Chapter 4: The Woman Danielle Feared
I read Vanessa's name three times before I could understand what I was looking at.
Danielle had written that my brother must never become Noah's legal guardian.
But why had she included Vanessa?
I looked up at Ethan.
"What does this mean?""
Ethan closed his briefcase.
"Marcus, put the document down.""
"Answer me.""
"Danielle was making irrational decisions toward the end. She was frightened, suspicious, and increasingly difficult to deal with.""
I held up the page.
"She specifically named you and Vanessa. Why?""
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
"Because she discovered our arrangement.""
"What arrangement?""
He glanced toward Vanessa.
She was standing beside the kitchen island, pale and motionless.
Ethan sighed.
"Danielle wanted to change Noah's inheritance arrangements. She was concerned that if something happened to you, the money would go directly to Noah. She didn't want him receiving everything at once.""
I stared at him.
"That sounds reasonable.""
"It was. But she wanted to appoint an independent trustee. Someone neither of us could control.""
"And you objected?""
"Of course. I was your brother. I thought I should manage things.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"And what was her involvement?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Danielle asked me to help her organize some paperwork. That's all.""
I almost laughed.
"You were helping her while secretly discussing how to take control of her son's inheritance?""
"That's not what happened!""
Ethan interrupted.
"Marcus, you're getting emotional. We can discuss this with lawyers.""
"Good. Because that's exactly what we're going to do.""
I reached for my phone.
Ethan stepped forward.
"Don't make a mistake you'll regret.""
I looked him directly in the eyes.
"The mistake was trusting you.""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Noah came down the stairs.
He was carrying his red toy truck.
"Uncle Ethan?""
Ethan's expression changed immediately.
He crouched down and smiled.
"Hey, little man.""
Noah didn't approach him.
Instead, he moved behind my legs.
Ethan noticed.
"What's wrong, buddy? Don't you remember me?""
Noah shook his head.
"Yes.""
"Then come give Uncle Ethan a hug.""
"No, thank you.""
The answer was quiet but firm.
Ethan looked at me.
"What's gotten into him?""
I placed a protective hand on Noah's shoulder.
"Maybe he remembers things we don't.""
Ethan stood.
"Fine. I'll leave.""
He picked up his briefcase, but before reaching the door, he turned around.
"Marcus, I want you to think carefully about what happens next. Danielle wasn't the innocent victim you think she was.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What are you talking about?""
He hesitated.
"Ask yourself why she was recording everyone. Ask yourself why she was so desperate to change the will.""
Then he walked out.
I locked the door.
Vanessa immediately began crying again.
"Marcus, please. You need to understand that Ethan was trying to protect us.""
I turned toward her.
"Protect us from what?""
She shook her head.
"I can't tell you.""
"Can't or won't?""
She looked toward Noah.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Danielle had discovered something about your father.""
My heart stopped.
My father had died when I was twenty-three.
He had owned a small construction company before passing away and leaving Ethan and me a modest inheritance.
"What does my father have to do with this?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"Everything.""
I stepped closer.
"Explain.""
She looked at the front door as though expecting Ethan to return.
"Your father didn't leave you the business equally. There was another agreement. One that Ethan found after Danielle started investigating the family accounts.""
I felt a cold sensation spread through my arms.
"What agreement?""
Vanessa whispered, "The company was supposed to belong to Noah.""
I stared at her.
That made no sense.
Noah had been born years after my father died.
"You're lying.""
"I'm not.""
"How could my father leave something to a child who didn't exist?""
"Because he knew Danielle was pregnant.""
My knees weakened.
Danielle had told me about the pregnancy only three months before our wedding. She had been terrified that I wouldn't be ready to become a father.
My father had been alive then.
But he'd never mentioned anything about the company.
I grabbed the kitchen chair.
"Why would he do that?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Because your father knew something about Ethan.""
Before I could ask another question, my phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
The message contained a photograph of a handwritten letter.
The words were barely visible, but the signature at the bottom was unmistakable.
My father's.
The accompanying message read:
Your wife wasn't investigating your brother because she wanted his money. She was investigating because she discovered who really owned the company.
Then another message appeared.
If you want the truth, go to your father's old office. Look beneath the floorboards.
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Someone had known exactly what Danielle had been searching for.
And whoever sent that message knew I was finally looking.
