Chapter 13: The Woman Who Had Been Searching for Me
Daniel placed the correspondence on the table.
There were eleven letters.
Every one of them was addressed to me.
The earliest was dated sixteen years ago, only a few months after my birth.
The latest had arrived four months earlier.
I picked up the first envelope.
My name was written in careful handwriting.
*Emily Sarah Williams.*
“Who is Eleanor Reed?”” I asked.
Daniel adjusted his glasses.
“She was Jonathan's older sister. After your biological father died, she became responsible for managing his estate and protecting the inheritance he left for you.””
“Why didn't she ever meet me?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“According to these records, she tried.””
He showed me the first letter.
Dear Sarah,
I hope Emily is doing well. I would love to meet her someday, even if only for a few minutes. Jonathan spoke about his daughter constantly. He wanted her to know she had family on his side, too.
I swallowed.
Another letter was attached.
I've enclosed the documents concerning Jonathan's estate. Please let me know when it would be appropriate to discuss them.
My mother had never mentioned receiving these letters.
I looked at Dad.
“Did you know about Eleanor?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
Daniel examined the envelopes.
“Several were returned to the sender. Others appear to have been intercepted before delivery.””
“By Vanessa?””
“We cannot establish that from the envelopes alone.””
My father rubbed his forehead.
“Why would she stop someone from contacting Emily?””
Daniel placed another document on the table.
“Because Eleanor wasn't simply offering to meet her. She was also asking questions about the financial accounts.””
I felt a chill.
“Was she looking for the money?””
“She was trying to confirm that Jonathan's estate had been transferred correctly.””
I looked at the account statement again.
The account in my name had been created using Jonathan's old legal documents.
“Can Eleanor explain this?””
Daniel nodded.
“I've already contacted her.””
He checked his phone.
“She agreed to meet us today.””
My father looked surprised.
“Today?””
“She has been waiting a long time for this conversation.””
An hour later, a silver car pulled into the driveway.
A woman stepped out.
She was in her late sixties, with short silver hair and a cream-colored scarf.
She carried a small leather handbag.
When she entered the living room, her eyes immediately found me.
For several seconds, she simply stared.
Then she covered her mouth.
“Oh, my goodness.””
I stood awkwardly.
“Hello.””
She took a careful step toward me.
“Emily?””
I nodded.
Her eyes filled.
“You look so much like Jonathan.””
I didn't know what to say.
She opened her handbag and removed a photograph.
It showed a young man with dark hair, standing beside a motorcycle. He had the same smile as mine.
“This was your father,” she whispered.
I took the photograph.
“He looks happy.””
“He was. Especially when he found out Sarah was expecting you.””
She sat down.
“Jonathan loved your mother very much. Their relationship ended before he died, but he never stopped caring about either of you.””
My father sat opposite her.
“Why weren't you able to contact Emily?””
Eleanor looked at him.
“I sent letters. I made phone calls. I even visited the house twice.””
Dad frowned.
“I never knew.””
“The first time, Vanessa answered the door. She told me Sarah wanted nothing to do with Jonathan's family.””
I stared.
Eleanor continued.
“She said Jonathan had left no inheritance and that contacting Emily would only upset her.””
My father shook his head.
“That wasn't true.””
“I know that now.””
Eleanor opened her handbag again.
She removed a small envelope.
“Jonathan left this for Emily. I was supposed to give it to her when she turned eighteen.””
I took it.
My fingers trembled as I opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter.
To my little girl,
I don't know when you'll read this. I hope you'll be old enough to understand that I never stopped loving you, even if I wasn't there to watch you grow.
Your mother told me you were going to be called Emily. I loved that name immediately.
I have put aside something for your future. Not because I expect anything from you, but because I want you to have choices. I want you to study, travel, build a life, and never feel trapped because you cannot afford to walk away.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
Eleanor continued.
“Jonathan's estate originally contained a separate investment portfolio. The money was placed under independent management.””
Daniel nodded.
“Which explains the second inheritance account.””
Eleanor looked at him.
“Unfortunately, someone contacted the administrator several years ago claiming to represent Emily's family. They requested that the account be consolidated.””
“Who?”” my father asked.
Eleanor handed him a copy of the request.
The name at the top was Vanessa Williams.
Dad's face hardened.
“She had no authority.””
“No,” Daniel replied.
“She didn't.””
Eleanor reached into her bag again.
“There is one more thing.””
She placed a small silver key on the table.
“Jonathan kept a safe deposit box. I never opened it because the instructions were very clear.””
I looked at the key.
“What are the instructions?””
She smiled sadly.
“It can only be opened by Emily, with me present.””
Daniel examined the attached document.
Then he nodded.
“That's legally consistent with the estate instructions.””
My father looked at me.
“Do you want to open it?””
I nodded.
“Yes.””
Eleanor took my hand.
“Your father wanted you to have this.””
Before we could leave, my phone vibrated.
It was a message from an unknown number.
*You need to stop trusting Eleanor. She knows what happened to Jonathan.*
A second message appeared.
*Ask her why he died before you were born.*
I looked up.
Eleanor was already watching my face.
She had seen the messages.
May you like
And when I showed her the screen, her expression changed completely.
“Emily,” she whispered, “there is something about your father's death that I've never told anyone.””
