Chapter 11: The Man Who Wanted His Son Back
The legal application arrived at 8:42 the following morning.
Daniel placed it on my dining table.
The first page carried Richard Blackwood's name.
The second contained a request to freeze the remaining trust assets.
The third included a statement claiming that my father had fraudulently concealed my biological identity to prevent Richard from exercising parental rights.
I read it in disbelief.
"He's trying to erase my father's decision?""
Daniel nodded.
"He's attempting to turn a family matter into a legal dispute over the trust.""
My mother sat beside me.
She hadn't slept.
Every few minutes, she reached for the photograph of my father.
"Can he do this?"" she asked.
Daniel adjusted his glasses.
"He can file an application. That doesn't mean he'll succeed.""
"What about Marcus?""
"Your father's documented intentions are important. So is the original trust deed. We also need to establish whether Richard ever had legal parental rights.""
I looked at the application.
"Does he?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not based on what we've seen.""
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A deep male voice responded.
"Marcus. We've finally spoken.""
I knew immediately.
Richard Blackwood.
I didn't need an introduction.
"What do you want?""
"To meet my son.""
I almost laughed.
"You've had thirty-five years.""
"I know.""
"And you chose today?""
"I didn't choose the circumstances.""
I looked at the legal application.
"You filed a petition to take my inheritance.""
Richard sighed.
"Your father made a mistake.""
"Which mistake?""
"Giving everything to someone who wasn't his biological child.""
My hands tightened around the phone.
"He knew I wasn't his son.""
"Yes.""
"And he raised me anyway.""
Richard paused.
"Daniel Carter was a stubborn man.""
"His name was Daniel Carter.""
"Whatever you want to call him.""
I stood.
"Don't speak about him like that.""
Richard continued calmly.
"I'd like to meet you. There are things you need to understand about your family.""
"My family?""
"Yes. Your real family.""
I looked toward my mother.
She was watching me.
"You're not my family.""
Richard gave a quiet sigh.
"That's what Daniel wanted you to believe.""
I ended the call.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then my mother said, "He sounds exactly the same.""
I looked at her.
"What do you mean?""
"Your father used to say Richard could make a threat sound like an invitation.""
Daniel gathered the legal papers.
"We need to establish a formal record of every contact. Marcus, if he calls again, don't engage.""
But Richard wasn't finished.
At 11:30, a black sedan pulled into our driveway.
A driver stepped out and opened the rear door.
An older man emerged.
He wore a charcoal suit, polished black shoes, and a silver watch.
His hair was almost entirely white.
He walked toward the front door without hesitation.
The doorbell rang.
I opened it.
Richard stood on the porch.
For a moment, I simply stared.
He had my nose.
My mother's eyes were different, but the shape of his jaw was disturbingly familiar.
He looked at me as if he were studying an old photograph.
"Marcus.""
I didn't move.
"You're trespassing.""
He smiled faintly.
"Still stubborn. Your father passed that on.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Don't.""
Richard stepped closer.
"I brought something.""
He held out a small leather box.
I didn't take it.
"What is it?""
"Something that belonged to you.""
I opened the box.
Inside was a silver baby bracelet.
My name was engraved on it.
*MARCUS — 1991.*
I stared at it.
"Where did you get this?""
"Your mother gave it to me.""
I turned toward Evelyn.
She had appeared in the hallway.
Her face had gone white.
"I never gave you that," she said.
Richard smiled.
"You don't remember everything, Evelyn.""
My mother stepped forward.
"Get out of my house.""
Richard's smile disappeared.
"Still angry after all these years?""
"You abandoned my child.""
"I was young.""
"So was I!""
Her voice cracked.
"You left me alone with a newborn. Daniel stayed. Daniel raised Marcus. Daniel loved him.""
Richard looked at me.
"I understand that you're angry.""
I laughed.
"Angry?""
"You're entitled to your feelings.""
"Don't talk to me like you're my therapist.""
He glanced toward the living room.
"I'd prefer to discuss the trust privately.""
Daniel appeared behind me.
"Mr. Blackwood, you can communicate through my office.""
Richard gave him a cold smile.
"I was speaking to my son.""
"Your son has asked you to leave.""
Richard ignored him.
He looked directly at me.
"Your father left you two million dollars. Did he ever tell you where that money came from?""
I said nothing.
Richard continued.
"It wasn't all his.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"That's a matter for the court.""
Richard laughed.
"Of course it is.""
Then he looked at me.
"Daniel stole from our company. He transferred assets into a private trust and made you the beneficiary.""
"Do you have proof?""
"I have the original investment records.""
"Then produce them.""
Richard's smile faded.
"You're making this unnecessarily difficult.""
I stepped closer.
"No. You made it difficult when you abandoned my mother. You made it worse when you tried to take my father's money. And you crossed the line when you helped my wife interfere with my mother's medical treatment.""
His eyes narrowed.
"Your wife was trying to help.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"So you admit you were working with Vanessa?""
Richard paused.
Then he smiled.
"Vanessa is a very intelligent woman.""
I stared at him.
"Did you tell her to cancel my mother's treatment?""
"I don't involve myself in medical decisions.""
"Did you tell her to transfer the money?""
"I advised her on certain financial matters.""
Daniel immediately wrote something down.
Richard noticed.
"You should be careful, Mr. Brooks. Accusations have consequences.""
Daniel didn't look up.
"So do financial crimes.""
Richard adjusted his jacket.
Then he turned toward me.
"One more thing, Marcus.""
I waited.
"Your father left you a fortune, but he never told you about the debt.""
"What debt?""
Richard smiled.
"The company owes me more than the trust is worth.""
He walked toward the driveway.
Before getting into the car, he turned back.
"Ask Vanessa about the original loan agreement. She knows exactly what your father signed.""
The sedan disappeared down the street.
I closed the door.
My mother was crying again.
I looked at Daniel.
"What debt?""
He shook his head.
"I don't know.""
I went upstairs to find Vanessa.
She was sitting on the edge of our bed, staring at her phone.
When she saw me, she immediately stood.
"Did he come here?""
"Yes.""
Her face tightened.
"What did he say?""
"That my father owed him money.""
Vanessa looked away.
"Marcus—"
"What's the original loan agreement?""
She sat down.
For a long moment, she didn't speak.
Then she opened her bedside drawer and removed a sealed envelope.
"I was hoping you'd never see this.""
I took it.
Inside was an agreement dated two weeks before my father's death.
The amount was $3.4 million.
The borrower was Daniel Carter.
The lender was Richard Blackwood.
But the final clause was what made my blood run cold.
It stated that if the debt remained unpaid, ownership of the Carter estate would transfer to the lender.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Did my father sign this?""
She nodded.
"And did you know?""
"Yes.""
I turned to the final page.
There were two signatures.
My father's.
And Richard's.
But beneath them was a third signature.
A witness.
I recognized the name immediately.
*Evelyn Carter.*
I looked toward the doorway.
My mother was standing there.
Her face was full of tears.
"Mom," I whispered.
She shook her head.
"Marcus, I can explain.""
I held up the document.
"Did you know my father had borrowed three million dollars?""
She looked down.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"No. But I know why I signed that paper.""
