Chapter 5: The Sister Who Sold Me Out
Madison arrived at my apartment at eight the next morning.
I saw her through the peephole before she knocked a third time. She wore oversized sunglasses, a cream sweater, and the same gold earrings she'd worn in the bridal salon.
I opened the door but kept the chain fastened.
"What do you want?""
She pushed her sunglasses onto her head.
"Can we please talk?""
"You had plenty of opportunities yesterday.""
"Sarah, I know you're angry.""
"That's an understatement.""
Her eyes flicked toward the hallway.
"Can I come inside?""
"No.""
She swallowed.
"Daniel said you'd react like this.""
I almost smiled.
"Then he knows me better than I thought.""
"Please. Just five minutes.""
I hesitated, then removed the chain. I wasn't going to let her turn this into a scene outside my neighbors' doors.
Madison stepped inside and sat on the edge of the sofa without being invited. She looked around my apartment as if she were seeing it for the first time.
Her gaze settled on the sewing basket beside the armchair.
"Mom's things," she murmured.
"Don't touch them.""
She pulled her hand back.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she removed an envelope from her purse and placed it on the coffee table.
"Daniel said you might be willing to sign this if I explained everything.""
I didn't touch it.
"What is it?""
"A release.""
"Of my inheritance?""
She looked down.
"Yes.""
I laughed once, without humor.
"You came to my apartment to ask me to give you twelve million dollars?""
"It's not like that.""
"Then tell me what it's like.""
Madison pressed her palms together.
"Daniel told me Mom wanted me to have a share. He said you were going to get everything because you were the responsible one, and I'd be left with nothing.""
"Did you ever consider asking me about it?""
"You would've said no.""
"You don't know that.""
"Yes, I do!"" Her voice cracked.
"You always decide what's best for me. You lend me money, then remind me how much you've sacrificed. You look at me like I'm a problem you have to solve.""
I stared at her.
"I never asked you to become someone else, Madison. I just expected you not to betray me.""
She looked away.
For one moment, she seemed like the little girl who used to climb into my bed during thunderstorms.
Then she opened her purse and pulled out a folded sheet of paper.
"I need you to understand why I did this.""
She slid it toward me.
It was a copy of an agreement dated six months earlier. Daniel had promised Madison a portion of the trust if she helped him persuade me to relinquish my claim.
In exchange, she had agreed to obtain access to my personal documents, assist with the transfer of my wedding payments, and keep me from learning about the trust until the marriage certificate was filed.
I read the page slowly.
My sister had signed every line.
"How much did he promise you?""
"Three million.""
The number hung between us.
"Three million dollars," I repeated.
Madison nodded.
"And you thought that was worth doing this to me?""
"I thought I could fix everything afterward.""
"How?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I was going to give you some of it.""
I stood.
"Get out.""
"Sarah—"
"Get out of my apartment.""
She rose, but instead of leaving, she stepped closer.
"Daniel said the trust had a provision that would make everything his once you married him. He said he was protecting us both.""
"Protecting us?""
"He said you'd never forgive me if you knew I was involved.""
"So you made sure I couldn't find out until it was too late?""
She covered her face.
I wanted to comfort her.
That was the worst part.
Even after everything she'd done, some old instinct urged me to pull her into my arms and tell her we'd find a way through it.
But I remembered the damaged pearl flowers.
The ring on her finger.
The champagne glasses in Daniel's hands.
I let the instinct pass.
"Did you know he was sleeping with you while he was engaged to me?""
Madison lowered her hands.
"Yes.""
"When did you start?""
"March.""
"And you still came to my apartment for dinner? You still asked me about the wedding?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
I turned toward the window.
The city moved below us, cars passing through the intersection while people carried coffee cups and hurried toward work. Somewhere, a woman was probably trying on a wedding dress with her sister, laughing at the mirror.
I wondered how long I'd be able to look at an ivory gown without remembering this.
"Did you ever love him?"" I asked.
Madison didn't answer immediately.
"I thought I did.""
"And now?""
She stared at the envelope.
"Now I think he was using me, too.""
I turned back.
"What changed?""
"He told me yesterday that if you went to the attorneys, I needed to leave town. He said I should take whatever money I had and disappear.""
"Did he threaten you?""
"He said I was replaceable.""
Her voice broke on the final word.
I felt no satisfaction.
Only a tired, hollow disappointment.
"Then why are you here?""
"Because I think he's going to do something worse.""
She pulled a flash drive from her purse and set it on the table.
"I copied some of his emails. He keeps everything on his laptop. He thought I was helping him organize the documents.""
I didn't pick it up.
"What's on it?""
"Messages about the trust. The wedding transfers. The medical letter.""
"And the fake signature?""
"There's a scan of the letter before it was submitted.""
My pulse quickened.
"Who created it?""
Madison shook her head.
"I don't know. But Daniel told someone to make sure the doctor's information matched the hospital records.""
I thought of my mother's medical file.
The fabricated emergency contact.
The handwritten instruction about the marriage certificate.
"Why would he use Mom's records?""
"I don't know, Sarah.""
For once, I believed she might be telling the truth.
I took the flash drive and placed it inside a small plastic bag.
"I'm giving this to my attorney. I'm not promising to protect you.""
"I understand.""
"Do you?""
She nodded.
I walked her to the door.
Before leaving, she turned back.
"Sarah, there's something else.""
I folded my arms.
"What?""
"Daniel has been meeting with someone from the hospital where you work. He said that person could get him the records he needed.""
My skin went cold.
"Who?""
"I only heard a name once. Dr. Bennett.""
The name struck me immediately.
Dr. Thomas Bennett was a senior physician in the department where I worked. He had treated our mother during her final illness.
He had also signed the medical documents Daniel had shown the wedding venue.
I stared at Madison.
"You're sure?""
"I saw the name in an email.""
I opened the door wider.
"Leave. And don't contact me again unless my attorney asks you to.""
She stepped into the hallway.
For a moment, she looked as though she wanted to hug me.
I closed the door before she could ask.
Then I called Elaine.
Within an hour, she had arranged for a forensic specialist to examine the files on the flash drive. She also advised me to report the suspected forgery and misuse of medical information to the appropriate authorities.
I agreed.
By late afternoon, I was sitting in a small conference room with Elaine when her phone rang.
She listened without speaking, then placed the call on speaker.
A man's voice filled the room.
"Ms. Foster, this is Robert Hayes. I've reviewed the archive records, and I need to correct something I told you yesterday.""
Elaine leaned forward.
"What is it, Robert?""
"The supplemental trust document contains a clause that wasn't included in the preliminary summary.""
My heart began pounding.
"What clause?"" I asked.
Mr. Hayes paused.
"Your mother anticipated that someone might attempt to influence your decision through marriage. She specifically addressed what would happen if your intended spouse tried to gain control of the trust.""
Elaine exchanged a look with me.
"And what happens?"" she asked.
Mr. Hayes exhaled.
"If the beneficiary's intended spouse is found to have knowingly participated in fraud designed to obtain the trust assets, that person becomes permanently ineligible to receive any benefit from the estate.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Does that include Daniel?""
"If the evidence establishes his involvement, yes.""
Then Mr. Hayes added something that made the room go silent.
"But there's another problem. The trust names a second person who must be notified if fraud is suspected.""
"Who?"" Elaine asked.
"The trustee.""
"Who is the trustee?""
Mr. Hayes hesitated.
"That's what I need to confirm. The original appointment was amended shortly before your mother's death.""
He turned a page.
May you like
Then he read the name aloud.
"Dr. Thomas Bennett.""
