Chapter 13: The Woman Wearing My Grandmother's Ring
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Dad stared at the woman standing beside Vanessa.
Her silver hair was pulled into a neat bun. She wore a navy coat, pearl earrings, and a familiar gold wedding ring.
My grandmother's ring.
But my grandmother, Margaret Carter, had been buried seven years earlier.
"That's impossible," Dad whispered.
The woman smiled.
"Hello, Michael.""
His face drained of color.
"Who are you?""
She removed a pair of sunglasses.
"I'm Eleanor Hayes. I believe you remember me.""
Dad shook his head.
"No. My mother died.""
Eleanor sighed.
"Your mother died. I'm her younger sister.""
I looked at the photograph in her hand.
The woman in the picture was my grandmother.
But Eleanor's face carried enough resemblance to make the confusion understandable.
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Can we please stop pretending this is some kind of mystery? Eleanor has been helping us.""
Dad moved between her and me.
"Helping you do what?""
Eleanor smiled faintly.
"Protecting what Margaret wanted.""
"Margaret is dead.""
"Her wishes weren't.""
Amanda immediately took out her phone.
"Are you Eleanor Hayes?""
"Yes.""
"Then I suggest you explain why you're involved in documents relating to a deceased person's estate.""
Eleanor ignored her.
Instead, she looked directly at me.
"Emily, you have no idea how much trouble your mother caused.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Don't talk about my mother.""
"She was stubborn. Always had been. Laura believed she could take something that belonged to the family and give it to a child who wasn't even Daniel's legitimate heir.""
Dad stepped forward.
"Emily is Daniel's daughter.""
"Biologically, perhaps. But Daniel was irresponsible. He left the company in chaos.""
"He left it to his daughter.""
Eleanor laughed.
"He left it to an infant. What kind of future do you think that would have created?""
Amanda interrupted.
"Mrs. Hayes, the ownership documents are legally binding.""
Eleanor looked at her.
"Not if the original beneficiary designation was obtained through fraud.""
She opened her handbag and removed a thick folder.
Inside were several documents bearing Daniel's signature.
Dad examined them.
"Where did you get these?""
"From Margaret.""
"She's dead!""
Eleanor's expression hardened.
"Yes, Michael. And before she died, she left me instructions.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Why are you here?""
Vanessa gave me a cold smile.
"Because this has gone on long enough, Emily.""
"You're the one who put me in the garage.""
"That was a temporary arrangement.""
"You stole my mother's money.""
"I managed resources that were being wasted.""
Dad's voice thundered.
"Stop calling theft management!""
Vanessa flinched but quickly recovered.
Then she turned toward Eleanor.
"Tell them.""
Eleanor placed the folder on the table.
"Margaret established a separate family agreement before her death. Under its terms, if Daniel's inheritance became disputed, the company shares would be transferred to the family trustee.""
Amanda picked up the documents.
"Who is the family trustee?""
Eleanor smiled.
"Me.""
Dad shook his head.
"That's not possible.""
Eleanor produced another sheet.
It contained a document appointing her as the successor trustee.
Amanda examined it for several seconds.
Then she noticed something.
"Where was this notarized?""
"Atlanta.""
"What date?""
"Seven years ago.""
Amanda looked at the stamp.
"That's interesting.""
Eleanor frowned.
"What?""
"The notary commission number belongs to someone who died six years ago.""
The smile disappeared from Eleanor's face.
Amanda continued examining the document.
"This appears to be a fraudulent notarization.""
Eleanor reached for the papers.
"Give me that.""
Amanda pulled them away.
"Don't touch the evidence.""
Vanessa suddenly turned toward the stairs.
"Let's go.""
Dad blocked her path.
"You're not leaving.""
Eleanor looked at him.
"You've become just like Laura. Always believing that being emotional makes you right.""
Dad's expression changed.
"Don't you dare compare yourself to my wife.""
For the first time, Eleanor looked angry.
"Your wife destroyed everything Margaret built.""
"She protected her daughter.""
"She stole Daniel's future!""
I stepped forward.
"No. She protected mine.""
Eleanor looked at me.
Then she said something I would never forget.
"Your mother should have let Rebecca raise you.""
My entire body went cold.
"Why?""
Eleanor's eyes narrowed.
"Because Rebecca was the only person who understood what needed to be done.""
Dad grabbed the edge of the table.
"What happened to my mother?""
Eleanor looked away.
Amanda immediately noticed.
"Mrs. Hayes, answer him.""
Eleanor finally spoke.
"Margaret died of natural causes.""
"Then why are you avoiding the question?""
Vanessa stepped between them.
"Enough. We have documents proving our position.""
Amanda closed the folder.
"No. You have documents that will now be examined for forgery.""
The investigators arrived minutes later.
Eleanor and Vanessa were separated for questioning.
But before they took Eleanor away, she leaned toward me.
"You think you've won because you found a few old papers?""
I didn't answer.
She smiled.
"Ask Thomas what happened to the original company shares.""
Then she walked away.
Dad turned toward Thomas.
"What's she talking about?""
Thomas looked exhausted.
"There's something I should have told you.""
"What?""
Thomas opened his folder and removed a small photograph.
It showed Daniel standing beside a young woman.
The woman was holding a newborn baby.
I recognized the baby immediately.
It was me.
But the woman wasn't Laura.
She was Rebecca.
And on the back of the photograph, Daniel had written:
*The day we brought Emily home.*
Dad stared at it.
May you like
Then Thomas whispered:
"Laura wasn't the only woman who knew about Daniel's daughter.""
