Chapter 4: The Inheritance My Stepmother Wanted
The number on the document meant nothing to me at first.
Two million, four hundred thousand dollars.
I was nine. I thought a hundred dollars was enough to buy every toy in a store, and I had never seen a thousand dollars outside a bank advertisement.
But Dad stared at that number as if it were a loaded gun.
"Daddy," I asked, "is that money mine?""
He pulled out the chair beside him.
"Come sit down, sweetheart.""
I climbed onto the chair, my feet dangling above the floor. The document smelled faintly of dust and old paper. At the top was my mother's full name, followed by a date from six months before she died.
Dad touched her signature with one finger.
"Your mother inherited a property from your grandmother," he explained.
"A small commercial building downtown. She rented it to several businesses, and over the years, its value increased.""
"Like the building with the bakery?""
"Exactly like that.""
He showed me a photograph of a three-story brick building with large windows and a faded green awning. I recognized it immediately. Mom had taken me there once when I was little. We had eaten chocolate croissants on a bench outside.
"After she died, the building was placed in a trust for you," Dad continued.
"The rental income was supposed to be saved until you turned eighteen.""
"How much money?""
He looked at the document.
"Your mother left investments and savings, too. The total value was estimated at $2.4 million.""
I blinked.
"Can I buy a horse?""
Despite everything, Dad laughed softly.
"Probably several horses.""
I smiled for half a second before remembering the security footage.
"Is that why Melissa wanted the papers?""
Dad's smile vanished.
"I think we need to find out.""
He opened another envelope. Inside was a letter written in my mother's familiar handwriting.
Michael, if anything happens to me, please make sure Sophia's inheritance stays protected until she's old enough to understand what it means.
Dad read the sentence twice.
Then he continued.
I know you want to believe the best in people. I love that about you. But please don't let anyone convince you that protecting our daughter means keeping secrets from her.
His voice faltered.
I had never heard him read my mother's words aloud before.
"She knew she might die?"" I whispered.
"She was very sick, sweetheart. Sometimes, when people are sick, they make plans for the people they love.""
"Did she know Melissa would be mean to me?""
Dad folded the letter carefully.
"No. But she knew you deserved to be safe.""
For a moment, the kitchen felt quiet and warm, almost like it had before Mom died.
Then Dad's phone rang.
The caller was Daniel Brooks, the attorney who had handled my mother's estate.
Dad put him on speaker.
"Michael," Daniel said, "I received your message. What's happened?""
Dad explained the missing money, the security footage, and the paper with the words about my inheritance.
Daniel didn't interrupt.
When Dad finished, the attorney took a slow breath.
"Have you checked the trust account recently?""
"No. I assumed everything was being handled correctly.""
"By whom?""
Dad glanced at the folder.
"Melissa volunteered to organize some of the household financial paperwork after we married. She said she had experience with bookkeeping.""
There was a pause.
"Michael, I need you to hear me carefully," Daniel said.
"Melissa is not authorized to withdraw money from Sophia's trust. Neither are you, except under specific circumstances.""
Dad sat straighter.
"Why would she be looking for the documents?""
"I can't answer that yet. But I'll arrange an immediate review of the trust records. Don't confront anyone until we understand what has happened.""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Daniel, I think my brother is involved.""
"Richard?""
"He's on the security footage.""
The silence on the other end lasted several seconds.
Finally, Daniel said, "Then we may have a much bigger problem than missing cash.""
After the call ended, Dad locked the documents inside his desk.
Then he checked the front and back doors.
"Daddy, are we in danger?""
He knelt beside my chair.
"I don't think anyone is going to hurt you. But until I know what's happening, I want you to stay close to me.""
I nodded.
He looked at the clock.
"Let's get you something to eat.""
I wasn't hungry, but I followed him into the kitchen. He made grilled cheese sandwiches, cutting mine diagonally because Mom used to do it that way.
For a few minutes, we pretended it was an ordinary evening.
Then someone knocked.
Three sharp knocks.
Dad froze with the butter knife in his hand.
I recognized the sound of Melissa's heels on the porch before I saw her through the glass.
She was standing outside with her handbag clutched against her chest.
When Dad opened the door, she didn't apologize.
She walked straight into the living room.
"We need to talk," she announced.
Dad stayed between her and me.
"About what?""
"About your ridiculous little investigation.""
"You mean the investigation into the money you accused Sophia of stealing?""
Melissa's eyes flicked toward me.
"Send her upstairs.""
"No.""
Her jaw tightened.
"Michael, please. This is between adults.""
"Then stop involving a child in your lies.""
For the first time, Melissa looked genuinely offended.
"I have done everything for this family!""
"You slapped my daughter.""
"Because she stole from me!""
"You have no proof.""
"I don't need proof when I know what happened!""
Dad pointed toward the door.
"Until we figure this out, you aren't going near Sophia alone.""
Melissa stared at him as if he had slapped her.
Then she leaned forward and lowered her voice.
"You think you're protecting her. But you have no idea what your precious daughter inherited.""
Dad's face went rigid.
Melissa realized her mistake a second too late.
I watched her fingers tighten around her handbag.
"How do you know about the inheritance?"" Dad asked.
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Then her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen, and all the color drained from her face.
Dad held out his hand.
"Who is it?""
Melissa backed toward the door.
"No one.""
But as she turned, her phone slipped from her fingers and landed on the floor.
The screen lit up.
I saw the message before Dad picked it up.
It was from Richard.
Did you find the trust papers? We can't wait any longer.
Dad read the message.
Then he looked at his wife.
"Melissa," he said, his voice dangerously calm, "what exactly have you and my brother been planning?""
May you like
She stared at him.
And for the first time, she had no answer.
