Chapter 5: My Stepmother's Last Bargain
For twelve years, I had dreamed of hearing my father's voice again.
Now Vanessa was using that dream as a weapon.
I rushed toward the door.
Margaret caught my wrist.
"Don't open it.""
"She said my father is with her!""
"Vanessa has lied before.""
"She's holding him hostage!""
Margaret looked at the documents.
"Then we need to be smarter than she is.""
She pulled open a narrow cabinet and removed an old security telephone.
"There's a second exit through the maintenance corridor. Your mother knew this building better than anyone.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"Because she helped design the original security system.""
A heavy thud shook the door.
Vanessa shouted again.
"Amara! You have five seconds!""
Margaret pushed the telephone into my hand.
"Call the number written on the back of your mother's letter.""
I looked down.
A number was written beneath the final paragraph.
I dialed.
Someone answered after two rings.
"Yes?""
I froze.
The voice was familiar.
Older, rougher, but unmistakable.
"Dad?""
Silence.
Then a shaky breath.
"Amara?""
My knees nearly gave way.
"Dad, where are you?""
"Oh, sweetheart.""
I covered my mouth.
For twelve years, I had imagined this moment.
I had imagined him explaining why he left.
I had imagined him apologizing.
But hearing him say my name made every other question disappear.
"Where have you been?""
"I'll explain everything. But listen to me. You need to leave that building.""
"Vanessa says you're with her.""
"Vanessa doesn't have me.""
"Then where are you?""
"At the church.""
I looked at Margaret.
"Why are you at the church?""
My father hesitated.
"Because William brought something there. Something he wants everyone to sign before your wedding.""
"What?""
"The Carter family trust transfer.""
I looked at the documents in front of me.
"Why does it involve me?""
"Because you're the rightful beneficiary of the original trust.""
My heart stopped.
"How?""
"Your mother was the only person who knew where the original agreement was hidden. She transferred the controlling interest to you before she died.""
I looked at the red box.
"Then why did William say Elijah wasn't supposed to marry me?""
My father went quiet.
Finally, he whispered:
"Because Elijah isn't William's biological son.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I heard the storage door crack.
Margaret grabbed my arm.
"Amara, we have to go.""
"Dad, who is Elijah's real father?""
Before he could answer, the call disconnected.
I stared at the phone.
Then the door burst open.
Vanessa stood in the doorway with Brielle behind her.
Two security guards were waiting in the corridor.
Vanessa looked at the open wooden case.
Her face turned white.
"You found it.""
I stepped between her and the documents.
"Where is my father?""
She ignored the question.
"Give me the red box.""
"No.""
"Amara, don't be stupid.""
Brielle stepped forward.
"Mom, just take it.""
I turned toward her.
"You knew?""
She rolled her eyes.
"Don't pretend you understand anything.""
Vanessa reached for the papers.
Margaret blocked her.
"These documents belong to Amara.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"You worked for the bank, Margaret. You should know better than to interfere with private family business.""
"Fraud isn't family business.""
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
She turned toward me.
"Your mother was always a selfish woman. She thought she could destroy William and walk away with everything.""
"She protected me.""
"She used you!""
"No. You used me.""
For the first time, Vanessa had no immediate answer.
I held up the birth certificate.
"Who is Ethan Carter?""
Brielle's expression changed.
She looked at Vanessa.
That single glance told me more than a dozen explanations could have.
Vanessa snatched the certificate from my hand.
"That document is meaningless.""
"Then why are you so frightened?""
She tore the paper in half.
I stared at her.
"You just destroyed evidence.""
Vanessa smiled.
"Evidence can be replaced. People cannot.""
She leaned close.
"Your father is alive, Amara. But he is not the man you remember.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"What did you do to him?""
"Nothing he didn't bring upon himself.""
Margaret stepped toward the security guards.
"These women are trespassing. I want them removed.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Do you really think they'll believe you?""
She pulled a folded document from her handbag.
It was a legal notice.
"Amara Bennett is mentally unstable and has been attempting to access confidential Carter family property. This is a restraining order.""
I looked at the paper.
It carried a judge's signature.
The date was yesterday.
My stepmother had been preparing for this.
Brielle pulled out her phone.
"Mom, we need to go. The guests are already asking questions.""
Vanessa turned toward me.
"Come to the church. Sign the agreement, and I'll tell you where Daniel is.""
I stared at her.
"What agreement?""
She held up a second document.
A marriage settlement.
My name appeared beside Elijah's.
But beneath it was another clause.
*Upon marriage, all claims to the Carter family trust shall be transferred to William Carter and his designated representatives.*
I looked at Vanessa.
"You wanted me to marry Elijah so you could take my inheritance.""
She gave me a cold smile.
"Your mother made a mistake when she left you that money.""
"And you destroyed my wedding dress because you thought I wouldn't discover the truth.""
Vanessa shrugged.
"I destroyed a dress. Not a marriage.""
Then she leaned close enough for me to smell her expensive perfume.
"At eleven o'clock, you will walk into that church. You will smile. You will sign those papers. And you will stop pretending you know anything about the Carter family.""
She turned to leave.
But Brielle stayed behind.
For the first time that morning, she looked uncertain.
"Amara?""
I looked at her.
She glanced toward Vanessa, then quietly slipped something into my palm.
A small silver flash drive.
Her voice trembled.
"Don't let Mom see this.""
Before I could ask what it contained, Brielle hurried after her mother.
I looked down.
A tiny label had been attached to the drive.
*ELIJAH'S ORIGINAL BIRTH RECORDS.*
Margaret stared at it.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Your mother was right. The truth is much bigger than William's inheritance.""
