Chapter 4: The Seventy-Five-Thousand-Dollar Secret
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
The photograph on my phone showed my mother sitting across from Vanessa in an expensive restaurant. Between them was a thick folder marked with Noah's name.
Beneath the photograph was the message.
*Ask your wife why your mother paid her $75,000 before she died.*
I read it again.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
"Did my mother give you seventy-five thousand dollars?""
Her face changed.
Not surprise.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
She knew exactly what I was talking about.
"Marcus, I can explain.""
"That's not an answer.""
She glanced toward the dining room.
"Not here.""
I laughed once, without humor.
"You keep saying that. First, you didn't want to discuss Emily's gift in front of the children. Then you didn't want to discuss the hospital documents. Now you don't want to discuss my mother's money.""
"Because you're jumping to conclusions!""
"Then stop giving me reasons to jump.""
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
"Your mother was worried about Noah's future.""
"My mother is dead. You are standing in my house holding information about a payment I never knew existed. Start talking.""
Vanessa looked toward the hallway.
I followed her gaze.
Lily was standing near the stairs.
She was holding a small paper plate with a slice of birthday cake on it.
"Mom?"" she asked quietly.
"Are you in trouble?""
Vanessa immediately changed her expression.
"No, sweetheart. Go upstairs.""
"But Carter said Dad is angry because you took Noah's present.""
"Go upstairs, Lily.""
The little girl hesitated.
Then she looked at me.
"Mr. Marcus, can I tell you something?""
Vanessa's head snapped around.
"Lily!""
My stepdaughter flinched.
I crouched slightly.
"It's okay, sweetheart. You can talk to me.""
Lily held her plate against her chest.
"Mom told Carter and me not to tell you about Grandma Margaret's visits.""
My heart stopped.
"What visits?""
Lily looked at her mother.
Vanessa took a step forward.
"That's enough.""
But Lily continued.
"Grandma used to come here when you were working. She brought Mom envelopes.""
I slowly stood.
"How many times?""
"I don't know. Lots.""
Vanessa grabbed Lily's shoulder.
"Upstairs. Now.""
Lily's eyes filled with tears.
I moved between them.
"Don't grab her.""
Vanessa released her.
Lily hurried upstairs, leaving her cake plate on the hallway table.
I turned back to my wife.
"My mother came here regularly?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
"How long?""
"Marcus, your mother was lonely.""
"How long?""
She swallowed.
"About a year.""
A year.
My mother had been visiting my house for a year without me knowing.
I remembered her saying she didn't like driving anymore. She had complained about her knees, her eyesight, and the traffic.
I had offered to bring her to our house.
She had always refused.
Apparently, she had been coming anyway.
I held up my phone.
"Who sent me this photograph?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"I genuinely don't know.""
I looked at the number.
It wasn't saved in my contacts.
I called it.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
Then someone answered.
"Marcus?""
A man's voice.
I didn't recognize it immediately.
"Who is this?""
"My name is Daniel. Emily's brother.""
I closed my eyes.
Daniel.
The man Vanessa had accused Emily of having an affair with.
"What do you want?""
"To make sure you finally see the truth.""
I looked at Vanessa.
She was staring at the phone.
"Did you send me this photograph?""
"Yes.""
"Where did you get it?""
"Emily gave it to me.""
"Why does she have it?""
"Because I took it.""
I frowned.
Daniel continued.
"I was at the restaurant that afternoon. Your mother asked me to meet her. Vanessa was already there when I arrived.""
"Why didn't you tell me before?""
"Because your mother threatened to report me for harassment if I contacted you. She said she had evidence that would make me look like a criminal.""
My jaw tightened.
"What evidence?""
"I don't know. She never showed me.""
I glanced at the photograph again.
"Why was my mother paying Vanessa?""
Daniel was quiet for a moment.
"Because Vanessa had something your mother desperately wanted.""
"What?""
"Control.""
I looked toward the stairs where Lily had disappeared.
Daniel continued.
"Your mother believed Noah should grow up in a traditional family. She thought Emily was too independent, too difficult, and too unwilling to let other people make decisions for her.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"That doesn't explain the money.""
"No. But I think the documents will.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Which documents?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"The original guardianship agreement. Your mother signed it. Vanessa signed it. And there's a third signature.""
"Whose?""
"Yours.""
My blood went cold.
"What?""
"Marcus, I saw the document. Your signature was already on it.""
I stared at the legal papers on the washing machine.
I had never signed anything authorizing Vanessa to take custody of Noah.
"That's impossible.""
"Then ask Vanessa where she got it.""
The call ended.
I stood motionless.
Vanessa approached slowly.
"Marcus, listen to me.""
I looked at her.
"Did you forge my signature?""
"No.""
"Then how is it on that agreement?""
She started crying.
"Your mother told me it was handled legally.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
"She said you had already agreed.""
"I never agreed!""
Vanessa covered her mouth.
For a moment, I thought she might finally tell me everything.
Instead, she reached into her purse and pulled out a folded envelope.
She placed it on the counter.
"This is what your mother left me.""
I didn't touch it.
"What is it?""
"Her instructions.""
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter from my mother.
The first line made my hands tremble.
Vanessa, if Marcus ever discovers what we arranged, do not tell him the entire truth.
I looked at my wife.
Then I continued reading.
The money is yours. The agreement is valid. And if Emily ever comes back asking questions, remind her that she signed away more than she remembers.
I read that sentence twice.
Emily had signed something.
Something she didn't understand.
I looked at Vanessa.
"What did Emily sign?""
Vanessa backed away.
"I don't know.""
I raised the letter.
"Your name is on this.""
She began shaking her head.
"Marcus, your mother handled everything.""
"Then why are you so afraid?""
She looked at the letter.
Then at me.
Finally, she whispered:
"Because Emily didn't just sign a hospital form. She signed a document that could make her lose custody of Noah.""
My phone buzzed again.
Another message from Daniel.
*There's one more thing you need to know. Your mother didn't pay Vanessa to become Noah's guardian. She paid her to make sure you never discovered who Noah's biological father really was.*
I read it.
Once.
Twice.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
"Who is Noah's biological father?""
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Her face went completely white.
And for the first time since I had known her, she looked as though she had absolutely no idea what to say.
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