Chapter 5: My Brother's Secret
I hadn't spoken to Michael in eleven months.
After Clara died, he had become the person I trusted most.
He attended every legal meeting, handled the funeral arrangements, and helped me manage the hotel while I struggled to raise Lily.
He had even stood beside me at the cemetery and promised that he would always protect our family.
Now I was staring at a wedding ring carrying a warning about him.
"Marcus," I said, "get me Michael's current location.""
Marcus pulled out his phone.
"Yes, sir.""
Thomas carefully closed the suitcase.
"Mr. Bennett, may I ask something?""
"Go ahead.""
"Did your brother know about the storage room?""
I looked at him.
"Michael helped Clara choose the furniture for Suite 701. He knew about everything.""
Thomas's expression darkened.
"Then he knew about the letters.""
I nodded.
"And the jewelry.""
"Yes, sir.""
Before either of us could continue, Marcus returned.
"Your brother is at the hotel.""
I froze.
"What?""
"He arrived through the private entrance approximately five minutes ago.""
As if summoned by the words, the suite door opened.
Michael walked inside wearing a charcoal suit and carrying his leather briefcase.
He looked exactly as he had the last time I'd seen him.
Tall.
Clean-shaven.
Confident.
"Daniel!""
He approached with open arms.
"I heard there was some kind of incident downstairs.""
I didn't move.
His smile faded slightly.
"What's wrong?""
I placed the velvet box on the table.
His eyes dropped to it.
For a fraction of a second, his expression changed.
Then he smiled again.
"Where did you find that?""
"In a suitcase belonging to a woman who claims Clara is alive.""
Michael's face went completely still.
Then he laughed.
Not naturally.
It was a short, nervous sound.
"Daniel, you've been under a lot of stress. You need to be careful about what you believe.""
"She knew things nobody else could know.""
"Someone has obviously been researching Clara.""
"She knew about the birthmark behind Lily's ear.""
Michael glanced at my daughter.
"Children's information isn't difficult to obtain.""
I stepped closer.
"She said Clara's death was staged.""
His jaw tightened.
"That's absurd.""
"Then why is there a medical transfer authorization signed by Dr. Richard Hale?""
Michael put his briefcase on the desk.
"Give me the document.""
"Why?""
"Because I know how these things work.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You know how these things work?""
"Daniel, I'm trying to help you.""
"Then tell me why your name is on the funeral authorization.""
His expression hardened.
"Because you couldn't handle it at the time.""
"Couldn't handle what?""
"Your wife dying!""
His voice rose.
Lily flinched.
Thomas immediately moved beside her.
Michael took a breath and lowered his voice.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset her.""
I stared at my brother.
For years, I had mistaken his ability to control a room for strength.
Now I wondered how many times he had used that same skill to manipulate me.
"Did you know Clara was alive?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
"Did you authorize the cancellation of Suite 701?""
"No.""
"Did you request the removal of her belongings?""
"Absolutely not.""
I picked up the printed authorization bearing Clara's signature.
"What about this?""
Michael glanced at it.
Then something strange happened.
He stopped looking at the signature.
He looked at the date.
"Where did you get this?""
"From Thomas.""
Michael turned toward the old employee.
"Why are you keeping confidential documents?""
Thomas stood straight.
"Because someone is stealing from this hotel.""
Michael's face reddened.
"Watch your mouth.""
I stepped between them.
"Don't speak to him like that.""
My brother stared at me.
"Daniel, listen. You're making a serious mistake.""
"Then help me understand.""
He opened his briefcase and removed a folder.
"I came here because the board has been asking questions about the seventh floor. The property has been losing money, and some of the restricted spaces need to be reassigned.""
I frowned.
"What board?""
"The executive board.""
"I'm the chairman.""
"Not anymore.""
Silence.
I stared at him.
"What did you just say?""
Michael placed a document on the desk.
It was a shareholder resolution.
Several signatures appeared beneath a motion transferring temporary executive authority to Michael Bennett.
My signature was at the bottom.
Or something pretending to be my signature.
"When was this approved?"" I asked.
"Last week.""
"I never signed it.""
Michael sighed.
"Daniel, you were grieving. You gave me permission to handle the business.""
"Not to take control of it.""
He tapped the paper.
"Your wife left certain financial obligations unresolved. Someone has to manage them.""
I felt a chill.
"What financial obligations?""
Michael looked toward Lily.
"Not in front of the child.""
I stepped closer.
"Say it.""
He leaned toward me.
"Clara borrowed money from people you don't want to know about.""
My stomach tightened.
"That's a lie.""
"Is it?""
"Clara never borrowed money.""
Michael shook his head.
"You didn't know everything about your wife.""
The words struck harder than I expected.
I remembered the late-night phone calls Clara used to take on the balcony.
The sudden business trips.
The way she sometimes stopped talking whenever I entered a room.
I had assumed it was related to her illness.
Could I have been wrong?
Michael picked up his briefcase.
"Let me handle this. I'll arrange for the woman to be located, and we'll put this entire nightmare behind us.""
I looked at him.
"No.""
He stopped.
"Daniel.""
"You're not handling anything.""
His smile disappeared.
"You're making this personal.""
"It became personal when someone threatened my daughter.""
For the first time, Michael looked genuinely angry.
He walked toward the door.
Then he turned back.
"One more thing. You should check Clara's old bank account before you accuse anyone of stealing.""
He left.
I waited until his footsteps disappeared.
Then I looked at Thomas.
"Find me every document related to that shareholder resolution.""
Thomas nodded.
I turned toward Marcus.
"And locate the woman from the elevator.""
"Understood.""
My phone vibrated.
An email had arrived from an unknown sender.
There was one attachment.
A bank statement.
The account holder was Clara Bennett.
The balance was $18.7 million.
And the latest transaction had been made that morning.
*Transfer recipient: Michael Bennett.*
*Amount: $2,500,000.*
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Then I noticed the transaction description.
*PAYMENT FOR SILENCE — FINAL INSTALLMENT.*
