Chapter 10: My Wife Knew Who My Mother Was
Nobody moved.
Vanessa's voice came again from outside.
"Marcus, I know you're in there. Please open the door.""
Evelyn tightened her grip around my wrist.
"Don't let her inside.""
Daniel moved toward the window and carefully pulled the curtain aside.
"She's alone," he whispered.
I looked at him.
"That doesn't mean anything.""
Evelyn quickly carried the black notebook toward the kitchen.
"There's a back entrance. We need to leave.""
Before we could move, Vanessa knocked again.
"Marcus, I know about the notebook. I know what Evelyn told you.""
My stomach tightened.
"How does she know?""
Evelyn stopped walking.
"Because she was there when your father died.""
I turned toward her.
"What?""
She looked at the front door.
"Vanessa was working for Richard long before she married you. She was supposed to keep an eye on the company and report anything Thomas discovered.""
I felt sick.
"You're telling me my wife married me because of my father's business?""
Evelyn nodded.
"I believe that's exactly what happened.""
A third knock came.
This time, it was harder.
"Marcus!"" Vanessa shouted.
"Don't believe everything that woman tells you!""
I approached the door but didn't open it.
"What do you want?""
"Five minutes. That's all.""
"You've had eight months.""
"I know.""
"Eight months of lying to me?""
Her voice cracked.
"Please. Just let me explain.""
Daniel stepped beside me.
"Don't open it, Marcus.""
I looked through the narrow window.
Vanessa stood on the porch wearing the cream-colored coat I'd bought her for our anniversary.
Her makeup was perfect.
Her hands were trembling.
"Tell me something," I called.
"Did you know Evelyn was my biological mother?""
She lowered her head.
That was enough.
"How long?""
"Since before our wedding.""
I closed my eyes.
For years, I'd believed our marriage began with love. I'd remembered the restaurant where I proposed, the small apartment where we started our life, and the way she cried when I promised to build her a beautiful home.
Now I wondered whether any of those memories had been real.
Vanessa pressed her palm against the door.
"Marcus, I didn't know everything at first.""
"But you knew enough.""
"I was told to get close to you. That's true.""
Sarah gasped behind me.
Vanessa continued.
"But I wasn't supposed to fall in love with you.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You expect me to believe that?""
"No. I expect you to hear the truth.""
She pulled something from her handbag.
A photograph.
She held it against the window.
It showed my father standing beside a young Vanessa.
They were outside the Bennett Industrial Solutions building.
The date printed on the back was from twelve years earlier.
"Your father hired me," she said.
"He wanted someone inside the company who could watch Richard and Adrian's father.""
Evelyn stepped forward.
"That's a lie.""
Vanessa turned toward the window.
"Is it? Ask her what happened after Thomas died.""
Evelyn's face went pale.
Vanessa continued.
"Ask her who took the original trust document. Ask her why she disappeared and left her children with Richard.""
Daniel looked at his mother.
"Mom?""
Evelyn didn't answer.
For the first time since meeting her, I saw fear in her eyes.
Then Vanessa said something that changed the entire conversation.
"Thomas didn't die because of the business, Marcus. He died because he discovered what Evelyn had done.""
Evelyn stepped backward.
"Stop.""
Vanessa smiled sadly.
"You told them you were protecting the family. But you never told them why Thomas stopped trusting you.""
I looked at Evelyn.
"What is she talking about?""
Before she could answer, headlights swept across the front window.
A second vehicle had arrived.
Detective Mitchell's car.
Vanessa looked toward the street.
Her expression changed immediately.
"Marcus, whatever happens next, don't let Daniel's father get that notebook.""
Daniel frowned.
"Richard is already in custody.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Not for long.""
She stepped away from the door.
Then she turned and walked down the porch steps.
I watched her disappear into the darkness.
A moment later, Detective Mitchell entered through the front door.
"Where did she go?""
"She left.""
The detective looked toward Evelyn.
"Mrs. Hayes, we need to talk.""
Evelyn clutched the notebook against her chest.
"About what?""
Detective Mitchell placed a document on the table.
"Richard Hayes has been released pending further questioning. His attorney claims the financial transfers were authorized under a legitimate trust agreement.""
Daniel stared at her.
"How?""
"The original agreement contains provisions we haven't been able to verify.""
I looked at the notebook.
"Then we have the evidence.""
The detective nodded.
"Possibly. But there's another issue.""
She placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Adrian leaving the police station.
He wasn't alone.
A man stood beside him.
The same man from the photograph outside the construction site.
Adrian's father.
And beneath the image was a timestamp.
Twenty minutes earlier.
Detective Mitchell looked at me.
"Mr. Bennett, I think we're dealing with something much larger than a financial fraud investigation.""
Evelyn finally spoke.
"Then you need to know the truth about Thomas.""
She opened the notebook.
On the final page, beneath Vanessa's name, was another entry.
*The second beneficiary was never meant to be Marcus.*
I stared at her.
"Then who?""
May you like
Evelyn looked at Daniel.
"Your brother.""
