Chapter 7: The Inheritance Nobody Expected
“Who inherited everything?””
My question hung in the dressing room.
Mom looked at Nathan, then Olivia, then finally at Chloe.
But she didn't answer.
“Mom,” I said, “I'm done waiting.””
She pressed the brass key into my palm.
“Your father changed his will the night he died. He left the estate, the business, and the controlling shares of Bennett Holdings to someone he trusted completely.””
“Who?””
Mom closed her eyes.
“Your grandmother, Eleanor.””
I stared at her.
“Grandma?””
“Yes. Your father believed she was the only person who could protect the property from Daniel.””
Nathan frowned.
“But Eleanor died eight months ago. Why would that matter now?””
“Because the original will contained a clause transferring the entire estate to Emily and Chloe equally after Eleanor's death.””
Olivia nodded slowly.
“That explains the trust arrangement.””
I looked at the documents on the vanity.
“Then why was Daniel named as a beneficiary?””
Mom shook her head.
“He wasn't supposed to be. The original trust never included him.””
Olivia immediately opened her folder.
“Then someone altered the financial schedule.””
Chloe suddenly laughed.
It wasn't a happy laugh.
“So that's it? Grandma gets everything, then we get half each? What about me?””
I turned toward her.
“You were supposed to inherit half.””
“Supposed to?”” she snapped.
“Emily, you always got the bigger half of everything!””
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
“Chloe, we're talking about Dad's property. You received half of Grandma's inheritance under the original arrangement.””
“And you got the wedding. The house. Nathan. Everything!””
Nathan stepped forward.
“Chloe, stop making this about my relationship with Emily.””
She glared at him.
“You have no idea what she did.””
“Then tell us.””
Chloe opened her mouth.
But Mom interrupted.
“That's enough. We need to go to the study.””
I looked at the brass key.
“Now?””
Mom nodded.
“There's something you need to see before Daniel realizes we've found the original documents.””
Sarah checked her watch.
“Emily, the ceremony is scheduled to begin in twenty minutes.””
I looked at my ruined dress.
Then at the second gown waiting inside its case.
“Postpone the ceremony.””
Nathan took my hand.
“Are you sure?””
“I've waited twenty years to learn what happened to my father. I can wait another hour to get married.””
He kissed my forehead.
“Then I'll wait with you.””
Chloe rolled her eyes.
“Of course. Everyone waits for Emily.””
Nobody answered.
We left the dressing room and walked through the quiet east corridor toward Eleanor's private study.
The estate was beautiful in the late morning sunlight. White roses decorated the staircase, and the guests were beginning to gather in the garden.
But I barely noticed.
My childhood memories were coming back in fragments.
Dad reading beside the fireplace.
Grandma baking cinnamon rolls in the kitchen.
Chloe and me hiding beneath the enormous desk during family meetings.
And the locked cabinet Mom had forbidden us to touch.
When we reached the study, Mom stopped outside the door.
“Emily, before you open it, promise me you'll listen to the entire explanation.””
I inserted the key.
“I'm listening.””
The lock clicked.
Inside, everything looked exactly as it had when Grandma was alive. Her reading glasses rested beside a stack of books. A framed photograph of Dad stood near the window.
Mom walked straight toward the wooden cabinet.
She opened the lower drawer.
Behind a row of old account books was a small metal compartment.
I turned the brass key.
Inside lay a thick envelope, a black notebook, and a silver USB drive.
Nathan picked up the envelope.
The writing on it was unmistakable.
For my daughters, Emily and Chloe.
My hands trembled.
I opened it.
There was a letter from Dad.
My beautiful girls,
If you're reading this, then something happened that prevented me from explaining the truth myself. Whatever happens, remember that neither of you was ever meant to compete for my love.
I swallowed hard.
Chloe stepped closer.
Dad continued:
I have discovered that Daniel Mercer has been using our family business to hide unauthorized transfers. I also discovered that someone inside our household has been helping him.
Mom began crying.
I looked up.
“Who?””
She shook her head.
“Keep reading.””
The next paragraph made my stomach twist.
I have arranged for Eleanor to hold the estate in trust until both my daughters are old enough to make their own decisions. But if anything happens to me, the person responsible must not be allowed to control the property.
Nathan turned the page.
There was a handwritten name beneath the paragraph.
Margaret Bennett.
My mother.
I looked at her.
“Dad suspected you?””
Mom covered her face.
“No. Emily, please.””
Chloe grabbed the letter.
“That's impossible!””
She scanned the page.
Then her expression changed.
“There's another page.””
She pulled it from the envelope.
At the bottom was a sentence written in Dad's handwriting.
Margaret doesn't know what Daniel intends to do. But I believe she has already signed documents she doesn't understand.
Mom sank into the nearest chair.
“I never knew he had written that.””
I stared at her.
“Then why did you hide the deed?””
She looked at me through her tears.
“Because Daniel threatened to take Chloe away from me if I spoke.””
Chloe went still.
“What?””
Mom nodded.
“He said he had proof that I had helped him transfer money. He said if I went to the police, I'd lose custody of both of you.””
I looked at the black notebook.
“What's that?””
Olivia carefully opened it.
Inside were pages of financial records, dates, handwritten account numbers, and several names.
She turned to the final page.
Her expression changed.
“Emily, I think we have a serious problem.””
“What?””
She pointed to a recent entry.
It was dated yesterday.
Beside it was a transfer authorization for $500,000.
May you like
And the signature authorizing the transfer belonged to...
Chloe.
