Chapter 3: The Document My Mother Left Behind
Dad unfolded the paper beneath the kitchen light.
I watched his eyes move from one line to the next.
Then his face changed.
"What is this?""
Nicole folded her arms.
"Something your late wife signed before she died.""
Dad looked up.
"Where did you get it?""
"From her belongings.""
"That's impossible. I went through everything after the funeral.""
Nicole gave a small laugh.
"You went through the things I allowed you to see.""
Dad looked down again.
The document appeared to be a legal declaration. My mother's signature sat at the bottom, followed by two witness signatures.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
I'd seen it on birthday cards, lunchbox notes, and the letters she had written before she died.
But something was wrong.
The date was October 11.
My mother died October 13.
"Why would Mom sign this two days before she died?"" I whispered.
Nicole looked at me.
"Because she knew she was dying.""
Dad's head snapped up.
"Don't say that.""
Nicole shrugged.
"Isn't that what happened? She was driving too fast on a wet road.""
"Stop.""
I reached for the paper.
Dad hesitated before handing it to me.
The document stated that my mother had voluntarily transferred control of certain assets to a private trust.
The beneficiary was listed as me.
Maya Isabelle Bennett.
I read the number beside the estimated value.
My eyes widened.
"One point eight million dollars?""
Dad took the document back.
"Is this real?""
Nicole smiled.
"Your wife had investments, property, and insurance policies. She wanted Maya to receive everything when she turned eighteen.""
"Then why have I never heard about it?""
"Because Isabelle didn't trust you with money.""
Dad looked wounded.
"That's not true.""
Nicole leaned closer.
"She was afraid you'd give everything away. She wanted a separate trustee.""
I stared at the signature.
Something about it bothered me.
"Why would Mom transfer the money two days before she died without telling Dad?""
Nicole shrugged.
"Perhaps she knew your father better than you do.""
Dad ignored her.
He pulled out his phone.
"I'm calling my attorney.""
Nicole's expression hardened.
"Richard, think carefully.""
"I am.""
"Your brother helped manage the trust.""
Dad stopped.
"What?""
"Daniel was involved. He knows where the money went.""
"Where did the money go?""
Nicole said nothing.
Dad dialed.
A moment later, a woman answered.
"Richard? Is everything okay?""
"This is Richard Bennett. I need you to verify a document related to Isabelle's estate.""
There was a pause.
"Richard, where did you find that document?""
Dad glanced at Nicole.
"Why?""
"Because the original trust agreement has been sealed for years. I was instructed not to discuss it until Maya's eighteenth birthday.""
I felt my heartbeat in my ears.
Dad sat down.
"Who instructed you?""
"Your wife.""
"Isabelle?""
"Yes. And she specifically named you as the person who should receive a separate letter if anything happened to her before Maya turned eighteen.""
Dad swallowed.
"Was there a letter?""
"Yes.""
"Where is it?""
The attorney's voice lowered.
"Your brother Daniel collected it from our office three days after Isabelle's funeral.""
Dad stood so abruptly his chair fell backward.
"Daniel took my wife's letter?""
"Under the authority of the paperwork he presented at the time.""
"Who gave him that authority?""
Another pause.
"Isabelle's second trustee.""
Dad slowly turned toward Nicole.
"Who was the second trustee?""
The attorney answered.
"Nicole Bennett.""
The room seemed to tilt.
Nicole immediately began speaking.
"That was years ago. It was temporary. Isabelle trusted me.""
Dad stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because you were grieving!""
"And you were stealing from my daughter?""
Nicole slapped her palm against the table.
"I kept this family together!""
"You framed Maya!""
"Because she was about to ruin everything!""
The words escaped before Nicole could stop herself.
Dad went completely still.
I stepped backward.
"What did I ruin?""
Nicole looked at me.
For a moment, her face showed pure hatred.
Then she turned toward Dad.
"Do you want the truth? Isabelle knew Daniel was stealing from her. She discovered the missing money and threatened to expose him.""
Dad's jaw tightened.
"You're saying my wife knew?""
"She confronted him days before the accident.""
I felt cold.
"How do you know that?""
Nicole looked at me.
"Because I was there.""
Dad stared at her.
"You knew Isabelle before she died?""
Nicole's lips parted.
Then she looked away.
"Not the way you think.""
I shook my head.
"Mom told me she didn't know you.""
Nicole laughed without humor.
"Your mother lied about many things.""
Dad grabbed his phone again.
"I'm calling the police.""
Nicole's expression changed instantly.
"Don't you dare.""
"Why?""
"Because if you start digging into Isabelle's accident, you might discover things you cannot live with.""
Dad stepped closer.
"What did you do?""
Nicole backed toward the hallway.
"I didn't kill her, Richard.""
Nobody had mentioned murder.
Dad stared at her.
I could hear Ethan breathing beside me.
Then the attorney's voice came through the phone.
"Richard? Are you still there?""
Dad lifted it to his ear.
"Yes.""
"There's something else you need to know. Isabelle left a second recording with our office. It was supposed to be released if anyone attempted to interfere with Maya's inheritance.""
Dad's eyes moved toward me.
"What does it contain?""
The attorney hesitated.
"Her explanation of why she changed the trust—and the identity of the person she believed was responsible for the threats against her.""
Nicole suddenly rushed toward the phone.
"Richard, hang up!""
Dad pulled away.
"Send me the recording.""
The attorney replied quietly.
"I can. But before I do, you need to understand something. Isabelle didn't just leave Maya money.""
"What else?""
"She left her the original evidence connected to her accident.""
The call ended.
Dad stood motionless.
I looked at the document in his hand.
My mother had known something was wrong.
She had prepared for it.
And somehow, the people she feared had spent eight years living under our roof.
Then Ethan tugged at my sleeve.
"Maya?""
I knelt beside him.
"What is it, buddy?""
He reached into the small front pocket of his backpack and pulled out a photograph.
It showed my mother standing beside a silver car.
Daniel was next to her.
And behind them stood Nicole.
On the back, in my mother's handwriting, were seven words:
If anything happens to me, trust nobody.
Ethan looked at me with frightened eyes.
"Mommy told Uncle Daniel she had already gotten rid of the car.""
I stared at the photograph.
Then Dad slowly took it from my hands.
May you like
Because the car in the picture wasn't my mother's old vehicle.
It was the car Daniel had claimed he was driving the night she died.
