Chapter 13: The Truth Vanessa Was Desperate to Bury
I stood in the middle of my grandfather's old house, holding my phone so tightly my fingers hurt.
"Robert, what do you mean she's trying to erase my mother's will?""
There was a pause.
Then he answered.
"Vanessa knows that if your mother's original will remains valid, she has no claim to the foundation, the properties, or the inheritance. She's been trying to create enough confusion to have the entire estate placed under court supervision.""
Dad took the phone from me.
"Robert, why didn't you tell me any of this before?""
"I tried, Richard. Vanessa intercepted my emails. She even told me you were considering dissolving our business partnership.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"How long have you known?""
"Since Evelyn became ill.""
I looked at the documents scattered across the desk.
"Then what was the DNA test about?""
Robert sighed.
"Your mother wanted to make sure there was no possibility of a paternity dispute after her death. Vanessa had started spreading rumors that Emily wasn't biologically yours. She thought she could use that uncertainty to challenge the inheritance.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"But I'm his daughter.""
"Yes," Robert said.
"And the original DNA report confirms it.""
Dad gripped the phone.
"Where is that report?""
"At my office. I kept the original because Evelyn specifically instructed me to.""
"Why?""
"Because she believed someone might alter the results.""
Dad looked at me.
I could see the anger in his face, but beneath it was something else.
Fear.
He had spent eighteen years raising me, and Vanessa had apparently been trying to make him question the foundation of our relationship.
"Robert," Dad said, "we're coming to your office.""
"Don't. Not yet.""
"Why?""
"Because someone broke into my office last night.""
My heart dropped.
"What?""
"They didn't take the computers or the cash. They went straight for Evelyn's records.""
Dad looked at the filing cabinet.
"Did they find the report?""
"I don't think so. But Richard, you need to know something else. Vanessa has scheduled a meeting with the foundation's board for tomorrow morning. She's claiming Evelyn was mentally incapable of making her final estate decisions.""
I stared at the papers.
"She's calling my mother incompetent?""
"Yes. And she's presenting Daniel Brooks as the person who should temporarily manage the foundation.""
Dad's voice turned cold.
"Over my dead body.""
Robert gave him an address.
"Come to the old warehouse near the river. There's something Evelyn left there that may stop them.""
We left immediately.
On the drive, Dad called Martin and explained the situation.
Martin agreed to meet us there.
When we arrived, Robert was waiting beside a gray SUV.
He looked exhausted.
He hugged Dad, then turned toward me.
"Emily, I wish things were different.""
I nodded.
"Just show me what Mom left.""
Robert unlocked the warehouse.
Inside were shelves filled with old furniture, boxes, and filing cabinets.
He walked toward a metal cabinet at the back.
"Evelyn asked me to keep these documents somewhere Vanessa couldn't access.""
He opened the cabinet.
There were several folders, a small video camera, and a sealed envelope.
My name was written on it.
I recognized my mother's handwriting immediately.
Robert handed it to me.
"She wanted you to have this if anything happened to the original will.""
I opened it.
Inside was a document titled:
*AFFIDAVIT OF FINAL INTENT.*
My mother had signed it in front of two witnesses.
It stated that I was to inherit the controlling shares of the foundation and that no relative, spouse, or business associate could transfer those shares without my written consent after my eighteenth birthday.
At the bottom was a second page.
A list of people who were prohibited from acting as trustees.
Vanessa Carter.
Daniel Brooks.
And Jordan Mitchell.
I looked at Robert.
"Jordan too?""
He nodded.
"Your mother discovered that he was being paid to move money through several accounts.""
Dad shook his head.
"That boy was involved from the beginning.""
Robert opened another folder.
Inside were copies of bank transfers.
The money had moved from my college account into an account belonging to Jordan.
From there, it had been divided among three companies.
One belonged to Vanessa.
Another belonged to Daniel.
The third was registered under a business address in California.
I recognized the name.
*Westbridge Properties.*
It was the company listed on the attempted transfer of my grandfather's Savannah property.
Dad stared at the papers.
"They were using Emily's money to purchase property for themselves.""
Robert nodded.
"Exactly.""
I felt sick.
Then Robert turned on the old video camera.
A recording appeared on the screen.
My mother was sitting in the warehouse office.
She looked directly into the camera.
"Emily, if you're watching this, then Vanessa has probably tried to convince people that I wasn't capable of making my own decisions.""
She paused.
"I need you to know that I was fully aware of what was happening. I documented everything.""
Then she held up a folder.
"This is the evidence that proves Vanessa and Daniel planned to take control of the foundation before I died.""
My eyes filled.
My mother had known how dangerous they were.
She had prepared for everything.
Except being there to explain it to me.
The video ended with her smiling.
"Remember, sweetheart. Your future belongs to you. Never let anyone convince you otherwise.""
I wiped my cheeks.
Dad put his arm around me.
Then Martin arrived.
He examined the affidavit, the bank records, and the recording.
After nearly twenty minutes, he looked up.
"This changes everything.""
"Can we stop the meeting?"" Dad asked.
"More importantly, we can challenge the entire transfer attempt. But we need the original will and the original DNA report.""
Robert nodded.
"I have the DNA report.""
He opened a separate locked drawer.
Inside was a sealed laboratory envelope.
The result was clear.
Richard Carter was my biological father.
I looked at Dad.
He smiled through tears.
"Told you, sweetheart. Nothing changes.""
I hugged him.
For the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe.
But then Martin's phone rang.
He answered, listened, and slowly stood.
"What happened?"" Dad asked.
Martin lowered the phone.
"Vanessa has already arrived at the foundation's office.""
"So?""
"She has the board members assembled. And Daniel is there with a document claiming the original will was forged.""
I looked at my mother's affidavit.
"Then we go there.""
Martin nodded.
"Yes. But Emily, you need to understand something.""
"What?""
He looked at me seriously.
"If Vanessa gets the board to approve her motion, she could temporarily seize control of the foundation before we can challenge it.""
Dad reached for my hand.
"Then she won't get the chance.""
I looked at the clock.
The meeting had already started.
And I knew exactly where I needed to be.
May you like
Tomorrow was supposed to be my graduation day.
But before I could walk across that stage, I was going to fight for everything my mother had left me.
