Chapter 4: The Name on Her Mother's Last Letter
Marcus stared at the signature beneath the final page.
Vanessa.
For several seconds, he couldn't hear anything except the faint hum of the storage room light.
His late wife, Elena, had died three years earlier after a sudden medical emergency. Marcus had been away on a business trip when the hospital called. By the time he reached the hospital, she was gone.
He had spent months trying to understand what happened.
Now he was looking at a document bearing Vanessa's name, dated two days before Elena's death.
“What is this?”” he whispered.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Give it to me.””
Marcus moved the paper behind his back.
“Why did Elena write your name here?””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“It's an old document. It has nothing to do with today.””
“Then explain it.””
“Marcus, your daughter is standing right there.””
He looked at Maya.
She was still holding her empty plate, her new silver bracelet shining around her wrist.
“Daniel,” Marcus said quietly, “please take Maya downstairs. Make sure she has something to eat.””
Maya immediately grabbed his hand.
“Daddy, don't send me away.””
He crouched.
“I'm not sending you away, sweetheart. I just need to talk to Vanessa.””
“Will you come downstairs?””
“I promise.””
Maya studied his face.
Then she nodded.
Daniel took her hand.
As they walked away, Maya turned twice to look back at her father.
Marcus waited until her footsteps disappeared.
Then he faced Vanessa.
“Start talking.””
Vanessa exhaled sharply.
“Your wife was sick. She was confused about a lot of things.””
“Don't talk about Elena like that.””
“She was jealous of me.””
Marcus frowned.
“Jealous?””
Vanessa laughed without humor.
“You think she welcomed me into your life? You think she wanted another woman raising her daughter?””
Marcus looked at the document again.
“Why was your name on her final arrangements?””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“Because she asked me to help with something.””
“What?””
“She wanted me to look after Maya.””
Marcus stared at her.
“And you thought locking her in a storage room was looking after her?””
Vanessa's cheeks reddened.
“That has nothing to do with this.””
“Then what does?””
She walked toward the cabinet and pulled out another folder.
“Your wife left instructions. She wanted Maya's inheritance protected until she turned eighteen. She also wanted someone to make sure the money wasn't wasted.””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“I know about the trust.””
“No, you don't know everything.””
Vanessa placed a document on the cabinet.
“Read the second page.””
Marcus did.
The document contained a list of financial responsibilities and a provision concerning Maya's education.
Elena had requested that her daughter remain in the private school she had attended since kindergarten, provided the family could afford it.
At the bottom was a note.
Any major change to Maya's schooling, residence, or financial arrangements must be discussed with Marcus.
Marcus looked up.
“So you knew exactly what you were doing when you submitted that withdrawal request.””
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“I was trying to help.””
“You were doing the opposite of what Elena asked.””
“Your wife isn't here anymore, Marcus!””
The words struck the room like a slap.
Marcus went still.
Vanessa immediately lowered her voice.
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean—”
“You meant every word.””
He placed the documents inside the envelope.
Then he took out his phone.
“I'm calling my attorney.””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“You're seriously doing this?””
“Yes.””
“Over a birthday party?””
Marcus looked at her.
“This stopped being about a birthday party when I found out you were hiding my daughter's belongings, interfering with her education, and trying to access her inheritance.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Think about what this will do to Caleb.””
Marcus looked at her for a long moment.
“I am thinking about both children. That's something you should have done.””
He walked out.
Downstairs, Maya was sitting at the kitchen table.
Daniel had placed a bowl of warm chicken soup in front of her.
She was eating slowly.
Marcus pulled out the chair beside her.
“Hey, princess.””
Maya looked up.
“Are you done talking?””
“For now.””
“Is Vanessa angry?””
Marcus brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
“She is upset, but that isn't your fault.””
Maya nodded.
Then she looked at his phone.
“Are you calling someone?””
“My attorney.””
“Is he a police officer?””
“No, sweetheart. He's someone who helps me understand important legal matters.””
Maya considered that.
“Can he make Vanessa be nice?””
Marcus's throat tightened.
“I can't promise what another person will do. But I can promise that you won't have to handle this alone.””
Maya put down her spoon.
“Daddy, can I tell you another secret?””
Marcus leaned closer.
“Always.””
She glanced toward the staircase.
“Vanessa made me sign something.””
Marcus's entire body stiffened.
“What did she make you sign?””
Maya reached into the pocket of her dress.
She pulled out a small folded sheet of paper.
It was creased several times.
Marcus unfolded it.
The page contained a handwritten statement.
I, Maya, understand that I am living in this house because my father allows me to. I will not ask for expensive things, complain about household rules, or interfere with Caleb's activities.
At the bottom was a child's signature.
Maya's name.
Marcus read it twice.
“Who gave you this?””
“Vanessa.””
“When?””
“Last month.””
“Why?””
“She said I was being ungrateful.””
Marcus carefully placed the paper on the table.
“Did she tell you what would happen if you didn't sign?””
Maya nodded.
“She said Daddy might send me away.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
When he opened them, his daughter was watching him anxiously.
“Am I going away?””
“No.””
“Even if I ask for cake?””
Marcus pulled her into his arms.
“Even if you ask for a hundred cakes.””
Maya finally smiled.
But Marcus wasn't smiling.
He called his attorney.
After explaining what he had discovered, he heard a long silence.
Then the attorney spoke.
“Marcus, don't confront her further until I review the documents. There may be more going on here.””
Marcus looked toward the staircase.
“What do you mean?””
“Do you remember the guardianship arrangement Elena discussed before she passed away?””
“Yes.””
“She had concerns about someone having access to Maya's trust.””
Marcus frowned.
“What concerns?””
“I don't want to speculate over the phone. But I need to see the original documents.””
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Can you come tomorrow morning?””
“I'll be there.””
The call ended.
Maya had finished her soup.
She was now examining the silver heart on her bracelet.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“Can we ride my bicycle tomorrow?””
Marcus smiled.
“Absolutely.””
“Can you teach me?””
“I'd love to.””
She climbed down from the chair and hugged him.
Then, from the staircase, Vanessa's voice interrupted them.
“Marcus, we need to talk about what happens next.””
He looked up.
Vanessa was holding a large brown envelope.
Her eyes were fixed on the paper Maya had signed.
“You really think you can take everything away from me?”” she asked.
Marcus stood.
“What is that envelope?””
Vanessa smiled coldly.
“Something you should have seen before you started accusing me.””
She placed it on the kitchen table.
Marcus opened it.
Inside was a copy of a legal petition.
The heading read:
May you like
*APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY CUSTODY AND GUARDIANSHIP OF MAYA.*
And the person who had filed it was Vanessa.
