Chapter 6: The Brother Who Came Back for the Money
Richard walked into the hallway carrying a leather briefcase.
He stopped when he saw me standing beside the sofa.
His eyes dropped to my legs.
Then he looked at the wheelchair.
For a moment, he appeared genuinely confused.
"Michael?""
I folded my arms.
"Surprise.""
Richard slowly placed his briefcase on the floor.
"You're walking.""
"Apparently, that's becoming a popular observation today.""
He glanced at Vanessa.
She looked terrified.
"What's going on?"" he asked.
I smiled without humor.
"That's what I'd like to know.""
Richard forced a laugh.
"Listen, brother. This is probably some misunderstanding.""
"Are we brothers now?""
He frowned.
"Come on. We've known each other for years.""
"Long enough for you to know I was worth twenty-eight million dollars?""
His expression changed.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Richard looked at her.
"You told him?""
I stepped forward.
"Nobody needed to tell me. Your name is on the agreement.""
He stared at me.
"What agreement?""
"The one arranging my permanent incapacity.""
Richard shook his head.
"That document is being misinterpreted.""
"Then interpret it for me.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Michael, you were in terrible shape. Vanessa was overwhelmed. I was trying to help.""
"By paying my doctor two hundred thousand dollars?""
Richard glanced toward Dr. Harrison.
For the first time, he seemed to realize that the doctor was still in the room.
"You idiot," Richard muttered.
Dr. Harrison looked away.
I took out my phone.
"Tell me about the accident.""
Richard's jaw tightened.
"What about it?""
"My father's letter says I should ask you about that night.""
His expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
"Your father was confused toward the end," Richard said.
"My father was dead for six years before the accident.""
"Exactly.""
I stepped closer.
"Why were you driving my car?""
Richard sighed.
"I wasn't.""
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
"Richard, stop.""
He turned sharply.
"Don't start.""
I looked between them.
"Interesting. You both seem to know something.""
Richard picked up his briefcase.
"I think I'm leaving.""
I moved toward the door.
"Not yet.""
He laughed.
"Are you threatening me?""
"No. I'm asking you to explain why my wife told me I was supposed to be alone that night.""
Richard stared at Vanessa.
Then he looked back at me.
"She said that?""
I nodded.
He exhaled.
"Fine. You want the truth? I was supposed to meet you at the warehouse.""
"What warehouse?""
"The one belonging to your father's company. You had been investigating some missing money.""
I frowned.
"I don't remember that.""
"You were furious. You said someone was stealing from the company.""
"Who?""
Richard didn't answer.
I looked at Vanessa.
She stared at the floor.
Richard continued.
"That night, you called me. You said you had found something. You wanted me to come over.""
"Did you?""
"No. I was already on my way somewhere else.""
"Then who was driving my car?""
Richard hesitated.
"Nobody.""
I looked at him.
"Don't lie to me.""
He slammed his hand against the briefcase.
"You want to know what happened? You were driving. You lost control in the rain. That's it.""
"Then why did you tell the police you weren't involved?""
"Because I wasn't!""
Vanessa suddenly began crying.
"Richard, please. Tell him about the payment.""
He turned toward her.
"Shut up.""
I stepped between them.
"Payment for what?""
Richard's expression hardened.
"Vanessa, you really should have kept your mouth shut.""
I felt my pulse pounding.
"Answer me.""
He looked directly into my eyes.
"Your accident wasn't my fault. But I did pay someone to make sure you never remembered what happened.""
The room went silent.
Dr. Harrison lowered his head.
I slowly turned toward him.
"What did you do?""
Richard answered instead.
"He made sure you stayed confused. He told us that if you believed you couldn't recover, you'd never ask questions about the company.""
I felt physically sick.
"Did you cause the accident?""
Richard shook his head.
"No.""
"Then who?""
He looked toward Vanessa.
She was trembling.
I followed his gaze.
"Vanessa?""
She covered her mouth.
Richard took a breath.
"Ask your wife who called you that night.""
I turned toward her.
She backed away.
"Michael, don't.""
"Who called me?""
She shook her head.
"Please.""
Richard opened his briefcase and removed a thick folder.
He dropped it onto the coffee table.
"Here's everything. Bank transfers. Medical payments.
The agreement. All of it.""
I stared at the folder.
"Why bring it here?""
"Because I'm done protecting her.""
Vanessa screamed.
"You promised me!""
Richard laughed bitterly.
"And you promised me the money!""
I reached for the folder.
Inside were printed bank statements, photographs, and several pages of handwritten notes.
One photograph showed my car on the night of the accident.
Another showed Richard standing beside it.
But the final photograph was the one that made my knees nearly buckle.
It showed Vanessa sitting in the passenger seat.
The timestamp was 9:18 p.m.
Twenty minutes before the crash.
I lifted the photograph.
"Why were you in my car?""
Vanessa began sobbing.
Richard leaned against the wall.
"Because she was the last person who spoke to you before the accident.""
I looked at my wife.
"Tell me what happened.""
She shook her head.
Then, with tears running down her face, she whispered:
"I didn't know you were going to crash. I only wanted to scare you into signing the company papers.""
I stared at her.
"What papers?""
She pointed toward the folder.
I pulled out the final document.
It was a transfer agreement giving Vanessa control of my father's company.
But the signature at the bottom wasn't mine.
It was a forgery.
And beside it was a handwritten note:
*If Michael refuses, proceed with Plan B.*
I looked at the date.
It had been written three days before my accident.
Then I noticed the name beside the instruction.
Not Richard.
Not Vanessa.
Someone else.
May you like
Someone I had trusted even more than my wife.
My own mother.
