Chapter 5: The Woman Who Took My Inheritance
I arrived at First National Bank shortly after noon.
Patricia had agreed to meet me there with copies of my grandfather's estate documents.
The bank manager, a middle-aged man named Daniel Foster, escorted us into a private office.
“Mr. Hayes,” he said, shaking my hand.
“I understand you have questions about a safe deposit box belonging to your grandfather.””
“I do.””
Daniel opened a file.
“Box 417 was registered under your grandfather's name. Following his death, access was restricted pending probate.””
“Who accessed it?””
He glanced at Patricia.
“Mrs. Victoria Hayes presented legal documentation authorizing her access.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“What documentation?””
He placed a photocopy on the desk.
It was a court authorization dated eight years earlier.
I studied it.
“That's impossible. My grandfather died seven years ago.””
Daniel nodded.
“That's correct.””
“So this document was issued before he died?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Patricia.
She shook her head.
“Your grandfather never authorized that.””
Daniel adjusted his glasses.
“I'm afraid I can only tell you what the bank records show.””
“Was anything removed?””
He turned another page.
“A sealed envelope, several financial statements, and a small digital storage device.””
My heart started racing.
“What was on the device?””
“We don't know.””
“Do you have a record of who collected it?””
Daniel nodded.
He turned the page toward me.
A signature appeared at the bottom.
Victoria Hayes.
Beside it was another signature.
Richard Hayes.
I stared at both names.
“Was my father present?””
“Yes.””
I leaned back.
“Why wasn't I informed?””
“Because you weren't listed as an authorized beneficiary at the time.””
That sentence hit harder than I expected.
I was the person the trust had been created for.
Yet I had been excluded from every decision involving it.
Patricia reached across the desk.
“Daniel, can you tell us whether the box contained a separate will?””
Daniel examined the inventory.
“Yes.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“A sealed testamentary document.””
“Who took it?””
He checked the list.
“Mrs. Hayes.””
Victoria had taken my grandfather's will.
Not a copy.
The original.
I stood.
“Where is it now?””
Daniel shook his head.
“We don't have that information.””
I drove straight to Victoria's house.
The large white property stood behind iron gates, surrounded by carefully trimmed hedges.
I had spent most of my teenage years there.
The front door opened before I could ring the bell.
Victoria stood in a cream-colored blouse and tailored trousers.
“Marcus.””
She smiled, but her eyes were cold.
“I wasn't expecting you.””
“Where is Grandpa's will?””
Her smile disappeared.
“Excuse me?””
“The original will. The one you removed from safe deposit box 417.””
She stared at me.
Then she stepped aside.
“Come inside.””
I followed her into the living room.
Everything looked exactly as I remembered. The expensive furniture. The crystal decorations. The framed photographs of my father and Victoria smiling at charity events.
A photograph of me at sixteen stood on the mantel.
Victoria had one arm around my shoulder.
I looked at the picture and felt sick.
She had spent years pretending to be my mother while helping destroy the woman who actually was.
“Would you like coffee?”” she asked.
“No.””
She sat on the sofa.
“Marcus, I understand you're upset.””
“Where is the will?””
She sighed.
“Your grandfather was confused during his final months.””
“Don't.””
“I'm serious. He was becoming suspicious of everyone. He didn't understand the business anymore.””
“He understood enough to know you were stealing from his grandson.””
Her expression hardened.
“Watch your words.””
I took out my phone.
“I have the bank records.””
She stared at the screen.
For the first time, I saw fear in her face.
Then she recovered.
“Those documents don't prove anything.””
“They prove you accessed his safe deposit box with my father's help.””
“Richard was your grandfather's legal representative.””
“Then why did you take the will?””
She stood.
“Because your grandfather was planning to destroy this family.””
I stared at her.
“He was trying to protect me.””
“He was trying to give everything to you!””
The words came out so sharply that we both froze.
Victoria looked away.
I slowly stepped closer.
“So you knew.””
She folded her arms.
“Your grandfather had no right to hand a business to a child who couldn't even manage his own allowance.””
“I was five.””
“Exactly.””
She walked toward the fireplace.
“Your father built that company. He worked every day while your grandfather sat in his office making decisions. Richard deserved what he had.””
“And I didn't?””
She turned.
“You were a child.””
“I was his grandson.””
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You have no idea what it took to keep that family together.””
I stared at her.
“My mother lost twenty-five years because of you.””
“Your mother was reckless.””
“My mother loved me.””
Victoria's eyes flashed.
“She was going to ruin everything!””
I went completely still.
“What did you say?””
She closed her mouth.
I took another step.
“What exactly was she going to ruin?””
Victoria picked up a glass of water.
Her hand trembled slightly.
“Your grandfather was going to transfer the company to you. Your mother would have controlled the trust until you became an adult. Richard would have lost his position.””
“So you forged documents.””
“I protected my husband.””
“You stole from a child.””
“I kept the business alive!””
I laughed.
“By taking my inheritance?””
Victoria put the glass down.
“You wouldn't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
For a moment, I thought she might.
Instead, she walked toward the front door and opened it.
“Leave.””
I didn't move.
“Where is the will?””
“Leave, Marcus.””
“Where is it?””
Her voice rose.
“Your father is dead. You cannot change what happened.””
I looked at her.
“No. But I can find out what you did.””
I walked out.
Just as I reached my car, I heard her shouting from the doorway.
“Ask Eleanor what she did with the original documents!””
I turned.
Victoria stood beneath the porch light.
“You think she's innocent?”” she called.
“You think she didn't take anything that night?””
I stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
Victoria smiled.
It wasn't a pleasant smile.
“Your mother didn't leave your grandfather's house empty-handed.””
I found Eleanor sitting on her sofa when I returned.
She was knitting a small blue sweater.
The sight made me pause.
“What's that?””
She looked down.
“Something for Jayden.””
I sat beside her.
“Mom, I need you to tell me the truth.””
She put the knitting down.
“About what?””
“Grandpa's documents.””
Her face changed.
“Why?””
“Victoria says you took something from his house the night he died.””
Eleanor slowly folded her hands.
Then she stood and walked into her bedroom.
I followed.
She opened the bottom drawer of an old dresser and removed a small fabric pouch.
Inside was a tiny brass key.
I stared at it.
It was identical to the one in the photograph.
Except this one had a different number.
*418.*
“What is that?””
Eleanor held it carefully.
“Your grandfather gave it to me before he died.””
I took a step closer.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I didn't know whether it still opened anything.””
“What does it belong to?””
“A second safe deposit box.””
My heart began pounding.
“Where?””
“The same bank.””
I stared at her.
“Does it contain the original will?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Then she reached into the pouch and removed a folded piece of paper.
It was a handwritten note from my grandfather.
Eleanor,
If Richard or Victoria gets access to box 417, everything inside box 418 must remain hidden.
The truth about Marcus is there.
I looked up.
“The truth about me?””
Eleanor nodded.
May you like
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I think your grandfather knew something about your birth that none of us understood.””
