Chapter 6: The Last Message
I couldn’t remember leaving the police station.
I couldn’t remember the drive back.
All I remembered was the message.
My father’s last message.
Not to Vivian.
Not to me.
To a woman from his past who had been hiding for years.
That fact kept repeating in my head.
When we arrived back at the house, the front gate was closed.
Locked.
Mr. Harrison stopped the car.
“That’s unusual.””
I looked at the mansion.
The place where my father had raised me.
The place where Vivian had thrown me away.
“What is?””
“The gate was never locked during the day.””
Before we could get out, the front door opened.
Vivian stepped outside.
She looked angry.
Not scared.
Angry.
“You went looking for dirt on me?””
Her voice echoed across the driveway.
I stepped out of the car.
“You lied to my father.””
Her expression changed slightly.
“Excuse me?””
“You lied about who you were.””
For a moment, I saw something flash across her face.
Fear.
Then it disappeared.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.””
Mr. Harrison stepped beside me.
“We know about Laura Bennett.””
Vivian froze.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
Ashley appeared behind her.
“What’s wrong, Mom?””
Vivian didn’t answer.
She stared at me.
“How did you hear that name?””
I watched her carefully.
Because I finally understood something.
Vivian wasn’t afraid of losing the house.
She was afraid of losing control.
“You knew she was alive,” I said.
Vivian’s face hardened.
“Stay out of things you don’t understand.””
“My father understood.””
“Your father was sick.””
The second she said it, I felt something inside me break.
Not because she insulted him.
Because she sounded relieved.
Like his death had solved a problem.
Mr. Harrison stepped forward.
“Careful, Vivian.””
She laughed.
“You think you can threaten me?””
“No.””
He looked at her calmly.
“I think your own actions will do that.””
Ashley looked between us.
“Mom, what are they talking about?””
Vivian ignored her.
“You’re making a mistake, Hannah.””
I stared at the woman who had tried to erase me from my own family.
“No.””
My voice surprised even me.
“I think my father spent years preparing for yours.””
Her eyes narrowed.
Then she smiled.
A cold, empty smile.
“You really think Daniel left you everything?””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What does that mean?””
Vivian stepped closer.
“You should ask your lawyer what your father never told you.””
Mr. Harrison’s expression changed.
“Vivian.””
But she kept going.
“He didn’t trust you with everything, Hannah.””
My heart sank.
“That’s a lie.””
“Is it?””
She looked at Mr. Harrison.
“Tell her.””
Silence.
I turned toward him.
“Tell me what?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
And that scared me.
“Mr. Harrison?””
He looked down.
Then finally said:
“Your father did leave you the house.””
I exhaled.
“But…”
That one word crushed the relief.
“But what?””
The lawyer looked at the mansion.
“Your father placed one condition.””
“What condition?””
Before he could answer, Vivian smiled.
Because she knew.
She knew exactly what the condition was.
Mr. Harrison spoke quietly.
“You cannot inherit the estate until you discover why your father created the trust.””
I frowned.
“That’s it?””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“The trust also contains a letter from your father.””
My heart started racing.
“What does it say?””
Mr. Harrison hesitated.
Then:
“It says the person who caused your family’s destruction may not be the person you think.””
I stared at him.
Behind me, Vivian smiled.
And inside the house…
a light turned on.
Someone was standing in my father’s office.
The office that was supposed to be empty.
Then a voice came from inside.
“Hannah?””
I froze.
May you like
Because I knew that voice.
It was someone I never expected to hear again.
