Chapter 8: The Secret From Six Years Ago
I drove home with Daniel beside me.
Caleb's words kept repeating in my head.
Before you find out what happened six years ago.
Six years ago.
That was the year Emily died.
The year my daughter lost her mother.
The year Vanessa first entered our lives.
I had spent years believing I knew exactly how my family had come together.
Apparently, I didn't.
When we arrived, the front door was open.
A large suitcase sat beside the stairs.
Another rested near the living room couch.
Vanessa was carrying a box toward the entrance.
She stopped when she saw us.
"You're back early.""
I looked past her.
"Where are the children?""
"Upstairs.""
"Why are you packing?""
She placed the box down.
"Because I need some space.""
"You're taking Caleb and Lily?""
"They're my children.""
"And Maya?""
Vanessa laughed without humor.
"Why would I take Maya?""
I stared at her.
"Because you're the one who keeps telling her she might be sent away.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Don't put words in my mouth.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Mrs. Carter, I'm Daniel Brooks. Marcus's attorney. I'd like to discuss several documents submitted in connection with Maya's financial accounts.""
Vanessa immediately folded her arms.
"I have nothing to discuss with you.""
"Then perhaps you'll prefer to discuss them with the relevant authorities.""
Her face went pale.
I walked toward the staircase.
"Caleb!""
He appeared almost immediately.
He had a backpack over one shoulder.
When he saw me, he looked relieved.
"Mr. Marcus.""
"Come downstairs.""
Vanessa stepped in front of him.
"Caleb, go back to your room.""
He shook his head.
"No.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Move.""
She stared at me for several seconds before stepping aside.
Caleb came down slowly.
"Where's Lily?"" I asked.
"In her room.""
"Is she okay?""
He nodded.
I turned to Vanessa.
"Why did you tell Caleb we were leaving before I found out what happened six years ago?""
Her expression changed.
"He's a child. He doesn't know what he's talking about.""
Caleb shook his head.
"I do.""
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
"Caleb, stop.""
He looked at me.
"Mom told me not to tell you about the hospital.""
I froze.
"What hospital?""
Caleb looked confused.
"You don't know?""
Vanessa grabbed his backpack.
"That's enough.""
I pulled the bag away from her.
"Let him speak.""
Caleb swallowed.
"Mom said when Maya was little, she went to the hospital with Grandma Evelyn. She said something happened there.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"What's he talking about?""
She said nothing.
Caleb continued.
"Mom said Emily didn't want Maya to have the money.""
I felt my heart pound.
"That makes no sense. Emily established the trust for Maya.""
"That's not what Mom said.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
"Explain.""
She shook her head.
"Caleb misunderstood.""
"Then tell me what happened.""
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
Then at me.
Finally, she sighed.
"Emily was sick. She was confused. She made decisions she later regretted.""
My stomach tightened.
"Emily was never confused about loving her daughter.""
"She was taking medication.""
"She had cancer, Vanessa. She wasn't incapable of making decisions.""
Vanessa looked away.
For the first time, I wondered whether there was something about Emily's final months that I hadn't been told.
I remembered the hospital.
The last week.
The long nights.
My mother had insisted I take time away from work to be with Emily.
And during those final days, Vanessa had been a family friend who occasionally helped with errands.
She hadn't become my wife until two years later.
"What exactly happened at the hospital?"" I asked.
Vanessa walked toward the kitchen.
"I don't want to discuss this.""
I followed.
"You're going to discuss it.""
She opened a drawer and took out a set of car keys.
"Not with your lawyer standing here.""
Daniel remained calm.
"That's entirely your choice. However, any relevant documents should be preserved.""
Vanessa laughed.
"You think you're going to scare me?""
"No," Daniel replied.
"I'm asking you not to destroy evidence.""
She dropped the keys.
I looked at Caleb.
"Do you know anything else?""
He nodded.
"Grandma Evelyn visited the hospital with Mom.""
I felt my stomach tighten again.
"My mother?""
"Yes. They went into a room together. Mom said they were discussing Maya's inheritance.""
I took out my phone and called Evelyn.
She answered after several rings.
"Marcus?""
"Mom, I need to ask you about the hospital.""
Silence.
"Which hospital?""
"The one where Emily died.""
I heard her breathing change.
"Why?""
"Caleb says you and Vanessa had a conversation there about Maya's inheritance.""
A long pause followed.
Then my mother said something I never expected.
"Marcus, I was trying to protect you.""
I closed my eyes.
"From what?""
"From Emily's family.""
I stared at the kitchen wall.
"What did you do?""
Evelyn began crying.
"I didn't know what to believe. Emily's father was making all these arrangements. There were documents everywhere. Vanessa told me that Emily had changed her mind about the money.""
"Did you sign anything?""
"No.""
"Did you witness anything?""
She hesitated.
"Yes.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
"I witnessed a document.""
"What document?""
"A statement Emily supposedly made before she died.""
I gripped the phone.
"Supposedly?""
My mother started crying harder.
"Marcus, I wasn't in the room when she signed it. Vanessa brought it to me afterward. She said Emily had asked her to make sure Maya didn't receive the inheritance until she was older.""
I looked at Daniel.
He had stopped writing.
"Mom, did you keep a copy?""
"Yes.""
"Where?""
"In my old files.""
"Find it.""
"Marcus—"
"Please.""
She agreed.
I ended the call.
Daniel looked at me.
"That could be important.""
"Emily never told me she wanted to restrict Maya's inheritance.""
"Then we need to verify the document.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
"Where did you get the statement?""
She stared at me.
"I don't remember.""
"Did Emily sign it?""
"Yes.""
"Who witnessed it?""
Vanessa said nothing.
Daniel spoke.
"Mrs. Carter, if the document is genuine, its date, origin, and witnesses can be verified.""
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
"Fine. You want the truth? Ask Robert. Ask him what Emily was planning before she died.""
I felt a chill.
"What was she planning?""
Vanessa looked directly at me.
"She wanted to leave you.""
The words landed like a physical blow.
"What?""
"She was unhappy, Marcus. She knew you were always working. She was tired of being alone.""
I shook my head.
"That's not true.""
"She told me.""
"When?""
"Before she died.""
I remembered Emily's final months.
She had been frightened, exhausted, and in pain.
But she had never suggested she wanted to leave me.
Vanessa continued.
"She said she wanted Maya to grow up with her maternal family. She didn't trust you to raise her alone.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"You're lying.""
"Ask her father.""
Daniel stepped between us.
"That's enough for today.""
Vanessa picked up her keys.
"I'm leaving.""
She walked toward the stairs.
I watched her go.
Then Caleb spoke quietly.
"Mr. Marcus?""
I turned.
He was holding a small black USB drive.
"Mom told me to hide this.""
I stared at it.
"What's on it?""
Caleb looked frightened.
"Videos.""
"What videos?""
He swallowed.
"The ones Mom recorded when Maya was little.""
I took the drive carefully.
"Why would she record Maya?""
Caleb's eyes filled.
"She said she needed proof.""
"Proof of what?""
"That Maya was difficult.""
I felt sick.
"How old was Maya in those videos?""
"Three or four.""
I looked at Daniel.
He nodded for me to continue.
Caleb lowered his voice.
"But I watched one.""
"What did you see?""
He looked toward the staircase.
"Mom was telling Maya what to say.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
Caleb nodded.
"She kept asking her to repeat something about her mother.""
My hands tightened around the USB drive.
"What did she make her say?""
Caleb whispered:
"That Emily didn't want her.""
For a moment, I couldn't move.
Then a voice came from behind us.
"Caleb!""
Vanessa stood halfway down the stairs.
Her face was twisted with anger.
"Give him that.""
Caleb stepped behind me.
Vanessa came down another step.
"Marcus, you need to understand something. Those recordings were made for a reason.""
I stared at her.
"What reason?""
She looked at the USB drive.
May you like
Then she said:
"Because Maya wasn't supposed to inherit that money in the first place.""
