Chapter 11: The Final Plan
The next morning, my father found the letter.
And I had never seen him look so disappointed.
Not angry.
Not shocked.
Just disappointed.
He read every word carefully.
Then he placed it on the table.
“She was still planning something.””
The lawyer beside him nodded.
“Based on this letter, it appears there may be additional documents we haven’t found.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Sophie, where did you get this?””
I looked at Marcus.
He stepped forward.
“I found it.””
Daniel looked surprised.
“Why didn’t your mother hide it better?””
Marcus looked down.
“Because she trusted me.””
That sentence hurt.
Because Claire had trusted Marcus to keep her secrets.
Not because she loved him.
Because she thought he would protect her.
The lawyer examined the letter.
“There’s a name here.””
Everyone looked.
“Who?””
He pointed.
“An attorney.””
Daniel frowned.
“Someone helping her?””
The lawyer nodded.
“Possibly.””
My father stood.
“Find out who.””
While the lawyer made calls, Marcus and I sat in silence.
Finally, he spoke.
“I don’t know how to fix this.””
I looked at him.
“You can’t fix what she did.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
He looked at the floor.
“But I want to help.””
That was the first honest thing he had said to me.
A few hours later, the lawyer returned with information.
The attorney Claire contacted was not a family lawyer.
He was an estate specialist.
Someone who handled inheritance planning.
Daniel’s face changed.
“She was preparing for my death.””
Nobody corrected him.
Because that was exactly what the documents suggested.
The lawyer placed another file down.
“There’s also something else.””
He opened it.
“This was submitted online.””
Daniel looked at the document.
“What is it?””
“A request to transfer ownership of certain assets.””
My father grabbed the paper.
Then froze.
The house.
The savings accounts.
The investments.
Everything was listed.
But there was one problem.
The signature at the bottom wasn’t his.
Daniel looked at Claire’s empty chair.
“She forged more than one document.””
The lawyer nodded.
“Yes.””
I felt sick.
How long had this been happening?
How many times had Claire smiled at us while planning behind our backs?
Then my father received a phone call.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A few seconds passed.
His face changed.
“What do you mean she withdrew it?””
Everyone looked at him.
Daniel stood.
“When?””
He listened.
Then he looked at me.
“An hour ago.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
The lawyer stepped closer.
“What was withdrawn?””
Daniel looked at the bank representative.
Then slowly said:
“Another $15,000.””
The room exploded.
“She still has access?””
The lawyer immediately checked.
“No. We froze the accounts.””
Daniel frowned.
“Then how?””
Nobody had an answer.
Until Marcus looked toward the front door.
His face went pale.
“Dad.””
We all turned.
“What?””
Marcus pointed outside.
Claire’s car was gone.
Daniel grabbed his phone.
“She left.””
I felt panic rising.
“She took more money?””
The lawyer shook his head.
“Not money.””
He looked at the documents.
“She took something else.””
“What?””
The lawyer checked the security footage.
Then he stopped.
His expression changed.
“What?””
He turned the screen around.
The footage showed Claire entering the office.
Opening the cabinet.
Taking a folder.
And leaving.
Daniel stared.
“What folder?””
The lawyer zoomed in.
The label became visible.
My father went completely silent.
May you like
Because the folder she stole was not about money.
It was about me.
