Chapter 10: The Father Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
Marcus read the message again.
*Your father is alive. And he knows where Elena hid the real will.*
For several seconds, the courthouse parking lot seemed to disappear around him.
His father, Richard Hayes, had died six months before Elena.
Marcus had attended the funeral. He had identified the body. He had watched the coffin lowered into the ground.
He remembered standing beside Elena, who had held his hand while Maya placed a small white flower on the coffin.
There had been no reason to doubt the death certificate.
Until now.
"Rachel," Marcus said slowly.
"Tell me everything.""
His sister looked toward Evelyn and Patricia.
"Not here.""
"You're going to tell me now.""
Rachel began crying.
"I didn't know he was alive until the night Elena died.""
Marcus grabbed her arm.
"How?""
Rachel pulled away.
"Please. Just listen.""
She opened her handbag and removed an old photograph.
It showed Richard standing outside a hospital entrance.
He looked older and thinner, but there was no mistaking his face.
On the back was a handwritten date.
October 14.
The same date Elena's final medical authorization had supposedly been signed.
Marcus stared at it.
"Where did you get this?""
"Elena gave it to me.""
"Why?""
"She told me your father had contacted her. He said he had information about Daniel and the trust.""
Marcus shook his head.
"My father hated Daniel.""
"That's what I thought, too.""
Rachel wiped her cheeks.
"But Elena said Richard had been helping him.""
Marcus felt as though someone had punched him.
His father had once been his hero.
A successful businessman, a strict parent, and a man who believed family loyalty was more important than anything.
When Richard died, Marcus had inherited his company shares and several properties.
He had also inherited a collection of old documents that he had never examined.
"Why would he pretend to die?""
Rachel looked down.
"Elena believed he was trying to disappear before the financial investigation reached him.""
Marcus turned toward Patricia.
"Can that be true?""
Patricia examined the photograph.
"We need to verify it. But if your father is alive, the death certificate and probate records may have been falsified.""
Marcus's phone vibrated again.
Another message.
*Stop looking for the will. Your father has it.*
He showed Patricia.
She took a screenshot.
"Don't reply.""
Marcus looked at Rachel.
"Where is he?""
"I don't know.""
"Then why did you say you saw him?""
Rachel took a deep breath.
"Because I saw him outside Elena's hospital room. He was wearing a gray coat. He told me he had come to say goodbye.""
Marcus stared.
"And you didn't tell me?""
"He threatened me. He said if I told you, he would make sure Maya lost everything.""
Marcus stepped back.
His father had threatened his sister.
He had hidden his death.
And he might have been involved in the scheme that had destroyed Elena's final months.
That evening, Marcus returned home with Maya.
She was sitting on the sofa drawing flowers.
When he entered, she held up the paper.
"Look, Daddy. I drew Mommy's bicycle.""
He smiled weakly.
"It's beautiful.""
"I made the flowers yellow like she did.""
Marcus sat beside her.
"Your mother would have loved it.""
Maya leaned against his shoulder.
"Are you sad?""
"A little.""
"Because of Mommy?""
"Because there are some things I don't understand yet.""
Maya considered that.
"Mommy used to say that when something is confusing, you should keep asking questions until you find the right answer.""
Marcus kissed her forehead.
"She was right.""
He put Maya to bed and returned downstairs.
Patricia had sent him a message.
*I found something in Richard Hayes's probate file. Please call me immediately.*
Marcus called.
"What's going on?""
Patricia sounded tense.
"The company shares transferred to you after your father's death were not transferred through a normal inheritance process.""
"What does that mean?""
"Someone submitted a death certificate, but there is no corresponding hospital record. The physician listed on the certificate retired before the stated date.""
Marcus sat down.
"You're saying he might never have died?""
"I'm saying the documentation is suspicious.""
"Who filed it?""
"Daniel Whitmore.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
Everything led back to Daniel.
Then Patricia added something else.
"There's another problem. Your father transferred a property into a private holding company three weeks before his supposed death.""
"Which property?""
"Your childhood home.""
Marcus frowned.
"That house was sold years ago.""
"No. The ownership changed, but the property was never sold. It's currently registered to a company connected to Daniel.""
Marcus remembered the old house.
The large white building with the oak tree in front, where his mother had raised him.
It was also where Elena had first met Richard.
He suddenly remembered something.
Elena had once told him that she wanted to visit the house because she believed Richard had left something important there.
Marcus had dismissed it.
Now he wondered what she had discovered.
At 11:26 p.m., someone knocked on the front door.
Marcus looked through the security camera.
An elderly man stood on the porch.
Gray hair.
A dark coat.
A familiar face.
Marcus opened the door but kept the security chain attached.
The man looked directly at him.
"Hello, son.""
Marcus couldn't speak.
His father smiled sadly.
"I suppose I owe you an explanation.""
Marcus's hands curled into fists.
"You're supposed to be dead.""
Richard lowered his eyes.
"I know.""
"You let me bury an empty coffin?""
Richard sighed.
"I had reasons.""
"You threatened my sister.""
"Rachel was frightened. She misunderstood.""
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"You disappeared, forged your death, and helped Daniel steal from my daughter. What exactly did I misunderstand?""
Richard's expression changed.
"I didn't steal anything.""
"Then explain Elena's will.""
Richard glanced toward the street.
"Not here.""
"Good. Because you're not coming inside.""
His father nodded.
Then he reached into his coat and produced a small brass key.
"I know where Elena hid the original will.""
Marcus stared at it.
"Why didn't you give it to her?""
"Because she made me promise to protect it until the right moment.""
"You could have protected her.""
Richard's face tightened.
For a moment, the older man looked genuinely ashamed.
Then he said something that made Marcus forget his anger.
"Elena didn't die because of her illness alone.""
Marcus grabbed the doorframe.
"What are you saying?""
Richard looked toward the dark street.
"Someone interfered with her medication.""
Marcus felt his stomach turn.
"Who?""
Richard placed the brass key on the porch ledge.
"Find the original will first. Then you'll understand.""
He stepped backward.
"Wait!""
Richard turned.
"Was it Vanessa?""
His father hesitated.
Then he answered.
"No. It was someone Vanessa was protecting.""
Before Marcus could ask another question, a car pulled up.
Richard quickly walked toward it.
The passenger door opened.
A woman stepped out.
Vanessa.
She looked at Marcus.
Then at Richard.
And smiled.
May you like
"Family reunion," she said.
"How touching.""
