Chapter 6: The Recording My Mother Left Behind
I drove straight to Brianna's apartment.
Caroline followed me in her own car.
When we reached the building, Daniel's black SUV was parked outside.
I ran up the stairs.
Brianna's front door was slightly open.
Inside, I heard Daniel speaking.
"Just sign the bottom. It's a standard agreement.""
Brianna sounded nervous.
"You said Emily wouldn't find out.""
"She won't if you stop asking questions.""
"What about the money?""
"Sign it, Brianna.""
I pushed the door open.
Both of them turned.
Daniel was standing beside the kitchen island, holding a stack of papers.
Brianna sat at the table.
Her eyes widened when she saw me.
"Emily?""
I looked at the documents.
"What's she signing?""
Daniel immediately gathered the papers.
"Nothing that concerns you.""
I walked toward him.
"Everything involving my money concerns me.""
Brianna stood.
"Emily, you shouldn't be here.""
I laughed.
"That's becoming a familiar sentence.""
Daniel stepped between us.
"You're upsetting her. Leave.""
I looked at Brianna.
"Do you know what these documents are?""
She glanced at Daniel.
That single movement told me enough.
"Brianna, look at me.""
She slowly raised her eyes.
"Are you helping him take Mom's inheritance?""
Her lips parted.
Daniel slammed the papers onto the counter.
"Enough. You have no idea what you're talking about.""
I turned toward him.
"Then explain the transfers.""
His face went pale.
Caroline entered behind me.
Daniel froze.
"Caroline?""
She placed her handbag on the counter.
"Hello, Daniel.""
He looked furious.
"What are you doing here?""
"Making sure your daughter knows exactly who her father is.""
Daniel pointed toward the door.
"Get out.""
Caroline didn't move.
Instead, she took a photograph from her handbag and placed it in front of Brianna.
It was a picture of Sophie.
"Have you ever met her?"" Caroline asked.
Brianna shook her head.
"That's Daniel's daughter.""
Brianna looked at Daniel.
"You told me you didn't have children.""
He rubbed his jaw.
"That's complicated.""
Caroline laughed without humor.
"No, Daniel. It's actually very simple. You have a daughter you barely support, a wife you never properly divorced, and two women whose finances you've been exploiting.""
Brianna's face drained of color.
"Daniel?""
He turned toward her.
"Don't listen to her.""
But Brianna had already seen the bank statements in Caroline's folder.
She picked one up.
"These payments came from my account?""
Caroline nodded.
"Some did. Others came from Emily's wedding savings.""
Brianna looked at me.
"I didn't know.""
I stared at her.
"You didn't know you were receiving money?""
"I thought Daniel was helping me.""
"With what?""
She lowered her head.
"Rent. Bills. My car.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"While I was paying for your rent and helping you find work?""
Brianna started crying.
"I didn't know where the money came from.""
Daniel grabbed the papers.
"This is ridiculous. Both of you are turning a private matter into a circus.""
I stepped closer.
"No. You turned my life into a circus. I'm just finally looking at the performers.""
He pointed at me.
"You have no idea what your mother promised me.""
I went still.
"What did you say?""
Daniel's expression changed.
Caroline looked at him sharply.
Brianna wiped her cheeks.
"What promise?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Nothing.""
I remembered Mom's letter.
The dress was never meant to be the only thing you inherited from me.
I took the USB drive from my handbag.
"Then let's hear what Mom had to say.""
I connected it to Brianna's laptop.
A recording appeared.
The date was two weeks before Mom died.
I pressed play.
At first, there was only the sound of chairs moving.
Then Mom's voice filled the room.
"Brianna, sit down. We need to talk about Daniel.""
My sister covered her mouth.
On the recording, Brianna sounded impatient.
"Mom, we've talked about this.""
"No. You've talked. I've listened. Now you're going to listen to me.""
A pause.
Then Mom spoke again.
"Your sister has spent her entire life protecting you. And you're helping a man steal from her.""
Brianna's recorded voice became defensive.
"He's going to marry me.""
My stomach turned.
Even then.
Even before the salon appointment.
Mom had known.
"He's not going to marry you, sweetheart," Mom said softly.
"He's going to use you.""
"You're just jealous because Emily gets everything.""
There was a sharp noise.
Mom had apparently stood up.
"Emily gets nothing without working for it. That girl has spent years making sure you never go without.""
Brianna began crying on the recording.
"Daniel says she's going to get the house and all the money. What am I supposed to get?""
Mom's voice trembled.
"You're my daughter. You don't need to steal your sister's life to have one of your own.""
Then came a sentence that made the entire room go silent.
"Besides, the house and the inheritance aren't going to Emily or you.""
I stared at the laptop.
What?
Daniel suddenly lunged toward the computer.
Caroline caught his arm.
"Don't.""
He shoved her away.
The recording continued.
Mom spoke slowly.
"I've already changed my will. The property, the investment accounts, and the business shares are going somewhere neither of you expects.""
Brianna whispered.
"Where?""
Mom answered.
"To the person who has been protecting this family without asking for anything in return.""
The recording ended with the sound of Brianna crying and a door slamming.
Nobody moved.
Then Margaret called again.
I answered on speaker.
"Emily, I've located the blue envelope.""
"What's inside?""
Margaret took a breath.
"Your mother's final will, the original financial authorization, and a document Daniel has been trying to find for months.""
"What document?""
"A signed trust agreement.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was no longer pretending to be calm.
His face had gone completely white.
Margaret continued.
"Emily, your mother left you something very important. But there's a condition attached.""
"What condition?""
"Before you can claim the inheritance, you must understand why she named someone else as the sole beneficiary.""
I stared at the laptop.
Then at Brianna.
Then at Daniel.
And suddenly, I understood why he had been so desperate to arrange a wedding with my sister.
He wasn't simply trying to replace me.
He was trying to get his hands on something my mother had deliberately placed beyond his reach.
Margaret lowered her voice.
"Emily, the person your mother named as beneficiary is not who you think.""
May you like
And then she told me the name.
It was someone I had believed was dead.
