Chapter 10: The Secret Behind the Account
The lawyer’s words changed everything.
“The account wasn’t created to hide money.””
Nobody breathed.
Daniel stared at him.
“Then what was it created for?””
The lawyer looked at Claire.
“That’s what we need to find out.””
Claire immediately shook her head.
“No.””
My father looked at her.
“No?””
She swallowed.
“You don’t understand.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“I’m starting to understand more than you think.””
The lawyer placed another folder on the table.
“We found additional documents connected to the account.””
He opened it.
Inside were copies of insurance forms, financial agreements, and messages.
My eyes moved across the pages.
Then I saw my father’s name.
“What is that?””
Daniel picked up the document.
His face became serious.
The lawyer answered.
“Life insurance paperwork.””
The room went silent.
I looked at Claire.
“Why would you have this?””
She didn’t answer.
Marcus slowly stood.
“Mom?””
Claire looked like she wanted to disappear.
Daniel flipped through the pages.
“This policy was changed six months ago.””
He looked at Claire.
“Six months ago.””
The same time the money started disappearing.
My heart began racing.
“What was changed?””
The lawyer looked uncomfortable.
“The beneficiary.””
Daniel stared.
“Who was listed before?””
“You.””
“And now?””
The lawyer paused.
“Your wife.””
Nobody spoke.
I felt cold.
Claire wasn’t just taking money.
She was preparing for something bigger.
Daniel looked at her.
“You changed my life insurance without telling me?””
Claire shook her head.
“I was trying to protect the family.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“The family?””
He pointed at me.
“You destroyed my daughter’s education.””
Then he pointed at the documents.
“And you secretly changed my insurance.””
Claire started crying.
“You’re making it sound horrible.””
“It is horrible.””
Her face hardened.
“You never understood the pressure I was under.””
I stepped closer.
“Pressure?””
She looked at me.
“Yes.””
“You had a home.””
“You had a husband.””
“You had everything.””
My voice shook.
“And I was the one who lost everything.””
Marcus looked away.
He couldn’t defend her anymore.
The lawyer continued.
“There’s more.””
Daniel looked at him.
“What else?””
The lawyer pulled out another paper.
“We found that Claire also contacted an attorney regarding your estate.””
Daniel frowned.
“My estate?””
“Yes.””
“She asked questions about inheritance, property rights, and what would happen if something happened to you.””
The room felt like it stopped moving.
I looked at my father.
He looked hurt.
Not angry.
Hurt.
Because the person he trusted most had been preparing for a future without him.
Claire whispered.
“Daniel…”
He raised his hand.
“No.””
She stopped.
He looked at her.
“I don’t want another explanation.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I loved you.””
Daniel stared.
“Then why were you planning what would happen after I was gone?””
Claire looked down.
No answer.
That was the moment I realized something.
She wasn’t sorry about what she did.
She was sorry she got caught.
Later that night, I sat alone in my room.
The college acceptance letter was still on my desk.
The same letter I had been holding when I first saw the car.
I picked it up.
For years, I thought money was the hardest thing to lose.
I was wrong.
The hardest thing was realizing the people closest to you could be the ones who hurt you most.
A knock came at my door.
It was Marcus.
I looked up.
“What do you want?””
He stood there quietly.
“I wanted to apologize.””
I didn’t say anything.
He walked inside.
“I know you probably hate me.””
“I don’t hate you.””
He looked surprised.
“I just don’t understand how you didn’t know.””
He sat down.
“I should have asked questions.””
“Yes.””
He nodded.
“I should have.””
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Marcus said something unexpected.
“I found something in Mom’s room.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
He looked nervous.
“A letter.””
“To who?””
He hesitated.
Then he pulled a folded paper from his pocket.
I recognized Claire’s handwriting.
Marcus handed it to me.
“I think you need to read it.””
I opened the letter.
The first sentence made my blood run cold.
“Everything will be finished after Daniel signs the final papers.””
I looked at Marcus.
“What final papers?””
He shook his head.
“I don’t know.””
I read further.
And then I saw a date.
Tomorrow.
The same day my father’s lawyer was supposed to review everything.
My hands started shaking.
May you like
Because whatever Claire had planned...
She wasn’t done yet.
