Chapter 14: The Last Lie of the Whitmore Family
Daniel was waiting outside the courthouse when I arrived.
He wore a dark navy suit and carried a leather folder.
For a moment, he looked exactly like the man I had married.
The same confident posture.
The same expensive watch.
The same smile he used whenever he wanted someone to believe everything was under control.
But I knew better now.
"Where is your attorney?"" I asked.
He glanced at Jonathan.
"She's inside.""
"Why did you file a petition declaring me mentally incompetent?""
Daniel looked around.
"Not here.""
"You're right. Not here. We'll discuss it in front of the judge.""
He stepped closer.
"Nia, I didn't have a choice.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You always have a choice. You just keep choosing your mother.""
His expression hardened.
"Do you understand what Martin has done? He's using all of us.""
"And you helped him.""
"I was trying to stop him.""
"By filing fraudulent documents?""
Daniel opened his folder.
"There's something you need to see.""
I refused to take it.
"Show Jonathan.""
He handed it to my attorney instead.
Jonathan examined the document.
His face changed.
"What is this?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"An agreement between Martin and Patricia.""
I took the paper.
It was a draft succession agreement.
The plan was simple.
If I were declared incompetent, Daniel would receive temporary control of my voting rights.
He would then appoint Patricia as chairwoman.
Martin would become the company's executive adviser.
And the suspicious assets would be transferred into a new holding company.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
*Once Nia is removed, the remaining shares can be consolidated.*
I looked at Daniel.
"How long have you known about this?""
"Three weeks.""
"And you signed the petition anyway.""
He looked away.
"I thought I could use it to get close enough to Martin to collect evidence.""
"Do you expect me to believe that?""
"No.""
For once, he didn't make an excuse.
He looked exhausted.
"I know what I did. I know I betrayed you.""
I folded the document.
"You didn't just betray me, Daniel. You helped people steal from my father, forged my signature, and lied about the morning he died.""
He closed his eyes.
"I know.""
"Then why are you here?""
He reached into his jacket and removed a small USB drive.
"Because I have the original recording from the morning your father died.""
I stared at it.
"Rebecca already gave us a recording.""
"This is different.""
Jonathan took the drive.
"What's on it?""
"Security footage from the house.""
My heart began pounding.
"How did you get that?""
"Martin kept copies. He believed they could protect him if Patricia ever turned against him.""
Jonathan looked at me.
"We should preserve this properly.""
Daniel nodded.
"There's more. The recording shows who entered the kitchen before my father collapsed.""
I felt sick.
"Who?""
Daniel looked directly at me.
"Patricia.""
I didn't speak.
He continued.
"She arrived before I did. She had a small bottle in her handbag. When I entered the house, she was already arguing with your father.""
"About what?""
"Money. The trust. Your mother.""
I stepped closer.
"Did you see her administer the medication?""
Daniel swallowed.
"I saw her leave something beside his water glass.""
"Why didn't you stop her?""
"Because I didn't understand what she was doing.""
"You knew something was wrong.""
"Yes.""
"And you left.""
He nodded.
I looked away.
There was nothing left to say.
Jonathan placed the USB drive inside a secure evidence pouch.
"We're submitting this to the investigators immediately.""
Daniel looked at me.
"Will you ever forgive me?""
I stared at him.
"Do you want an honest answer?""
He nodded.
"No.""
His face crumpled.
I continued.
"Not today. Not tomorrow. And not because you finally decided to tell the truth when your own position became threatened.""
He lowered his head.
We entered the courthouse.
The hearing lasted nearly two hours.
Martin's attorney argued that Daniel's petition was necessary to protect the company's interests.
Jonathan presented the original trust documents, the forensic reports, and the evidence of forged signatures.
He also submitted the medical correspondence.
The judge reviewed everything carefully.
Finally, she looked at Daniel.
"Mr. Whitmore, did you personally authorize this petition?""
Daniel stood.
"Yes, Your Honor.""
"Did your wife consent to an independent psychological evaluation?""
"No.""
"Did you have any medical evidence suggesting she was incapable of managing her affairs?""
Daniel looked toward me.
"No.""
The judge removed her glasses.
"Then why was this application filed?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Because I was trying to obtain control of her voting rights.""
The courtroom fell silent.
His attorney immediately whispered something to him.
But Daniel continued.
"I was working with my mother and Martin Cole. We wanted to take control of the company.""
The judge looked at Jonathan.
"Counsel, do you have evidence supporting this statement?""
Jonathan stood.
"We do, Your Honor.""
He submitted the USB drive and the original correspondence.
The hearing was adjourned pending further investigation.
The court rejected the immediate request to restrict my legal capacity and ordered preservation of the relevant documents.
Outside, Daniel approached me.
"There's one more thing.""
I turned.
"What now?""
He looked frightened.
"Patricia knows the recording exists.""
"How?""
"Martin told her.""
I looked at Jonathan.
He was already checking his phone.
Then it rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
"What do you mean she's missing?""
He listened.
"Since when?""
Another pause.
"Did she take anything?""
He ended the call.
I stepped closer.
"What happened?""
"Patricia has left her house. Her attorney says she hasn't contacted anyone since this morning.""
"Where is Martin?""
"Also missing.""
I looked at Daniel.
He shook his head.
"I don't know where they went.""
Then he reached into his pocket and removed a photograph.
It showed Patricia standing outside a small medical clinic.
A woman in a white coat stood beside her.
I recognized the woman immediately.
Dr. Brooks.
The retired physician who had treated my father.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten message.
*The doctor knows what really happened.*
Daniel looked at me.
"There's something I never told you about that morning.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?""
"Your father wasn't the only person who received medication that day.""
I stared at him.
"Who else?""
Daniel's voice dropped.
"Patricia.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"She had been taking medication for anxiety. Martin told her that your father had discovered she was using company money to pay for it.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't explain anything.""
Daniel looked toward the street.
"Patricia wasn't thinking clearly that morning. She believed your father was going to send her to prison. Martin convinced her that if your father signed a new agreement, everything would disappear.""
"And when he refused?""
Daniel swallowed.
"She panicked.""
I stared at him.
"Did she deliberately give him the wrong medication?""
"I don't know.""
"Did she know what was in the bottle?""
He shook his head.
"Martin told her it was his regular prescription.""
I felt a chill.
"Then who changed it?""
Daniel looked at me.
"That's what the doctor knows.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
*Come alone to the old Whitmore estate tonight. I have the truth about your father.*
A second message appeared.
*Bring the original trust documents.*
I showed Jonathan.
He immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
But a third message arrived.
This time, it contained a photograph.
Patricia was sitting in a dark room.
Her hands were tied.
Behind her stood Martin Cole.
May you like
And beneath the photograph were six words.
*Your mother is the next one.*
