Chapter 10: My Father Had Left Everything to Lily
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Megan stood beside the kitchen counter, watching me examine the documents.
Mark was behind her, his face pale.
"Pick it up," Megan said.
I looked at her.
"What did you just say?""
"Your father left his estate to Lily. Not you.""
I reached for the folder.
The first document was a copy of my father's last will and testament.
His signature appeared at the bottom.
I recognized it immediately.
My father, Richard Hayes, had been a successful construction contractor in Illinois. He had spent thirty years building his business from a small operation into a company with several commercial properties.
When he died six years earlier, I was devastated.
Mark had handled most of the legal arrangements because I couldn't bring myself to sit through meetings with attorneys and financial advisers.
He had told me that Dad's estate was complicated and that there wasn't much left after taxes and outstanding business obligations.
I had believed him.
Now I was reading a completely different story.
The will established a trust for Lily.
The assets included investment accounts, two commercial properties, and a substantial amount of cash.
The estimated value was close to $300,000.
My hands trembled.
"Why didn't I know about this?""
Megan crossed her arms.
"Because Mark handled everything.""
I turned toward my husband.
"Where is the money?""
He looked at the floor.
"Chloe, it's complicated.""
"Answer me.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Some of it was used to cover expenses.""
"What expenses?""
"Business expenses.""
I stared at him.
"You used my daughter's inheritance?""
"I was managing the estate!""
"You were supposed to protect it!""
Megan laughed.
"Don't pretend you understand financial management. Mark was trying to keep everything together.""
I turned toward her.
"And you were trying to get custody of Lily so you could control the trust?""
Her expression changed.
Mark immediately interrupted.
"That's not what happened.""
I picked up the next document.
It was a trust administration agreement.
The trustee was Mark Bennett.
But beneath his name was a section outlining what would happen if Lily's primary caregiver became legally unable to provide adequate care.
The document specified that a court-appointed guardian could petition for expanded authority over the trust.
Megan's name appeared as the proposed guardian.
I read the paragraph twice.
Then I looked at Mark.
"You didn't just want custody.""
He said nothing.
"You wanted control of Lily's inheritance.""
Megan sighed.
"Someone had to manage it responsibly.""
"Someone? You mean you?""
She leaned against the counter.
"Your daughter deserves a future with people who can provide for her.""
I laughed.
"You stole her money and now you're telling me you deserve it?""
Megan's face hardened.
"Watch your mouth.""
I looked at Mark.
"Did you know about this arrangement when my father died?""
He hesitated.
That hesitation answered everything.
I remembered the weeks following Dad's funeral.
Mark had insisted I sign several documents.
He had told me they were routine.
He had even brought dinner home one evening and placed the paperwork beside my plate.
"Just sign here, sweetheart. I'll take care of everything.""
I had signed.
Without reading.
Because I trusted my husband.
I felt sick.
"Show me the original trust documents.""
Mark shook his head.
"I don't have them.""
"Where are they?""
"I said I don't have them.""
Megan picked up the folder.
"They're in a safe deposit box.""
I looked at her.
"How do you know?""
She smiled.
"Because I helped Mark organize the estate.""
My husband looked sharply at her.
"Megan, stop talking.""
But she continued.
"Your father left instructions that Lily's inheritance should remain protected until she turned twenty-five. Mark was allowed to manage certain investments, but he wasn't allowed to spend the principal.""
I turned toward Mark.
"Then why is the money gone?""
His face tightened.
"Because I had to borrow against it.""
"Without permission?""
"I was going to replace it!""
"How much?""
He looked away.
Megan answered for him.
"More than two hundred thousand.""
I grabbed the edge of the counter.
Two hundred thousand dollars.
My father's entire lifetime of work.
My daughter's future.
Gone.
Then Megan opened another document.
"This is why the custody arrangement matters.""
It was a proposed amendment to the trust.
If Lily's living arrangements changed, the proposed amendment would allow Megan to become a co-trustee.
The document had already been prepared.
Only a court order and the necessary legal approvals were missing.
I looked at Megan.
"You planned this from the beginning.""
She gave me a cold smile.
"Your father should have chosen someone more responsible.""
I stepped toward her.
"Don't you dare speak about my father.""
Mark grabbed my arm.
"Chloe, calm down.""
I pulled away.
"Get your hands off me.""
He looked toward Megan.
For the first time, he seemed frightened of his own sister.
Then he said something that made me realize the situation was even worse.
"Megan, you weren't supposed to show her that.""
Megan turned sharply.
"Then you should have handled things properly.""
I took out my phone.
Rebecca had told me to document every conversation involving the estate.
I called her.
She answered immediately.
"Chloe?""
"I'm at the house. Megan just showed me documents relating to my father's estate and Lily's trust.""
Rebecca's tone changed.
"Are you safe?""
"Yes. But I need you to hear what they're saying.""
I placed the call on speaker.
Rebecca introduced herself.
Then she instructed Mark and Megan not to alter, remove, or destroy any estate-related documents.
Mark laughed nervously.
"Who does she think she is?""
Rebecca answered calmly.
"Someone who will be reviewing these documents very carefully.""
Megan slammed her palm against the counter.
"You can't take our family business and turn it into a legal circus!""
Rebecca replied, "If everything was handled correctly, you have nothing to worry about.""
Megan went silent.
I collected the documents.
Then I walked toward the door.
Mark followed me.
"Chloe, wait.""
I turned.
"What?""
His eyes were wet.
"I know I've made mistakes.""
I stared at him.
"These aren't mistakes, Mark. You made decisions.""
"I love Lily.""
"Then why did you use her inheritance to fund your life?""
He had no answer.
I left.
Outside, I called Zoe.
"Can you pick me up?""
"What's happened?""
I looked through the window.
Megan was standing beside Mark, whispering something into his ear.
Then she turned and watched me.
I lowered my voice.
"Zoe, I think Dad's estate is much bigger than anyone told me.""
"How much bigger?""
"There's something else in the trust.""
"What?""
I opened the final page.
There was a handwritten note attached to the original will.
My father's handwriting.
It contained one sentence.
If anyone attempts to take Lily away from Chloe, the independent trustee must immediately review every financial transaction made by Mark Bennett.
I read it again.
Then I noticed the name of the independent trustee.
It was someone I hadn't seen in six years.
May you like
Someone my father had specifically chosen because he didn't trust Mark.
And that person was still alive.
