Chapter 7: The Guardian My Father Never Told Me About
I couldn't take my eyes off the document.
Richard Blackwood.
The man in the photograph.
The man whose company had received my father's inheritance.
The man who was now trying to acquire my mother's house.
And apparently, the man who had been named my legal guardian.
"That makes no sense," I said.
Daniel placed the document beneath the light.
"How old were you when your father signed this?""
"Twenty-five? I was twenty-three when he died.""
Daniel checked the date.
"Then this agreement was executed before his death.""
My mother shook her head.
"Your father would never have given that man control over our son.""
Vanessa sat silently.
I turned toward her.
"You knew about this?""
She didn't answer.
"Vanessa, look at me.""
She raised her eyes.
"Yes.""
The word was barely audible.
I felt something break inside me.
"How long?""
"Since before we got married.""
My mother gasped.
I stared at my wife.
"You knew my father had named Richard Blackwood as my guardian before you married me?""
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"I discovered it when I started helping your mother organize the old documents.""
"That's not what I asked.""
She looked down.
"Yes. I knew.""
I stepped away from her.
"Then why did you marry me?""
Her face crumpled.
"Marcus, I loved you.""
"That isn't an answer.""
"I didn't know what to do. I thought the agreement was invalid.""
Daniel interrupted.
"Why would you think that?""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Because Marcus was already an adult when his father died.""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"That may be relevant. But the document needs to be examined by a specialist. We cannot assume it's enforceable simply because it contains signatures.""
I took the agreement.
There was another page attached.
It contained a clause about the trust's assets.
If the named guardian failed to act in the beneficiary's interests, control would revert to the beneficiary upon independent verification of misconduct.
I read it twice.
"Daniel, what does this mean?""
He examined the paragraph.
"It means your father may have anticipated a situation in which Blackwood abused his authority.""
My mother began crying again.
"He knew.""
I looked at her.
"Knew what?""
She covered her mouth.
"Your father told me Richard was dangerous. He said if anything happened to him, I should never let that man near you.""
I felt a chill.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I thought he was being paranoid. And because he made me promise not to involve you.""
Daniel placed the document in his folder.
"We need the original trust deed. This photocopy isn't enough.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"The original is with Richard.""
I turned.
"How do you know?""
"Because I gave it to him.""
The room went silent.
"You gave him my father's original trust document?""
"He said he needed it to release the money.""
Daniel stood.
"Mrs. Carter, you need to understand that this could be extremely serious.""
Vanessa began pacing.
"I didn't have a choice.""
I stared at her.
"You had a choice when you signed my mother's treatment refusal.""
She stopped.
"You had a choice when you moved her money.""
She looked away.
"You had a choice when you forged my signature.""
"Marcus, please—"
"And you had a choice when you gave my inheritance to the man my father warned us about.""
She began crying.
But this time, I didn't move toward her.
I didn't comfort her.
I simply watched.
My mother reached for my hand.
"Let's leave this for the lawyers, sweetheart.""
I nodded.
Daniel gathered the documents.
"There's one more thing I want to check. The company that received the money.""
He opened his laptop and searched its registration details.
After several minutes, he frowned.
"That's strange.""
"What?""
"The account is not held directly by Blackwood Capital.""
"Who holds it?""
"A separate company.""
He turned the screen toward me.
*CARTER LEGACY TRUST SERVICES.*
I stared at the name.
"That's the company Vanessa used?""
"No. This company was registered twelve years ago, shortly after your father's death.""
"Who owns it?""
Daniel clicked another record.
The shareholder information was restricted.
But one director's name appeared.
Vanessa Carter.
I looked at my wife.
"You were involved with this company for twelve years?""
She shook her head.
"No. I was added recently.""
"By whom?""
She looked toward the window.
"Richard.""
Daniel closed his laptop.
"Marcus, we need to secure your mother's safety and freeze any remaining accounts connected to these transactions.""
I nodded.
"Do whatever you need to do.""
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A text message appeared.
*Stop digging into your father's affairs. Your mother has already suffered enough.*
I showed Daniel.
He photographed the message.
"Don't respond.""
A second message arrived.
*If you want to know why your father really died, meet me at the old garage tomorrow. Come alone.*
My heart started beating faster.
I looked at the sender.
There was no name.
Just a number.
I typed one question.
Who are you?
The reply came almost immediately.
*Someone who was there the night your father died.*
I looked at my mother.
She had seen my face.
"What happened?""
I handed her the phone.
She read the message.
Then her knees weakened.
I caught her.
"Mom?""
She shook her head violently.
"No. No, that can't be.""
"Who was there?""
She stared at the screen.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Your father wasn't alone when he died.""
