Chapter 4: The Words My Brother Should Never Have Said
"Danielle wasn't supposed to survive that surgery.""
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The refrigerator hummed in the kitchen. Somewhere outside, a dog barked. Daniel stood beside the coffee table, his leather briefcase still in his hand.
I stared at him.
"What did you just say?""
Daniel swallowed.
"You heard me, Mike.""
I stepped closer.
"Are you telling me you knew Danielle was going to die?""
He shook his head.
"That's not what I meant.""
"Then explain what you meant.""
Daniel placed his briefcase on the table and opened it.
"Seven years ago, Danielle was very sick. The doctors weren't optimistic. She asked me to help organize her financial affairs because she didn't trust you to handle everything alone.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"She trusted you because you were my brother.""
"I know.""
"No, Daniel. You don't know. I trusted you with everything after she died.""
He looked down.
Vanessa remained on the sofa, her fingers twisting a tissue into a small white ball.
Daniel continued.
"Danielle had created a trust for Ethan. She wanted him to own the house, but she was worried you'd eventually remarry and someone might influence you.""
I stared at him.
"Someone?""
Daniel glanced toward Vanessa.
She immediately stood.
"Don't look at me. You told me this was already settled.""
I turned toward her.
"What exactly did he tell you?""
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"Daniel said Danielle had changed her mind about the house. He said Ethan would receive it eventually, but only after certain financial obligations were settled.""
"What obligations?""
"He said the property had debts.""
I laughed bitterly.
"The house was paid off.""
"That's what you believe!""
Daniel suddenly raised his voice.
"Mike, you don't understand how complicated everything became.""
I slammed my palm against the table.
"Then simplify it!""
He opened the briefcase and removed a thick folder.
Inside were copies of bank transfers, property documents, and handwritten calculations.
One page showed the original value of Danielle's estate.
Another showed the supposed expenses Daniel had paid on behalf of the trust.
The total was $176,400.
I looked at him.
"What is this?""
"Administrative expenses.""
"For what?""
"Legal work. Property management. Taxes. Repairs.""
I flipped through the pages.
Some expenses were dated after I had personally paid the same bills.
One invoice listed a roof replacement that had never happened.
Another showed $18,000 in plumbing repairs.
Our plumbing had not been replaced.
"These are fake," I said.
Daniel leaned forward.
"Watch your mouth.""
I looked directly into his eyes.
"You've been stealing from my son.""
He shook his head.
"I borrowed money. There is a difference.""
"Borrowed?""
"I intended to replace it.""
"With what?""
He didn't answer.
I picked up another document.
It showed several transfers from the trust's account into a company called DW Property Holdings.
The company's registered director was Daniel.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Did you know about this company?""
She lowered her head.
Daniel quickly interrupted.
"Vanessa has nothing to do with the trust.""
Madison suddenly spoke.
"That's not true.""
Everyone turned toward her.
She was standing beside the staircase, holding her phone.
"Mom told me the company was going to be ours.""
Vanessa's face hardened.
"Madison, stop.""
"You told me we'd finally have our own house!""
"Go upstairs!""
"No!""
Madison's voice cracked.
"You said Ethan would lose everything because he couldn't afford the rent. You said Uncle Daniel would put the house in my name.""
Vanessa walked toward her.
"You're embarrassing yourself.""
Madison stepped back.
"You're the one who lied!""
Daniel closed his briefcase.
"Enough. This conversation is over.""
He reached for the documents.
I placed my hand on top of them.
"You're not taking anything.""
His expression changed.
"Move your hand, Mike.""
"No.""
He leaned closer.
"You really want to destroy this family over money?""
I stared at him.
"You're the one who put my eighteen-year-old son out of his own bedroom.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
"That boy should never have been given the house in the first place.""
I slowly removed my hand from the papers.
"Why?""
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly.
But he continued.
"Because Danielle knew what Ethan would inherit. She knew what I had done. That's why she made that recording.""
My heart began pounding.
"What recording?""
Daniel went silent.
Madison looked at me.
"The one Mom keeps hidden in her bedroom.""
Vanessa spun around.
"Madison!""
But it was too late.
I was already walking toward the staircase.
Vanessa rushed after me.
"Michael, wait!""
I reached the upstairs hallway.
Her bedroom door was open.
I entered and began looking through the drawers.
Vanessa appeared behind me.
"Get out of my room!""
I opened the bedside cabinet.
Inside was a small black box.
There were several USB drives, a sealed envelope, and an old digital voice recorder.
I picked up the recorder.
Vanessa grabbed my wrist.
"Don't listen to that.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
She started crying again.
"Because you won't understand.""
I pressed the power button.
A woman's voice filled the room.
Danielle.
My late wife.
May you like
And her first words were:
"Michael, if Daniel is still managing Ethan's inheritance, then he has already betrayed us.""
