Chapter 8: The Will
Ethan stood in front of his mother.
“You changed Dad's will?””
Gloria looked toward Sophia.
“I didn't change it.””
“Then why did that message say you did?””
“I signed something.””
“What?””
“A replacement.””
Ethan's expression hardened.
“When?””
“Three days before your father died.””
Sophia stepped forward.
“You never told me that.””
Gloria looked at her.
“You weren't supposed to know.””
Ethan turned toward the folder.
“Where is the original?””
Gloria's voice was quiet.
“Gone.””
“Gone where?””
“I don't know.””
Ethan shook his head.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I expect you to understand that I was afraid.””
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it's true.””
Ethan picked up the documents.
“Did Dad leave everything to me?””
Gloria hesitated.
“Yes.””
Sophia looked stunned.
“Everything?””
Gloria nodded.
“The company. The house. The accounts.””
Ethan stared at her.
“Then why was there another will?””
“Because your father believed someone was going to take it from you.””
“Who?””
Gloria looked toward the security camera.
“I don't know.””
A sharp knock sounded from the front door.
Ethan turned.
Sophia grabbed his arm.
“Don't answer.””
He pulled away.
“You're not telling me what to do anymore.””
He crossed the room.
Gloria called after him.
“Ethan, wait.””
He opened the door.
No one was there.
A small brown package sat on the doorstep.
Ethan picked it up.
His name was written across the top.
He carried it inside.
Sophia backed away.
“What is that?””
“I don't know.””
Ethan opened it.
Inside was a flash drive.
And a folded legal document.
He unfolded the paper.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
“What?””
Sophia asked.
Ethan looked at her.
“It's a power-of-attorney form.””
Gloria stood.
“Give it to me.””
Ethan didn't move.
“My signature is here.””
Sophia whispered, “That's impossible.””
“No,” Ethan said.
“It's happening.””
He held up the document.
“This gives someone control over my accounts.””
Gloria stared at it.
“Who?””
Ethan looked at the name.
His voice disappeared.
“What?””
Sophia stepped closer.
“Who is it?””
Ethan slowly raised his eyes.
“Gloria.””
His mother stopped breathing.
“My name is listed as the authorized person.””
Sophia stared at her.
“You?””
Gloria shook her head.
“I never signed this.””
Ethan looked at the signature.
“It isn't just your name.””
He turned the paper around.
“It's your signature too.””
Gloria backed away.
“No.””
“You told me you didn't change the will.””
“I didn't.””
“You told me you didn't sign the note.””
“I didn't.””
“You're telling me your signature has been forged twice.””
“Yes.””
Sophia suddenly whispered, “Three times.””
Ethan looked at her.
“What?””
She pointed at the flash drive.
“There's something on that.””
Ethan inserted it into the laptop on the coffee table.
A single video file appeared.
No title.
No date.
He opened it.
The footage showed a dark office.
A man sat behind a desk.
His face was hidden in shadow.
But his voice was clear.
“If you're watching this, Ethan, they have already begun using your identity.””
Ethan froze.
The man continued.
“Your mother didn't forge your signature.””
Gloria covered her mouth.
“Then who did?””
The man paused.
“They needed someone close enough to make the forgery believable.””
Ethan looked at Sophia.
Sophia shook her head.
“No.””
The man continued.
“The person who has been moving money through your accounts has access to your home, your marriage, and your family.””
Ethan slowly looked around the living room.
The family photographs.
The sofa.
The coffee table.
The security monitor.
Everything suddenly felt unfamiliar.
The man's voice lowered.
“And the worst part is…”
The video distorted.
The screen flickered.
Then the image cleared for one second.
A face appeared.
Ethan stepped backward.
It was a man he recognized.
His father's former business partner.
But he had been declared dead years ago.
Sophia screamed.
The video ended.
Ethan stared at the black screen.
Then his phone buzzed.
A text appeared.
*You finally saw him. Now ask Sophia why she helped him.*
Ethan looked at his wife.
Sophia's knees nearly buckled.
“Ethan…”
He didn't answer.
“Please.””
He stared at her.
“Did you help him?””
Sophia's lips trembled.
“I had no choice.””
Gloria whispered, “That's not true.””
Sophia looked at her.
“You don't know what he threatened.””
Ethan stepped forward.
“What did he threaten?””
May you like
Sophia opened her mouth.
Then every light in the living room went out.
