Chapter 4: The Promise My Grandmother Kept
“Because I was the last person your father asked to let him die.””
The words hung between us.
I stared at Eleanor, waiting for her to take them back.
She didn't.
“What does that mean?”” I asked.
My grandmother folded her hands over the blanket covering her knees.
“Your father was dying, Ethan. The doctors had given him less than forty-eight hours.””
“Then why did Daniel say you signed the final authorization?””
“Because I did.””
“You told me Dad died suddenly.””
“He did die suddenly. But his illness wasn't sudden.””
I stood so quickly that my chair scraped against the hardwood floor.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
“Your father didn't want you to know.””
“He was my father!””
“And he was trying to protect you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that. My father protected me. You protected me.
Tiana protected me. Apparently, the only thing nobody bothered doing was telling me the truth.””
Eleanor closed her eyes.
For the first time since I'd arrived, she looked frightened.
“Your father discovered that Daniel was stealing from the company. He confronted him, and three weeks later, he was diagnosed with an advanced illness.””
I looked at her.
“Are you suggesting Daniel caused it?””
“No. I'm suggesting Daniel used the diagnosis to his advantage.””
She reached for the wooden box.
Inside was a small digital recorder.
“Richard gave me this two days before he died.””
I stared at the device.
“What's on it?””
“His final conversation with Daniel.””
She pressed play.
A faint crackle filled the library.
Then my father's voice emerged.
“Daniel, you need to stop. I've already contacted the attorneys.””
Another voice answered.
“You're making a mistake, Richard.””
“Those accounts belong to the trust.””
“They belong to people who know how to manage money.””
“You've stolen from your own family.””
A pause.
Then Daniel spoke again.
“Your son doesn't know anything, does he?””
My father's voice became sharper.
“Leave Ethan out of this.””
“I would, Richard. But he's becoming a problem.””
I stopped breathing.
The recording continued.
“Stay away from him,” my father said.
Daniel laughed.
“You can't protect him forever.””
There was a scraping sound.
Then my father's voice returned, quieter.
“If anything happens to me, Eleanor will know what to do.””
The recording stopped.
I looked at my grandmother.
“That's it?””
“There's another recording, but I haven't been able to establish whether it's complete.””
“Play it.””
She shook her head.
“Not yet.””
I slammed my palm against the table.
“Grandma, I'm done with half-truths.””
Eleanor looked directly at me.
“Then you need to understand why I signed that authorization.””
She explained that my father had been in severe pain during his final days. The doctors had recommended keeping him comfortable. He had repeatedly refused further invasive treatment.
He had asked my grandmother to respect his decision.
But Daniel had appeared at the hospital shortly before Richard died.
He had brought documents claiming my father wanted to revise the company's ownership structure.
Eleanor refused to sign them.
Daniel threatened to expose her for allegedly mismanaging the family trust.
When she refused again, he told her something that changed everything.
He claimed he had been communicating with me.
He said I had agreed to sell my interest in the company.
“He told me you were involved,” Eleanor whispered.
I shook my head.
“I never spoke to him about selling anything.””
“I know that now.””
“Why didn't you call me?””
“Because Daniel showed me messages supposedly sent from your phone.””
I stared at her.
“What messages?””
“He had screenshots. They appeared to show you discussing the sale of the company and the family residence.””
My stomach tightened.
Tiana had access to my phone for years.
She knew my passwords.
She knew my schedule.
She knew almost everything about my business.
“Grandma, I think I know who helped him.””
Eleanor nodded slowly.
“So do I.””
Before I could answer, Margaret entered the library.
“I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's an urgent development.””
She held up her phone.
“Daniel Voss has issued a statement to the press.””
“What statement?””
Margaret handed me the screen.
The headline read:
*STERLING FAMILY INVESTOR DENIES WRONGDOING, ACCUSES HEIR OF FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT.*
I scrolled.
Daniel claimed that my father's death had triggered a long-running dispute over the family estate. He described Eleanor as an elderly woman suffering from memory problems.
He also accused me of manipulating my grandmother to gain control of the company.
I looked up.
“He's trying to make us look unstable.””
“Exactly,” Margaret replied.
My phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a message from Tiana.
*I know you've been talking to Eleanor. Stop interfering in matters you don't understand. You have until tomorrow to accept my divorce settlement.*
A second message appeared.
*Or I'll make sure everyone knows what happened to your father.*
I showed Eleanor.
She read it twice.
Then she looked at Margaret.
“Call the trust investigators.””
Margaret nodded.
“What should I tell them?””
Eleanor's voice became cold.
“Tell them the woman who tried to steal my grandson's house has just threatened to destroy him using information about his dead father.””
Margaret left immediately.
I stared at the message.
“What does Tiana know?””
Eleanor reached for my hand.
“More than she should.””
Then she pointed toward the recorder.
“Ethan, there's something I haven't told you about your father.””
I looked at her.
“Another secret?””
She swallowed.
“Richard didn't leave you only the company and the house.””
She opened a drawer and removed a small brass key.
“He left you a safety deposit box.””
“Where?””
“At the bank where your grandfather kept his original trust documents.””
“What is inside?””
Eleanor looked toward the window.
“Evidence that could destroy Daniel Voss.””
She placed the key in my palm.
“But there's a problem.””
“What?””
“The box was opened three days ago.””
My fingers tightened around the key.
“By whom?””
May you like
Eleanor looked directly at me.
“Someone using your name.””
