Chapter 11: The Original Will
Marcus watched Vanessa help Richard into the car.
His father didn't look back.
The vehicle disappeared around the corner.
Marcus remained on the porch, staring at the brass key.
Vanessa's appearance had confirmed one thing.
She knew Richard was alive.
And whatever had happened to Elena involved more people than he had imagined.
He called Patricia.
"Richard came to the house.""
"What?""
"He gave me a key. He says he knows where Elena hid the original will.""
"Where is he now?""
"Vanessa took him.""
Patricia went silent.
Then she said, "Marcus, don't go looking for him alone.""
"I'm not planning to.""
"Good. Send me a photograph of the key.""
Marcus did.
A few minutes later, Patricia called back.
"That key belongs to the old Hayes property.""
Marcus stared at it.
"The childhood house?""
"Yes. I checked the property records. The building is still owned by a company Daniel controls.""
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
"Can we enter?""
"Not without authorization.""
He looked at the key.
"Then we'll get authorization.""
The following morning, Evelyn filed an emergency request to inspect the property because it was potentially connected to disputed estate documents.
The judge approved a limited inspection under the supervision of a court-appointed representative.
By noon, Marcus, Patricia, Evelyn, and two officers were standing outside the old family home.
The house looked almost exactly as he remembered it.
The white paint had faded.
The garden was overgrown.
But the oak tree still stood in the front yard.
Marcus touched its rough bark.
His father had planted it when Marcus was six.
"Your mother will sit under this tree one day and watch your children play," Richard had once told him.
Marcus had believed those words.
Now even his childhood memories felt contaminated.
One of the officers unlocked the front door.
The house smelled of dust and damp wood.
Furniture remained covered in white sheets.
Marcus walked through the hallway.
He recognized the staircase, the fireplace, and the old family photographs.
Then he noticed something strange.
The portrait of his mother was missing.
In its place hung a newer photograph.
Richard.
Standing beside Daniel.
Marcus approached it.
"Why would they put this here?""
Patricia examined the frame.
"Perhaps because they wanted it found.""
Marcus removed it.
Behind the photograph was a small metal compartment built into the wall.
He inserted the brass key.
The compartment opened.
Inside was a sealed envelope and a tiny digital recorder.
Marcus recognized Elena's handwriting.
*For Marcus. Only Marcus.*
He opened it.
My love,
If you found this, Richard finally kept one promise.
I know you may hate him for what happened. I know you may never forgive him.
But please understand that he wasn't always the man you see now.
He helped Daniel access the family accounts because Daniel convinced him that Maya's inheritance could be used to save the business.
When Richard realized what they were doing, he tried to stop them.
Unfortunately, he had already signed documents that made him vulnerable.
Marcus stopped reading.
Patricia stood nearby.
"Continue.""
He unfolded the second page.
Richard told me that Daniel had discovered a way to move money through the clinic's charitable foundation. He used donations and medical expenses to disguise the transfers.
When I confronted him, he threatened to expose the fertility clinic's mistake and destroy Marcus's relationship with Maya.
I believe Vanessa knows more than she admits.
But there is something else.
Marcus's eyes moved to the final paragraph.
If anything happens to me, don't assume my death was natural. I have evidence that someone has been altering my medication.
His hands began shaking.
Patricia took the letter.
"This is important evidence.""
Marcus picked up the recorder.
"Let's hear it.""
He pressed play.
Elena's voice filled the empty house.
"Richard, I need you to understand. I know what Daniel has done.""
Richard answered.
"I tried to stop him.""
"You gave him access to the accounts.""
"I thought I could recover the money before you noticed.""
"You used my daughter's future to protect your company.""
Richard sighed.
"I made a terrible mistake.""
"Then help me fix it.""
"I can't. Daniel has documents that could send me to prison.""
Elena paused.
Then she asked:
"What about the medication?""
Richard's voice became barely audible.
"Daniel said it was necessary to keep you calm.""
Elena gasped.
"You knew?""
"I didn't know what was in it.""
"You knew he was changing my prescriptions!""
"I thought it was harmless.""
There was a long silence.
Then Elena spoke.
"Richard, if I die, you must tell Marcus everything.""
"I will.""
"Promise me.""
"I promise.""
The recording ended.
Marcus stood frozen.
His father had known.
He might not have intended Elena's death, but he had allowed someone to interfere with her treatment.
And he had kept silent.
Patricia examined the recorder.
"There's another file.""
Marcus pressed the button.
This time, Vanessa's voice appeared.
"Daniel, she's asking too many questions.""
Daniel answered.
"Then give her the new medication.""
Vanessa hesitated.
"What if she notices?""
"She won't. The doctor approved the prescription.""
"Marcus is coming to the hospital tomorrow.""
"Then make sure he doesn't see the records.""
Vanessa lowered her voice.
"And the will?""
"I'll handle it.""
The recording ended.
Marcus felt sick.
He looked at Patricia.
"That's enough. We take this to the police.""
Patricia nodded.
"Immediately.""
But before they could leave, one of the officers called from the back room.
"Mr. Hayes? You need to see this.""
Marcus hurried down the hallway.
The officer was standing beside an old wooden cabinet.
Inside was a stack of envelopes tied with a blue ribbon.
Each envelope bore Elena's name.
Marcus recognized the handwriting on the top one.
It was his father's.
He opened it.
Elena,
I found the original trust documents. Daniel has been lying to all of us. The money was never intended for the business.
He has another plan. He wants to claim Maya as his biological daughter and use that connection to challenge the trust.
Marcus looked up.
"How many letters are there?""
"Seven," the officer replied.
Marcus opened the next one.
The first sentence made him feel as though the floor had disappeared.
The reason Daniel wants Maya isn't simply because of the money.
He read on.
He believes Elena left a second inheritance for Maya through a private insurance policy. The policy is worth more than the entire family estate.
Patricia looked at him.
"Do we know about this policy?""
Marcus shook his head.
"No.""
He opened the final envelope.
Inside was a copy of an insurance contract.
The beneficiary was Maya.
The policy amount was $12 million.
But the named contingent beneficiary was not Marcus.
It was Daniel Whitmore.
Marcus stared at the page.
Then he noticed the date.
The policy had been changed after Elena entered the hospital.
May you like
And the signature authorizing the change belonged to someone who was supposed to be dead.
Richard Hayes.
