Chapter 5: The Letter in My Mother's Handwriting

Dad read the letter twice before saying anything.

The first time, he seemed unable to understand the words.

The second time, his hands began shaking.

I sat beside him.

"Can I read it?""

He looked at me for a long moment.

Then he handed me the paper.

The handwriting was unmistakable.

My mother's letters leaned slightly to the right, and she always made the capital M in Maya's name with an extra-long first stroke.

I had spent years wishing I could see her handwriting again.

Now I was holding a letter she had written shortly before she died.

I began reading.

Daniel,

If you're reading this, something has happened that I hoped would never happen.

I know you love me, and I know you want to believe the best in people. That's one of the things I love about you. But I need you to understand that Maya's future must remain protected, regardless of what happens to me.

I have discovered that Vanessa has been asking questions about the accounts connected to Maya's inheritance.

She told me she was only curious. However, I found a copy of an old financial statement in her handbag.

When I asked her about it, she said she had picked it up by mistake.

I don't believe her.

I stopped reading.

Dad stared at the paper.

Rebecca said nothing.

I continued.

I have arranged for Maya's inheritance to be placed in a separate trust. Neither you nor anyone else should be able to transfer the money without the appropriate legal authorization.

There is another account, Daniel. One you know nothing about.

My heart began beating faster.

I created it before Maya was born.

It contains the money my grandmother left me, along with investments I made while working as an accountant. I have kept it separate from our household finances.

The account is not included in the inheritance statement Vanessa has seen.

I looked up.

"There's another account?""

Dad's eyes widened.

Rebecca leaned forward.

"Keep reading.""

I continued.

If Vanessa discovers it, she may attempt to convince you that it belongs to the family.

It does not.

Everything in that account belongs to Maya.

I have made arrangements with Rebecca to ensure it cannot be accessed until Maya reaches adulthood, except for approved educational or medical expenses.

Please don't let anyone make her feel guilty for having something I worked hard to leave her.

My vision blurred.

The final paragraph was shorter.

Daniel, I don't know whether my suspicions about Vanessa are correct. I hope I'm wrong. But if I'm not, please remember that protecting Maya is not cruelty toward anyone else.

It is your responsibility.

I love you both.

Eleanor.

I pressed the letter against my chest.

For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the ticking clock above the fireplace.

Then Dad whispered, "She never told me about another account.""

Rebecca nodded.

"Your wife instructed me not to disclose it unless the trust was threatened.""

"How much is in it?""

Rebecca opened her briefcase.

"At the time of Eleanor's death, approximately four hundred and eighty thousand dollars. The account has remained invested.""

I stared at her.

Almost half a million dollars.

Money my mother had saved quietly while raising me.

Money Vanessa hadn't even known existed.

Dad rubbed his face.

"Why didn't you tell me?""

"Because Eleanor's instructions were very clear. She wanted the account protected from anyone who wasn't authorized to access it.""

"Even me?""

"Especially anyone who might be pressured into releasing it.""

Dad looked hurt.

Rebecca softened her voice.

"She trusted you as a father. She simply wanted to make sure no financial decision could be made under emotional pressure.""

I looked at Vanessa.

She had been silent throughout the reading.

Now she laughed.

A small, sharp sound.

"So that's it? She left Maya nearly a million dollars and expected everyone else to live with whatever scraps were left?""

Dad stood.

"Don't call my daughter's inheritance scraps.""

Vanessa pointed at the letter.

"She manipulated you from beyond the grave!""

Rebecca closed the briefcase.

"Mrs. Whitmore, I strongly recommend you stop making statements about financial matters until you have independent legal advice.""

Vanessa turned toward her.

"Are you threatening me?""

"I'm advising you.""

Vanessa grabbed her handbag.

"This is unbelievable. I married Daniel. I helped raise Maya. I gave up years of my life to make this family work.""

Dad looked at her.

"You were supposed to love us. Not calculate what you could take.""

Her face twisted.

"You think I did all this for myself?""

"Your name was on the beneficiary change.""

"Because I wanted security!""

"For Brielle?""

Vanessa looked toward the stairs.

"Yes! For Brielle!""

Brielle appeared at the top of the staircase.

She had heard everything.

"Mom, I don't want Maya's money.""

Vanessa turned.

"Go to your room.""

"No.""

"Brielle!""

The girl walked downstairs.

Her cheeks were wet.

"I didn't ask you to do this.""

Vanessa stared at her.

"You don't understand what I've sacrificed.""

"I understand that you told me Maya was selfish because she wouldn't give me her costume.""

Vanessa's mouth tightened.

"And now you're defending her?""

Brielle looked at me.

"I didn't know about the money. I just wanted the wings.""

I didn't know what to say.

Rebecca gathered the documents.

"Daniel, I recommend that we immediately secure all financial records and notify the relevant institutions. We should also arrange for Maya's trust to be independently reviewed.""

Dad nodded.

"Do it.""

Vanessa stepped toward him.

"You're not seriously considering reporting your own wife.""

Dad looked exhausted.

"I am seriously considering what you have done.""

"You'll destroy this family.""

He looked at me.

Then at Brielle.

"Vanessa, you did that yourself.""

She stared at him.

For the first time, I saw something beyond anger in her expression.

Fear.

Rebecca stood.

"I'll contact you tomorrow with the next steps.""

After she left, Dad walked me upstairs.

He stopped outside my bedroom.

"I want you to know something," he said.

"What?""

"Your mother didn't leave that money because she expected you to become wealthy. She left it because she wanted you to have choices.""

I looked down at the letter in my hands.

"I wish she were here.""

Dad pulled me into his arms.

"Me too.""

He stayed until I fell asleep.

But I woke up at 2:30 a.m. to the sound of a door opening.

I sat up.

A thin line of light appeared beneath my bedroom door.

Someone was walking down the hallway.

I heard the soft click of the study door.

Then a drawer opening.

I quietly got out of bed.

Through the gap in my doorway, I saw Vanessa standing inside Dad's study.

She was holding a small black folder.

I recognized it.

It was the folder Rebecca had left on the dining table.

Vanessa flipped through the papers, then pulled out her phone.

I heard her whisper.

"Yes. I found it.""

A pause.

"No, not the first account. The other one.""

My blood turned cold.

She looked toward the hallway.

I stepped backward.

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