Chapter 8: The Night My Father Died
My mother didn't deny anything.
That frightened me more than if she had.
She sat at the kitchen table, staring at the photograph of Vanessa and Richard.
Daniel stood behind her.
I remained near the doorway.
"Mom," I said.
"What happened the night Dad died?""
She pressed her lips together.
"Your father was afraid.""
"Of Richard?""
She nodded.
"Your uncle had been calling him for weeks. He wanted money. He wanted access to the company. And he wanted Vanessa's inheritance released before she was legally entitled to it.""
I sat down.
"Why didn't Dad tell us?""
"Because he believed he could resolve it privately.""
Daniel pulled out a chair.
"What happened that night?""
My mother looked toward the window.
"Your father received a phone call around eleven. He went downstairs to answer it. I heard him arguing.""
"With Richard?""
"I believe so.""
"What did he say?""
My mother closed her eyes.
"He said, 'You already took enough from this family. Leave the children alone.''"
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What happened after that?""
"He went outside.""
"Why?""
"He said he had to meet someone.""
My mother paused.
"When he came back, he was shaking. He told me that if anything happened to him, I had to protect you and Daniel.""
I stared at her.
"Did he say who was threatening him?""
"No.""
"Did he mention Vanessa?""
My mother looked down.
"He said she was being used.""
I exchanged a glance with Daniel.
"By Richard?""
"I think so.""
"Then why did Grandpa arrange for her to be raised in another family?""
My mother took a shaky breath.
"Because Catherine's death had left everyone frightened. Your grandfather believed Vanessa would be safer away from the family dispute.""
I leaned forward.
"Was Dad's death an accident?""
My mother didn't answer.
The silence was enough.
"Mom.""
She wiped her eyes.
"Your father died in a car crash. That's what the police report said.""
"I know what the report said.""
"He had been driving home from the meeting.""
"Was Richard there?""
"I don't know.""
"Did the police investigate him?""
"Your grandfather made sure they didn't pursue the matter.""
Daniel stood.
"Why would Grandpa interfere with an investigation?""
My mother shook her head.
"Because he believed there was no evidence. And because he was terrified that the family would be destroyed.""
I looked at the photograph.
Richard.
Vanessa.
My father.
My grandfather.
A chain of secrets that had stretched across decades.
But there was still one question.
"Mom, why did you never tell us any of this?""
She looked directly at me.
"Because your father made me promise.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Everyone in this family seems to have made promises that protected the wrong people.""
My mother flinched.
I immediately regretted the words.
But I couldn't take them back.
Daniel placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Marcus, we need to speak to Richard.""
"How?""
I turned over the photograph.
There was a phone number written in tiny handwriting along the bottom edge.
Daniel dialed it.
The call rang six times.
Then a man's voice answered.
"Yes?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Is this Richard Hale?""
A pause.
"Who is asking?""
"My name is Daniel Hale. I'm Robert Hale's son.""
The line went silent.
Then the man spoke.
"Which one?""
"Daniel.""
Another pause.
"Put your brother on the phone.""
I took it.
"This is Marcus.""
The man exhaled.
"I wondered when you'd finally call.""
"Where are you?""
"That doesn't matter.""
"It matters to me.""
"You've been asking the wrong questions.""
I tightened my grip.
"Did you meet my wife at the hospital?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because she asked me to.""
"What did she want?""
"Something your grandfather promised Catherine.""
I stared at the table.
"What?""
"The original inheritance documents.""
"Why didn't she get them?""
"Because Robert took them.""
My father's name.
"What did Dad do with them?""
Richard laughed without humor.
"He gave them to your grandfather and told him to keep them safe.""
"Why?""
"Because he knew what I was capable of.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Did you threaten my father?""
The line went quiet.
Then Richard answered.
"I threatened to expose him.""
"Expose what?""
"Who Vanessa's father really was.""
I stopped breathing.
Daniel moved closer.
I put the call on speaker.
"Tell me.""
Richard hesitated.
"Your grandfather knew. Your father knew. Your mother knew. And eventually, Vanessa found out.""
"Who was her father?""
Richard gave a short, bitter laugh.
"Not me.""
"Then who?""
"Your grandfather.""
My mother made a strangled sound.
I stared at the phone.
Richard continued.
"Catherine was your father's younger sister. But the man who fathered her child was your grandfather. He spent the rest of his life trying to bury the truth.""
Daniel stepped backward.
I couldn't move.
Richard's voice became colder.
"That's why Catherine's inheritance was protected. That's why your grandfather arranged the adoption. And that's why he was so afraid of anyone examining the original documents.""
My mother covered her face.
I looked at her.
"Is it true?""
She began crying.
"Yes.""
The word was barely audible.
I felt as though the room had tilted.
My grandfather had fathered Vanessa.
Which meant Vanessa and I were not cousins.
We were half-siblings.
I closed my eyes.
The woman I had married.
The mother of my child.
The person who had slept beside me for eight years.
I felt physically sick.
"Did Vanessa know?"" I asked Richard.
"Yes.""
"When?""
"She found out when she was eighteen. I told her.""
"Why would you tell her?""
"Because she deserved to know who her father was.""
"You were using her.""
"Perhaps. But your grandfather had stolen her identity, Marcus. He had built a life around a lie.""
I looked at the family photographs on the wall.
My grandfather holding me as a baby.
My father standing beside him.
Vanessa smiling at our wedding.
Everything looked different.
"Why did you come back now?"" I asked.
"Because Vanessa contacted me. She wanted the inheritance released.""
"And you helped her?""
"I gave her the documents she needed.""
"Which documents?""
"The original estate declaration.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Do you have a copy?""
"Yes," Richard said.
"And I have the original letter from Catherine.""
"Where?""
"Somewhere safe.""
"Send it to me.""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because I want something in return.""
My voice hardened.
"What?""
"Half the estate.""
I almost laughed.
"You're threatening me?""
"I'm negotiating.""
"You have no legal claim to Lily's trust.""
"I'm not talking about Lily's trust.""
"Then what?""
"The shares your grandfather placed in Catherine's estate.""
I looked at the photograph again.
"Those shares belong to Vanessa.""
"Exactly.""
Richard lowered his voice.
"And if she doesn't receive them before her thirty-fifth birthday, they'll be transferred to the family foundation.""
I understood.
Vanessa had been trying to access the money before her inheritance became available.
The medical trust had been an easier target.
"Did you know she was stealing Lily's money?""
Richard said nothing.
"Did you know?""
"I knew she needed money.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He sighed.
"Marcus, you have no idea what she is capable of when she feels cornered.""
I stood.
"Tell me where she is.""
"She's with Stephanie.""
"Where?""
"At the lake house.""
My blood ran cold.
The property my mother owned.
The property they had tried to use in their financing application.
"What are they doing there?""
Richard paused.
Then he said something that made Daniel grab my arm.
"They're looking for the original trust deed.""
The call ended.
I immediately dialed the police.
Before I could finish explaining, my phone received a notification.
A security alert from my mother's property.
Someone had opened the lake house's front door.
The timestamp was 11:48 a.m.
My mother looked at the screen.
"That's impossible. I changed the locks last month.""
Daniel grabbed his keys.
"We're going.""
I called the police again and gave them the address.
As we prepared to leave, my mother suddenly spoke.
"Marcus, wait.""
She was staring at another message.
It had come from Vanessa.
*Vanessa:* I know Richard called you. Don't go to the lake house.
A second message appeared.
*Vanessa:* There's something there you don't understand.
Then the third.
*Vanessa:* If you find the blue envelope, don't open it. It contains the truth about Lily's birth.
I stared at the words.
May you like
Lily's birth?
What could my daughter possibly have to do with a secret that began before I was born?
