Chapter 6: My Father Left Me More Than an Inheritance
Nobody spoke.
Michael stepped inside and closed the door.
For eight years, I had imagined what it would be like to see him again.
I remembered his jokes at family dinners.
His habit of bringing Sophie ridiculous stuffed animals.
The way he used to call me his favorite sister-in-law.
Now he stood in front of me looking older, thinner, and exhausted.
I whispered his name.
"Michael?""
He nodded.
"I'm sorry, Olivia.""
Daniel stood abruptly.
"You shouldn't be here.""
Michael looked at his twin brother.
"Still giving orders, Daniel?""
"You have no idea what you've done.""
Michael laughed without humor.
"I know exactly what I've done. I survived.""
Evelyn began crying again.
She walked toward Michael and touched his face.
"My son.""
He closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mom.""
She embraced him.
For a moment, the room belonged to them.
A mother holding the son she had mourned for eight years.
Then Michael stepped back and looked at Daniel.
"We need to talk.""
Daniel shook his head.
"There's nothing to discuss.""
Michael placed a thick folder on the table.
"Then explain this.""
He opened it.
Inside were copies of bank transfers, business contracts, and correspondence between Daniel and several investors.
I recognized my company's name on almost every page.
Michael pointed to one document.
"Eight years ago, Daniel and I started a company together. We borrowed money to expand it. When the business failed, he decided to blame everything on me.""
Daniel scoffed.
"You were the one who made the bad investments.""
"We both did. But I never stole from our partners.""
Michael turned toward me.
"Your father discovered Daniel was moving money through shell companies.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"My father knew?""
Michael nodded.
"Thomas Reed was one of the original investors. He noticed irregularities in the accounts and started investigating.""
I remembered my father's final months.
He had been quieter than usual.
He often stayed late in his office.
And shortly before his death, he had asked me to be careful about the people I trusted.
I had assumed he was simply worried about me getting married.
"What did Daniel do?"" I asked.
Michael looked at his brother.
"He convinced everyone that I was responsible for the missing money. Then he staged the accident that supposedly killed me.""
Daniel slammed his hand on the table.
"That's a lie!""
Michael calmly removed another document.
"This is the original police report.""
I examined it.
The report included the date of the accident, the vehicle registration, and a witness statement.
But one detail stood out.
The car had belonged to Daniel.
Not Michael.
I looked up.
"Why was Daniel's car involved?""
Michael answered.
"Because I was driving it when I disappeared. Daniel told the police I had taken it and crashed. But I never died in that accident.""
"Then whose body was identified?""
Michael looked away.
"I don't know. That's what investigators are still trying to establish.""
Daniel laughed nervously.
"None of this proves anything.""
Michael turned another page.
"Then perhaps this will.""
It was an email printed on paper.
The sender was Daniel.
The recipient was a lawyer.
The subject line read: PROPERTY TRANSFER AND IDENTITY AUTHORIZATION.
I read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
My hands began trembling.
The email discussed transferring my father's remaining business shares into a company controlled by Daniel.
It also mentioned using my identity to complete the transaction.
I looked at my husband.
"You stole my inheritance?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Your father left debts. I was trying to settle them.""
Michael interrupted.
"Your father left Olivia a controlling interest in the business. Daniel transferred it without her consent.""
I stared at the document.
"How much was it worth?""
Michael hesitated.
"At the time, approximately four hundred thousand dollars.""
My stomach dropped.
"And today?""
"Much more.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Michael, shut your mouth!""
Michael didn't move.
"Today, the business and its assets are worth several million dollars.""
I felt dizzy.
All those years, I had believed I had built everything from nothing.
I had worked late nights, missed vacations, and sacrificed time with my daughter to grow the company.
I had done it believing the business was mine because I had inherited it fairly.
But my husband had been quietly taking ownership from the beginning.
"Why didn't you tell me?"" I asked Michael.
"I tried.""
"When?""
"Four years ago. I sent letters to your house.""
I stared at him.
"I never received them.""
Michael nodded.
"I know. Daniel intercepted them.""
I turned toward Daniel.
He didn't deny it.
I remembered the unanswered calls.
The birthday cards that never arrived.
The strange messages I had supposedly received from Michael's old number saying he wanted nothing to do with our family.
Daniel had told me his brother had been unstable before his death.
He had even convinced me to delete the messages because they upset him.
I had believed every word.
My phone rang again.
This time, it was our babysitter.
I answered quickly.
"Hello, Grace. Is Sophie okay?""
"She's fine, Olivia. But there's something strange happening outside the house.""
My heart tightened.
"What do you mean?""
"A black SUV has been parked across the street for almost an hour. A man got out a few minutes ago and asked whether Daniel was home.""
I looked at Daniel.
His expression changed.
"Did you recognize him?"" I asked.
"No. But he left something at the front door.""
"What?""
"A large envelope.""
I closed my eyes.
"Don't touch it. Lock the doors. I'll arrange for someone to come over.""
When I ended the call, Michael was watching me.
"Olivia, we need to get Sophie somewhere safe.""
Daniel suddenly laughed.
"You're being ridiculous. Nobody is going to hurt my daughter.""
Michael turned toward him.
"Your daughter?""
Daniel's smile disappeared.
I looked between them.
"What does that mean?""
Michael opened the folder one final time.
He removed a laboratory report.
The document was dated six months earlier.
It contained the results of a paternity test.
The child's name was Sophie Bennett.
The alleged father was Daniel Bennett.
But the conclusion at the bottom was not what I expected.
*Probability of paternity: 0%.*
I felt the floor shift beneath my feet.
I looked at Daniel.
Then at Michael.
"Why is there a paternity test for my daughter?""
Neither man answered immediately.
Finally, Michael spoke.
"Because Daniel has known for years that Sophie isn't his biological daughter.""
My mouth went dry.
Daniel stepped toward me.
"Olivia, don't listen to him.""
Michael placed his hand on the report.
"There's something your husband has hidden from you since the night Sophie was conceived.""
May you like
And then he looked directly into my eyes.
"Olivia, I think it's time you learned what really happened that night.""
