Chapter 10: The Will Vanessa Thought She Could Control
I read Vanessa's message a third time before showing it to Daniel.
He studied the screen through the video call, then asked me to forward him a screenshot.
"Do not respond to her yet," he said.
"The reference to the original will is significant. We need to establish whether she knows it's missing, whether she's referring to another document, or whether she's attempting to provoke you into revealing what you know.""
I looked at the empty plastic sleeve on the dining table.
"She said she knows exactly where I keep it.""
"Which suggests she believes she knows where it is. That doesn't tell us whether she's seen the original recently.""
Jessica sat on the sofa, twisting a tissue between her fingers. Ethan stood near the fireplace, his jaw clenched.
"She wants me out of the house," Ethan said.
"She always has.""
I turned toward him.
"She doesn't get to decide that.""
"But what if she really can do something to you?""
The fear in his voice stopped me.
For weeks, Vanessa had been telling him that he was the problem. Now she had convinced him that staying in his own home might put his father at risk.
I walked over and put both hands on his shoulders.
"Listen to me. You are not responsible for protecting me by disappearing. We're going to handle this properly, together.""
He nodded, although his eyes remained troubled.
Daniel interrupted gently.
"Michael, we need to secure your estate-planning documents. Call your original attorney and ask whether the firm retains a copy of the executed will. We also need to establish whether anyone has submitted a replacement document.""
I called the attorney who had prepared my will after Laura's death.
His name was Robert Hayes, and he had handled several matters for my family over the years.
When I explained the situation, he asked me to come to his office the following morning with Daniel.
Then he said something unexpected.
"Michael, I received a call from someone claiming to be your wife about two months ago. She asked whether you had updated your will.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"What did you tell her?""
"That I couldn't discuss your confidential legal affairs without your authorization. She then asked whether I could confirm the terms of your existing will.""
"And you refused?""
"Of course. But she sounded unusually determined to establish whether your son was still the principal beneficiary.""
I thanked him and ended the call.
Across the room, Jessica had gone very still.
"What's wrong?"" I asked her.
She stared at her hands.
"Mom told me you had changed your will.""
"When?""
"About two months ago.""
"What exactly did she say?""
Jessica swallowed.
"She said you wanted to leave me something because she thought it was unfair that Ethan would inherit everything. She told me you'd made arrangements with an attorney.""
I felt anger rise, but beneath it was something worse.
Disappointment.
Vanessa had not simply tried to take my property. She had been telling different people different stories, adjusting each one to whatever they most wanted to believe.
To Ethan, she was the authority demanding money.
To Jessica, she was the mother promising financial rescue.
To my brother, she was the concerned wife protecting an increasingly confused husband.
And to me, she was the loving partner who wanted to build a future together.
"Did she show you a copy of the new will?"" Daniel asked through the laptop.
Jessica shook her head.
"No. She said it was private.""
"Did she mention the name of the attorney?""
"No.""
Daniel made a note.
"We'll verify that with Robert tomorrow.""
Then he turned to me.
"I also recommend that you avoid a private confrontation tonight. If Vanessa arrives, keep the discussion brief. Don't sign anything, don't hand over original documents, and don't agree to any financial or property arrangements.""
I agreed.
At six-thirty, headlights swept across the living room curtains.
Vanessa's car pulled into the driveway.
Jessica immediately stood.
"I should go.""
I looked at her.
"Are you sure?""
She nodded.
"If Mom sees me here, she'll know I told you everything.""
Daniel's voice came through the laptop.
"Jessica, before you leave, please confirm that you've preserved the recording and the photograph of the handwritten list.""
"I have.""
"Good. Don't discuss the evidence with your mother. If she contacts you about it, preserve those messages too.""
Jessica grabbed her handbag and hurried out through the side door.
A moment later, Vanessa entered the house.
She wore a dark green coat and carried a leather folder beneath one arm.
Her eyes moved from me to Ethan, then to Daniel's open laptop.
She stopped.
"You're having a lawyer present for a conversation between husband and wife?""
Daniel spoke calmly.
"I'm advising Michael regarding documents and transactions that appear to have been made without his authorization.""
Vanessa laughed sharply.
"Of course you are. How much is this costing him?""
"That isn't relevant to the matter at hand.""
She dropped her folder onto the dining table.
"Fine. Since everyone wants to turn this into a legal battle, let's talk about the house.""
"There is nothing to discuss until my attorney has reviewed the documents," I said.
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
"You can't keep me in the dark about my own home.""
"You have access to the rooms you ordinarily use. But you cannot authorize a sale of property you don't own.""
"Don't own?"" she repeated.
"I'm your wife.""
"And that doesn't make my signature yours to use.""
She stared at me for several seconds.
Then she opened the leather folder and removed a document.
"Perhaps this will change your mind.""
She slid it across the table.
It was a printed copy of a will bearing my name, dated six weeks earlier.
The document listed Ethan and Jessica as beneficiaries.
But the final page contained a clause I had never seen before.
It appointed Vanessa as the person responsible for managing the distribution of my estate if I became incapacitated.
I looked up.
"Where did you get this?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"From the attorney who prepared it.""
"Which attorney?""
She smiled.
"Robert Hayes.""
I felt the room tilt.
Robert had explicitly told me that he had not discussed my will with her.
Daniel leaned toward his camera.
"Michael, don't touch the document any further. Photograph it where it lies, and ask Vanessa to identify the attorney and the date of execution.""
I followed his instructions.
Vanessa's confidence faltered.
May you like
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"Why are you acting so surprised? You signed it yourself.""
