Chapter 7: The Secret My Mother Buried
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
It belonged to my mother.
The same elegant cursive I'd seen on birthday cards, Christmas presents, and the handwritten recipe book she left me after she died.
But the words on the back of the photograph were different.
She knew what happened.
I sat on the bottom stair, holding the photograph in one hand and the envelope in the other.
Daniel stood several feet away.
For once, he wasn't trying to explain anything.
He was staring at the photograph.
"Where did you get that?"" he asked.
"Vanessa.""
He reached for it.
I pulled it against my chest.
"Don't touch it.""
"Nia, you need to understand something.""
"I'm beginning to understand that everyone in my life has been lying to me.""
He looked toward the front window.
"Vanessa shouldn't have brought that here.""
"Why?""
"Because some things are better left alone.""
I stood.
"My mother is dead, Daniel. Whatever happened twenty years ago, I deserve to know.""
He shook his head.
"You don't know what you're getting into.""
"Then tell me.""
He remained silent.
I picked up my phone.
"I'm calling the police.""
He moved toward me.
"Wait.""
I looked at him.
"Why?""
"Because I can explain part of it.""
"Start talking.""
Daniel sat on the sofa and loosened his collar.
"Your mother and Vanessa's father were business partners.""
I frowned.
"My mother was a schoolteacher.""
"She inherited money from your grandfather. There was a property investment.""
"What property?""
"The old Carter estate.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Why was Vanessa's father involved?""
"He managed the business side of things. Your grandfather trusted him.""
"What happened?""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"According to Vanessa, your mother accused him of stealing money. He lost his position, his reputation, and eventually his house.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"You're saying my mother destroyed his life?""
"I'm saying that's what Vanessa believes.""
"Do you believe it?""
He looked away.
I walked to the fireplace and placed the photograph beside the framed picture of my mother.
Her smile was as warm as I remembered.
She had taught me to be kind to people, even when they disappointed me.
She had also taught me never to sign something I hadn't read.
I wondered whether she had known that one day her own daughter would be surrounded by forged documents.
My phone rang.
Mr. Collins.
I answered immediately.
"Nia, are you still at home?""
"Yes.""
"Good. The police have received the report. I also need you to send me photographs of everything Vanessa left.""
I looked at the envelope.
"There's something else. Vanessa says my mother promised her family something twenty years ago.""
Mr. Collins went quiet.
"What exactly did she say?""
"She mentioned the Carter estate.""
A pause.
Then he said, "Nia, do you still have your mother's old estate documents?""
"I think so.""
"Don't discard anything. I'll come by this afternoon.""
I hung up.
Daniel stood.
"Collins doesn't need to be involved in this.""
"He's my attorney.""
"He'll make everything worse.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You've already done that.""
Daniel walked toward the door.
"Where are you going?"" I asked.
"To find Vanessa.""
"Why?""
"Because she's lost her mind.""
I stepped in front of him.
"You're not going anywhere until you tell me what you know.""
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he said, "Your mother didn't just take Vanessa's father's position. She kept the property.""
I frowned.
"What property?""
"The estate.""
"Isn't this house part of my mother's inheritance?""
He nodded.
"But there's another property. An old commercial building downtown.""
I remembered the name.
Carter House.
My mother had mentioned it once when I was a teenager. She'd said it had belonged to my grandfather and that the family was considering selling it.
"What happened to it?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Vanessa says your mother transferred it into a private trust.""
"For whom?""
He looked at me.
"For you.""
I stared at him.
"That's impossible. I would know.""
"Maybe she never told you.""
Before I could respond, my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of a document.
The heading read:
*CARTER FAMILY TRUST — BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP RECORD.*
I opened it.
My name appeared as the sole beneficiary.
But there was another name listed under a section titled Disputed Claimant.
Thomas Reed.
Vanessa's father.
Below it was a handwritten note:
Claim unresolved. Original settlement agreement required.
I enlarged the image.
There was a signature at the bottom.
Evelyn Carter.
My mother.
And beside it, another signature.
Thomas Reed.
I looked at Daniel.
"Where did this come from?""
He shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Another message arrived.
Your mother promised to give us half. She died before she could make things right.
I typed a response.
Who is this?
The reply came immediately.
Someone who has been waiting twenty years.
Then a final message appeared.
Ask your grandmother what happened to Thomas Reed.
My hands went numb.
My grandmother had died four years earlier.
But I'd never heard the name Thomas Reed in our family.
I looked at Daniel.
"Did you know about this?""
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"Daniel, did you know about the trust?""
He looked at the floor.
"Yes.""
My heart sank.
"Since when?""
"Before I proposed.""
I stared at him.
"How?""
"Vanessa showed me the records.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't want to upset you.""
I almost laughed.
"You're unbelievable.""
He took a breath.
"Listen, Nia. The property is worth millions.""
I went completely still.
"How much?""
"Depending on the development rights, somewhere between four and six million.""
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Four to six million dollars.
My mother had left me something worth that much, and I hadn't known.
Vanessa had.
Daniel had.
And somehow, they had decided that marrying me was the easiest way to gain access to it.
I walked toward the front door and opened it.
"Leave.""
He didn't argue this time.
As he stepped outside, I called after him.
"Daniel?""
He turned.
"If you ever come near me again without my attorney present, I'll make sure every document you've signed is examined.""
His face hardened.
"You think you're the only person with something to lose?""
I stared at him.
"What does that mean?""
He gave me a strange smile.
"Ask your grandmother's lawyer about the original settlement.""
Then he left.
I closed the door.
That afternoon, Mr. Collins arrived with an old leather briefcase.
He examined the photograph, the trust record, and the handwritten note.
Then he placed his glasses on the desk.
"Nia, I think we've been looking at this from the wrong direction.""
"What do you mean?""
He opened his briefcase and removed a yellowed envelope.
"I found this in your mother's estate file several years ago. She instructed me not to release it unless someone challenged the Carter family trust.""
I stared at the envelope.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because nobody had challenged it.""
He pushed it toward me.
My mother's handwriting appeared across the front.
For Nia. Only if the Reeds come back.
I slowly opened it.
Inside was a letter.
The first sentence made my blood run cold.
My darling girl, if you're reading this, it means Thomas Reed has finally sent someone to claim what he believes belongs to him.
May you like
But the next sentence was worse.
And it means I failed to protect you from the person who helped him destroy our family.
