Chapter 10: The Funeral That Buried the Wrong Woman
"Ask Michael what happened to Vivian's body.""
Daniel's words followed me even after the police officers handcuffed him.
Nobody spoke.
Michael stood beside Edward's desk, his face drained of color.
I turned toward him.
"Michael, what did he mean?""
He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
"Corinthia, this isn't something we should discuss in front of everyone.""
"Then perhaps you should have thought about that before keeping secrets from me.""
Nathan moved closer.
"Who was Vivian?""
"My husband's younger sister," I answered.
"She died six months before Edward.""
Michael swallowed.
"Her death was reported to the authorities. There was a funeral. The family received confirmation.""
I shook my head.
"That's not what I asked. What happened to her body?""
One of the officers approached.
"Sir, we'll need you to come with us.""
Michael nodded.
But before he could leave, I grabbed his sleeve.
"Edward trusted you. I trusted you. If you know something about Vivian, tell me now.""
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then he quietly said, "The woman buried under Vivian's name wasn't Vivian.""
Nathan stumbled backward.
"What?""
Michael continued.
"Six months ago, Daniel contacted me. He said Vivian had died overseas and that arrangements had been made to transport her remains. I received the necessary paperwork.""
"Did you see the body?"" I demanded.
"No.""
"Did you identify it?""
"No.""
I stepped away from him.
"So you buried a stranger without knowing who she was?""
"I was given official documentation.""
"By whom?""
Michael looked toward Daniel.
"His company.""
The officer tightened his grip on Daniel's arm.
Daniel laughed.
"Careful, little brother. You're making yourself sound guilty.""
Michael turned toward him.
"Where is Vivian?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at me.
"She's alive, Corinthia. And she has something Edward left behind.""
"What?""
"The original trust declaration.""
Nathan stepped forward.
"Why would my aunt have that?""
"Because she was the original executor before Edward changed the arrangement.""
I stared at Daniel.
"Where is she?""
He smiled.
"Somewhere safe.""
The police escorted him outside.
Michael followed them.
But before he crossed the doorway, he turned around.
"Corinthia, don't go to Nevada. Whatever Daniel tells you, don't trust him.""
Then he disappeared into the night.
At 2:17 a.m., I was sitting alone in Edward's study.
The New Year's Eve guests had left.
The kitchen had been cleaned, although faint red stains remained between the marble tiles.
I couldn't stop looking at the empty wine crate.
Thirteen bottles.
Thirteen memories.
And somehow, those bottles had become the center of a financial conspiracy worth millions.
Nathan entered carrying two cups of coffee.
He placed one beside me.
"Mom, are you okay?""
I looked at him.
"Do you believe your father knew about all this?""
Nathan sat down.
"I don't know what to believe anymore.""
He rubbed his face.
"Did Dad ever talk about my biological family?""
"Not much. He said your birth mother had made a difficult decision, and that he and I were lucky to become your parents.""
Nathan stared at the photograph of Eleanor Whitmore.
"Did you ever meet her?""
"No. Edward handled the adoption.""
He looked at me.
"Do you think he was protecting me?""
I reached across the desk and held his hand.
"I know he loved you. That part was never a lie.""
Nathan nodded, but his eyes filled.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
*NATHAN, YOUR FATHER LEFT YOU THE WRONG INHERITANCE. ASK YOUR MOTHER WHAT SHE PROMISED EDWARD BEFORE THE ADOPTION.*
Nathan read it twice.
Then he slowly turned toward me.
"Mom?""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Because I remembered the promise.
Twenty-nine years earlier, Edward had asked me to sign a separate document before we adopted Nathan.
He had said it was necessary to protect the child.
I had agreed.
But there had been one condition.
A condition I had promised never to reveal.
Nathan placed the phone on the desk.
"What did you promise Dad?""
Before I could answer, the landline rang.
I picked it up.
A woman's voice whispered:
"Corinthia? It's Vivian.""
I nearly dropped the receiver.
"Where are you?""
"Don't tell Michael. Don't tell Nathan's wife. And whatever you do, don't let Daniel reach the original certificate.""
"Vivian, where have you been?""
There was a pause.
Then she said:
"Edward didn't die because of his heart condition.""
My fingers tightened around the receiver.
"What are you saying?""
Her voice broke.
May you like
"He was poisoned.""
The call ended.
