Chapter 10: The Document My Mother Never Signed
The room went silent after Richard’s words.
“I was supposed to take everything back.””
Nobody moved.
Not Dad.
Not Thomas.
Not Vanessa.
Not even me.
Because somehow, after everything I had discovered, after all the lies and secrets, those seven words still managed to hurt the most.
Take everything back.
As if my mother’s final gift to me was something temporary.
Something someone else could simply claim.
Richard stood there like he owned the room.
Like he had already won.
Dad stepped forward.
“You need to leave.””
Richard didn’t even look at him.
“I’m talking to my niece.””
Dad’s voice hardened.
“She’s my daughter.””
Richard smiled.
“Biologically, yes.””
The words hit like a slap.
I felt Dad tense beside me.
Richard opened his briefcase again.
“I didn’t come here to fight.””
Thomas laughed quietly.
“That’s exactly what someone says before starting a fight.””
Richard ignored him.
He looked at me.
“Emily, your mother was emotional near the end. She made decisions while she was scared.””
I stared at him.
“You mean she made decisions you don’t like.””
His smile disappeared slightly.
“You don’t understand the situation.””
I almost laughed.
That was the same sentence Vanessa had used.
The same sentence everyone used when they wanted to keep me in the dark.
“I understand enough,” I said.
Richard looked surprised.
Good.
I was tired of being the quiet girl everyone thought they could manipulate.
“You’re here because you want something.””
His expression changed.
“Be careful.””
“No.””
I held his gaze.
“I spent my whole life being careful. Careful not to upset Vanessa. Careful not to make Mia jealous. Careful not to ask too many questions.””
My voice shook.
“And look where that got me.””
Nobody spoke.
Dad looked at me with something I hadn’t seen before.
Pride.
Richard picked up the document.
“You’re making this personal.””
“It is personal.””
I pointed at the papers.
“My mother’s name is on this.””
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
“Exactly.””
Thomas stepped closer.
“Show us the original.””
Richard looked at him.
“What?””
“The original document.””
Richard smiled.
“You think I would carry around the only copy?””
“No,” Thomas said.
“I think you would carry around a fake copy because you knew Emily would find the truth eventually.””
Richard’s face changed.
Just for a second.
But everyone saw it.
Dad noticed too.
“Thomas.””
Thomas nodded.
“He’s lying.””
Richard laughed.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.””
Thomas looked at him.
“I knew your sister for fifteen years.””
The room went quiet.
“Your sister spent her entire life protecting Emily.””
He pointed toward the document.
“She would never create something that removed her daughter’s rights.””
Richard’s smile faded.
“You’re assuming you knew her.””
Thomas’s expression hardened.
“No.””
He looked at me.
“I knew exactly who she was.””
Dad grabbed the document.
“Emily, don’t sign anything.””
“I wasn’t going to.””
Richard looked irritated.
“You should think carefully.””
I stared at him.
“About what?””
“About what happens if you refuse.””
There it was.
The threat.
Hidden under polite words.
“What happens?””
Richard stepped closer.
“You lose access to everything.””
Dad moved immediately.
“Back away from my daughter.””
Richard stopped.
But he smiled.
“She doesn’t know what her mother really left behind.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What does that mean?””
Richard looked at me.
“Your mother didn’t just leave you money.””
Nobody spoke.
“She left you control.””
Thomas’s eyes narrowed.
Richard continued.
“The company your grandfather built.””
Dad looked shocked.
“What?””
Richard nodded.
“Your mother owned shares.””
I looked at him.
“Why would she hide that?””
“Because she knew people would come after it.””
Thomas whispered:
“She knew.””
Richard smiled.
“Yes.””
Then he looked at me.
“And she knew someone in this family couldn’t be trusted.””
Everyone went still.
My eyes moved toward Dad.
Then Vanessa.
Then Thomas.
Richard enjoyed watching the confusion.
That was what scared me.
He wanted us divided.
“I came here to offer you a choice,” he said.
“A choice?””
“Yes.””
He pushed the document toward me.
“Sign, and this ends peacefully.””
I looked down.
“And if I don’t?””
Richard smiled.
“Then tomorrow’s graduation won’t be the only thing ruined.””
Dad’s face turned dark.
“Get out.””
Richard picked up his briefcase.
“Think about it.””
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
Without turning around, he said:
“Oh, and Emily?””
I looked at him.
“Ask your father why your mother stopped trusting him three days before she died.””
The door closed.
Nobody spoke.
Because everyone heard the same thing.
Not a threat.
May you like
A question.
And suddenly, I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer.
