Chapter 2: The Notebook That Could Destroy a Family
Marcus grabbed the notebook from his mother's hands.
"What's this?""
Evelyn tried to take it back.
"Marcus, put it down.""
He ignored her.
The living room suddenly felt smaller.
Vanessa stood beside the sofa, still holding my property deed. Her earlier confidence had disappeared.
Marcus flipped through several pages.
There were dates, account numbers, handwritten notes, and lists of financial transfers.
Some entries went back more than twelve years.
"These are company transactions," he said.
Evelyn nodded reluctantly.
"Your father kept records.""
"Why?""
"Because he suspected someone was stealing from Carter Industries.""
Marcus turned another page.
A bank transfer was highlighted in red.
$780,000.
Beneath it was a handwritten note.
Authorized through E.C. — D.C. account.
Marcus stared at the initials.
"E.C. That's you.""
Evelyn lowered her head.
"Marcus, please.""
"And D.C. is Daniel?""
She didn't answer.
He slammed the notebook onto the table.
"Mom! Why is my brother's name beside a transfer of nearly eight hundred thousand dollars?""
Vanessa moved closer to Marcus.
"Maybe this is some kind of setup. Sarah probably prepared all this before she announced the house was hers.""
I almost laughed.
The woman who had been celebrating my supposed financial ruin ten minutes earlier was now trying to explain away a twelve-year-old accounting record.
"Vanessa," I said, "you might want to stop talking about things you don't understand.""
She pointed a finger at me.
"Don't speak to me like that.""
"Then stop speaking about my property.""
Marcus ignored us.
He turned another page.
There were more transfers.
$125,000.
$340,000.
$510,000.
Several payments had been routed through companies I didn't recognize.
One page contained a handwritten total.
$6,240,000.
Marcus's face went pale.
"This can't be right.""
Evelyn sat down heavily.
"Your father discovered the missing money three months before he died.""
"What does Daniel have to do with it?""
"Your brother was the company's chief financial officer. He had access to almost everything.""
Marcus looked up.
"And you helped him?""
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
"I was trying to protect this family.""
"By stealing millions?""
"Your father was going to destroy everything! He wanted to report Daniel. He wanted the police involved. He wanted to expose all of us.""
"All of us?""
Evelyn covered her mouth.
The room went silent.
I stepped closer to the notebook.
"What do you mean by all of us?""
Evelyn looked at me.
For a second, I thought she might tell me.
Instead, she turned away.
"Some things should have stayed buried.""
I felt a cold sensation move through my chest.
"Mrs. Carter, why did your husband transfer this house to me?""
She looked at the deed in Vanessa's hands.
"Because Thomas trusted you.""
"Why?""
Evelyn shook her head.
"You don't know what he knew.""
Marcus paced toward the fireplace.
"Enough riddles! Dad is dead. Daniel is running the company.
And now Sarah suddenly owns the mansion. I want an explanation.""
Evelyn opened her handbag again.
This time, she pulled out a folded letter.
The envelope was yellowed with age.
Thomas's handwriting was unmistakable.
Marcus reached for it, but Evelyn pulled it away.
"This wasn't meant for you.""
"Mom!""
"It was meant for Sarah.""
She handed it to me.
My hands felt strangely numb as I opened the envelope.
Inside was a single handwritten page.
Sarah,
If you're reading this, someone has finally tried to take what I left in your name.
Do not trust anyone who tells you the Carter family has nothing to hide.
The house is yours. The documents are yours. And the truth about your birth belongs to you.
When the time comes, find Caleb.
He knows what happened the night your mother disappeared.
I am sorry I couldn't tell you sooner.
Thomas.
I read the letter twice.
Then a third time.
My mother.
My mother had died when I was sixteen.
At least, that was what I had always been told.
She had been a quiet woman who worked as a nurse in a small Atlanta clinic. She rarely discussed my father, and whenever I asked about him, she would simply say he had died before I was born.
I had never met him.
I had never even seen a photograph.
"What's Caleb?"" I asked.
Evelyn's face drained of color.
Marcus looked at her.
"Who is Caleb?""
She stood so quickly that her handbag fell to the floor.
"Nobody.""
"Mom, you just turned white.""
"Forget the letter.""
I stared at her.
"Why does your husband's letter mention my mother?""
Evelyn stepped toward me.
"Sarah, listen carefully. Whatever Thomas wrote, don't let it change how you see yourself.""
"How am I supposed to do that when I don't even know who my father was?""
She grabbed my wrist.
"Because some truths destroy people.""
I pulled my hand away.
"Then perhaps the people who created those truths should have thought about that before hiding them.""
Marcus picked up the letter.
"Wait. Why would Dad write to you about your birth?""
I reached for it.
He moved it behind his back.
"Give it to me.""
"Not until you tell me what this means.""
Vanessa interrupted.
"Marcus, we need to leave. This woman is clearly trying to manipulate you.""
He turned toward her.
"Not now.""
"Not now? You told me I would own this house!""
I looked at her necklace.
"Actually, you were wearing my necklace when you made that promise to yourself.""
She ripped it off and threw it onto the coffee table.
"Keep it!""
The diamond pendant bounced against the wood.
Evelyn suddenly stared at Vanessa.
"Where did you get that necklace?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Marcus gave it to me.""
Evelyn's voice dropped.
"That necklace belonged to Thomas's first wife.""
I looked down.
My stomach tightened.
"What?""
Evelyn slowly approached the table and picked up the necklace.
"Thomas gave this to your mother when they were young.""
My ears began ringing.
"You're saying my mother owned this?""
She nodded.
"After she disappeared, Thomas searched everywhere for it.""
I stared at Marcus.
He looked equally confused.
Then Evelyn turned toward Vanessa.
"Who gave you this necklace originally?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"Marcus.""
"Where did Marcus get it?""
"I don't know! He said it was in an old family jewelry box.""
Evelyn closed her fingers around the pendant.
"That box was locked for twenty years.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"Mom, what are you saying?""
Before she could answer, someone knocked three times at the front door.
Evelyn froze.
The color vanished from her face.
A moment later, the front door opened.
An older man in a dark gray suit entered, carrying a thick leather briefcase.
He looked directly at Evelyn.
"Good afternoon.""
She whispered a name.
"Caleb...""
Marcus stared at him.
"Who are you?""
The stranger removed his gloves.
"My name is Caleb Brooks. I worked for your father.""
Marcus frowned.
"Worked for him doing what?""
Caleb looked at me.
"Investigating the people who were stealing from him.""
May you like
Then he placed his briefcase on the coffee table.
"And I've been waiting twelve years for someone to try taking this house.""
