Chapter 4: The Second Will
"VANESSA! TELL HIM THE TRUTH BEFORE HE FINDS THE SECOND WILL!""
Patricia's scream echoed through the house.
I stood frozen at the top of the staircase, staring at my wife.
Vanessa bent down, picked up the silver key, and slipped it into her handbag.
"What second will?"" I demanded.
She shook her head.
"Marcus, don't listen to my mother. She's confused.""
A moment later, Patricia appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Her face was flushed, and her hands were trembling.
"Vanessa, I told you this would happen!"" she shouted.
Vanessa turned toward her.
"Mom, shut up!""
Patricia looked at me.
"Marcus, you need to understand that Sarah wasn't the innocent woman you remember.""
I felt Lily move closer behind me.
"Careful," I warned.
"You're talking about my daughter's mother.""
Patricia climbed the stairs.
"Sarah made promises to me. She said I would always be part of Lily's life. She even asked me to help protect her inheritance.""
"Then why did you help Vanessa take her documents?""
Patricia looked down.
"I didn't know Vanessa would go this far.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Really, Mom? That's your story now?""
I stepped between them.
"Both of you are going to explain everything.""
Patricia sighed.
"Four years ago, Sarah discovered that someone in her family had been accessing financial information connected to the trust. She was terrified Lily's money would eventually become a target.""
"Who was accessing it?""
Patricia looked at Vanessa.
My wife immediately shook her head.
"Don't you dare.""
Patricia continued.
"Richard had been working with an investment company. He knew about the trust because Sarah had consulted him about a property investment. He told Vanessa there was a legal way to become a trustee.""
I stared at Vanessa.
"So you knew about the trust before you married me?""
She didn't answer.
"Vanessa!""
"Yes!"" she finally snapped.
"I knew Sarah had money set aside for Lily. I didn't know it was millions.""
The admission hit me harder than I expected.
I remembered Vanessa telling me she wanted a fresh start. She had said she loved Lily and wanted to build a blended family.
Had every promise been a lie?
Patricia stepped forward.
"There's more. Sarah created a second will shortly before she died.""
"Where is it?""
"In the cabinet in her old bedroom.""
Vanessa grabbed her mother's arm.
"Stop talking!""
Patricia pulled away.
"You've already made this worse than it needed to be!""
I turned toward my wife.
"Give me the key.""
"No.""
"Vanessa, give me the key.""
She stared at me for several seconds.
Then she smiled coldly.
"You really think you're going to find something that changes anything? Sarah is dead. You can't ask her what she meant.""
Lily suddenly spoke.
"Mommy said the truth would still be there even when she wasn't.""
Everyone went silent.
I knelt beside my daughter.
"That's right, sweetheart.""
Then I looked at Vanessa.
"Give me the key.""
She reluctantly dropped it into my palm.
I carried Lily into Sarah's old bedroom.
The room had remained almost untouched. Her favorite books were still arranged on the shelf. A faded photograph of her holding newborn Lily sat beside the bed.
I unlocked the cabinet.
Inside were several folders, an old jewelry box, and a sealed envelope bearing the name of my attorney.
But beneath them was a thick legal document.
*LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF SARAH ELIZABETH WILLIAMS.*
My hands shook as I opened it.
The first pages contained familiar instructions about Lily's education, medical care, and inheritance.
Then I reached a section titled Protective Conditions and Guardian Provisions.
I read it twice.
Sarah had named me Lily's primary guardian.
But she had also named a backup guardian.
Patricia Coleman.
I looked toward the doorway.
Patricia was standing there, crying silently.
"Why would Sarah choose you?"" I asked.
"Because she trusted me," Patricia whispered.
"Then what happened?""
Patricia lowered her head.
"After Sarah died, Vanessa told me that if I helped her gain control of Lily's trust, she would make sure I remained part of Lily's life.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"You used my daughter's inheritance to bargain for access to her?""
Patricia began crying harder.
"I thought I was protecting my family.""
I looked back at the document.
There was another page attached to the will.
A handwritten note from Sarah.
If Marcus ever discovers that someone has attempted to interfere with Lily's inheritance, he must know that the person responsible was warned in advance.
Below that sentence was a name.
Richard Coleman.
But there was something else.
A handwritten instruction:
The original recording is with the person who witnessed my final signature.
I looked at Patricia.
"Who witnessed it?""
Before she could answer, Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
"Enough. Give me that document.""
I moved it behind my back.
"No.""
She stepped toward me.
"Marcus, you have no idea what you're doing.""
I stared at her.
"I think I'm finally beginning to understand.""
Then my phone vibrated.
Daniel had sent a message.
I'm outside. Do not let anyone leave with Sarah's documents.
I turned toward the window.
A black SUV was parked in the driveway.
But it wasn't Daniel's car.
The driver's door opened.
A man stepped out carrying a leather briefcase.
Patricia gasped.
"Oh, God.""
I recognized him from the birthday photographs.
May you like
Richard.
And he wasn't alone.
