Chapter 9: The Truth Hidden In Paper
The word inheritance didn’t sound real.
Not in our living room.
Not on a normal morning.
Not while I was still wearing the same turquoise hoodie I had put on because I thought I was going on vacation.
Inheritance belonged to movies.
To wealthy families.
To people with complicated histories.
Not me.
“What did he say?”” I asked.
My father lowered the phone.
The man was still speaking.
“Marcus?””
My father put it on speaker.
“Say that again.””
The voice on the other end was calm.
Too calm.
“I said you need to check Maya’s inheritance documents.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
My father looked at her.
“Who are you?””
“My name is Daniel Brooks. I work with the legal office that handled Maya’s mother’s estate.””
My heart stopped.
My mother.
Again.
Everything kept coming back to her.
“What does this have to do with Vanessa?”” Marcus asked.
Daniel paused.
Then said:
“She requested access to the files.””
The room exploded into silence.
My father turned.
“Vanessa.””
She looked away.
“I can explain.””
“No.””
His voice was sharper now.
“You can tell the truth.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Did you change something that belonged to my mom?””
Her eyes filled.
“I never wanted to hurt you.””
That wasn’t an answer.
And she knew it.
Marcus walked slowly across the room.
“What documents?””
Daniel answered through the phone.
“There was a request to update beneficiary information.””
My father froze.
“Update?””
“Yes.””
“Who requested it?””
A pause.
Then:
“Vanessa Carter.””
I felt like the floor moved.
Brielle gasped.
“Mom?””
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
“I didn’t take anything.””
My father looked at her.
“Then why?””
“I was trying to fix a mistake.””
“What mistake?””
She looked at me.
And I hated that.
Because every time she looked at me, I wanted an explanation.
A real one.
Not another secret.
“Maya’s mother left instructions.””
My breathing slowed.
“What instructions?””
Vanessa whispered:
“She didn’t want the money accessed until you were older.””
My father frowned.
“That was always the agreement.””
“Yes.””
“Then what changed?””
Vanessa looked down.
“I found out Ethan had information.””
“About what?””
She hesitated.
“About your mother.””
The room went quiet again.
My father’s face hardened.
“You trusted Ethan?””
“No.””
“Then why involve him?””
“Because I thought he could help.””
“With what?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
Daniel’s voice came through the phone.
“Marcus, there is more.””
Everyone froze.
“What more?”” Marcus asked.
“There was another request.””
My father looked at me.
“Another?””
“Yes.””
Daniel continued.
“The request was not only to update the beneficiary information.””
My stomach tightened.
“What else?””
A pause.
Then:
“To remove Maya Carter as the primary recipient.””
I felt like I couldn’t hear properly.
Remove me?
My own name?
My own mother’s decision?
My father grabbed the edge of the table.
“Who approved this?””
Daniel replied:
“No one.””
The room went silent.
“Because the request was rejected.””
Vanessa let out a breath.
My father looked at her.
“So you tried.””
“No.””
“You did.””
“I was trying to understand the documents.””
“By removing Maya’s name?””
“I said no.””
Her voice finally broke.
“I never wanted her to lose anything.””
I looked at her.
“Then why did you try?””
She couldn’t answer.
That was the answer.
My father looked away.
For the first time, he looked tired.
Not angry.
Not shocked.
Just tired.
Daniel spoke again.
“There’s one more thing you should know.””
Marcus lifted the phone.
“What?””
“The original request came from a device registered under Ethan’s name.””
Vanessa went completely still.
My father noticed.
“You knew.””
“No.””
“You knew he was involved.””
“I knew he had access.””
“Why?””
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“Because he was helping me find out what your daughter’s mother left behind.””
My father shook his head.
“You brought a stranger into my daughter’s life.””
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
Vanessa looked at me.
And her answer was barely a whisper.
“Of what Maya would discover.””
Nobody moved.
My father looked at her.
“Maya’s mother left something.””
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.””
“What?””
Vanessa looked toward the staircase.
Toward the upstairs hallway.
Then back at me.
“A letter.””
My heart stopped.
“A letter?””
Vanessa nodded.
“One that was never supposed to be found until Maya turned fifteen.””
I stared at her.
“But I’m fourteen.””
“Yes.””
“Then why are you looking for it now?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
My father’s eyes narrowed.
“Where is the letter?””
Vanessa looked terrified.
Because she knew the answer.
Then she whispered:
“Someone already found it.””
May you like
And from upstairs…
A floorboard creaked.
