessa.
She stood outside holding a large cream-colored handbag.
Behind her was a tall man wearing a charcoal coat.
Richard Hale.
I opened the door only a few inches.
Vanessa smiled.
“Hello, Carmen.””
I stared at the man behind her.
“Richard.””
He gave a polite nod.
“I'm sorry we're meeting under these circumstances.””
“What do you want?””
Vanessa lifted the handbag.
“I brought your mother's things.””
My mother appeared behind me.
“Where did you get those?””
Vanessa smiled.
“From your bedroom.””
My mother's face tightened.
“You went through my things?””
“I was helping.””
“You took my jewelry.””
Vanessa opened the bag.
Inside were several pieces of jewelry, a small velvet pouch, and my father's old watch.
My mother reached toward it.
Vanessa pulled the bag back.
“Not so fast.””
I stepped forward.
“Give it to her.””
Richard intervened.
“Perhaps we should all sit down and talk.””
“There's nothing to discuss.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Actually, there is.””
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a photograph.
It showed Daniel standing beside a woman I didn't recognize.
They were outside a hospital.
The woman was holding a newborn baby.
Vanessa placed the photograph in my hand.
“Your brother has been lying to everyone,” she said.
I stared at the image.
“Who is this?””
Vanessa smiled bitterly.
“Daniel's first wife.””
My mouth went dry.
“He was married before?””
“Yes.””
“And the baby?””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“That's where things become interesting.””
She leaned closer.
“Your father knew about that child. He was paying for him secretly. And the money Daniel stole from your mother's account wasn't just going to Richard.””
I looked at the photograph again.
The baby had my father's surname written on the hospital bracelet.
Miller.
Then Vanessa said the words that made my mother grab the doorframe.
“That child is Daniel's son. And he's the real reason your father changed his will.””
Richard looked at Vanessa.
“That's enough.””
But she wasn't finished.
She turned toward me.
“Your father didn't want Daniel to inherit the family house because he had already promised it to someone else.””
“Who?””
Vanessa smiled.
Then she pointed at the photograph.
“The child.””
My mother sank into the nearest chair.
I looked at Richard.
“Is that true?””
He didn't answer.
Instead, he reached into his coat and removed a sealed envelope.
It bore my father's handwriting.
“Your father gave me this three days before he died,” Richard said.
“He told me to deliver it only when both his children were ready to hear the truth.””
I took the envelope.
On the front were four words:
The First Son's Inheritance.
May you like
And beneath them, in smaller handwriting:
Daniel must never find out who his real father is.
