Chapter 8: The Woman Grandpa Never Trusted
Vanessa's confession hung in the air.
Marcus stared at her.
“What did you just say?””
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“Your grandfather made a promise.””
“To you?””
“Yes.””
Richard looked furious.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because you would have misunderstood!””
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“Everyone in this house seems to have a different excuse for lying.””
Daniel pulled a chair closer to the table.
“Vanessa, I need you to explain exactly what Edward told you. Not what Peter told you. What Edward personally said.””
Vanessa sat down.
Her hands trembled.
“It happened about two weeks before he died.””
Marcus frowned.
“Grandpa was already in the hospital.””
“Yes.””
Vanessa looked toward Richard.
“He asked me to visit him alone.””
Richard stared.
“You told me you went shopping that afternoon.””
“I know.””
“Why would you lie?””
“Because I didn't want you involved.””
Richard let out a bitter laugh.
“Apparently, nobody in this family wants me involved until something goes wrong.””
Vanessa continued.
“When I arrived, Edward was sitting beside the window. He asked me whether I was happy with the family.””
Marcus remembered his grandfather's sharp eyes and quiet voice.
Vanessa looked down.
“He told me he knew I had been struggling financially before marrying Richard. He said he wanted Brianna to have opportunities. He even offered to help pay for her education.””
Brianna lifted her head.
“Really?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He said he didn't want you to feel excluded from the family.””
Brianna began crying.
“Then why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I was embarrassed.””
Marcus frowned.
“What's embarrassing about accepting help?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“Your grandfather told me the money would come with conditions.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“What conditions?””
“He wanted me to sign an agreement stating that Brianna would never be pressured to make claims against Marcus's inheritance.””
Marcus stared.
“Why would Grandpa ask you to sign that?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Daniel did.
“Because Edward had already discovered attempts to influence his estate decisions.””
Vanessa nodded.
“He said he wanted to protect Marcus.””
Richard looked confused.
“But what does that have to do with the promise?””
Vanessa's voice dropped.
“He said that if I respected the agreement, he would establish an education fund for Brianna.””
Brianna wiped her face.
“So there really was money for me?””
“Yes.””
“Where is it?””
Vanessa looked away.
“I don't know.””
Daniel immediately opened his briefcase.
“Did you sign the agreement?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.””
“Do you have a copy?””
“No.””
“Did you ever receive the education fund?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Then why did you help Peter?””
Vanessa pressed her fingers against her forehead.
“Because he told me the agreement had been changed.””
Daniel frowned.
“Changed how?””
“He said Edward had left a separate fund for the entire household, but Marcus's lawyer was hiding it.””
Daniel looked genuinely surprised.
“That's impossible. I never told Peter anything.””
“He showed me a document.””
“What document?””
“A copy of an unsigned agreement.””
Daniel leaned back.
“Did you keep it?””
Vanessa nodded.
“I put it in my bedroom.””
Marcus looked at Richard.
“Where is it?””
Vanessa stood.
“Come with me.””
They followed her upstairs.
She opened a drawer in her bedroom and removed a small black folder.
Inside were several printed pages.
Daniel examined them.
After a minute, his expression changed.
“This is a forgery.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
“What?””
“The document uses a signature Edward stopped using years ago. The legal language is also inconsistent with the original trust.””
Richard looked at his wife.
“So Peter lied to you?””
Vanessa nodded slowly.
“He said he could help us.””
Marcus shook his head.
“And you believed him enough to help frame me?””
Vanessa looked at him.
“I didn't know Brianna would tear her blouse.””
Brianna immediately snapped.
“Mom!””
Vanessa turned.
“You told me you would only make Marcus look irresponsible! You said Dad would send him away for a few days!””
Brianna's eyes widened.
“You were the one who told me to make him look dangerous!””
Richard looked as though he had been struck.
“Both of you stop.””
Brianna began sobbing.
“You said Marcus leaving would give us time to get the documents!””
Marcus felt sick.
“So the accusation was part of the plan?””
Vanessa covered her face.
“I wanted him out of the house. I thought if he left, Peter could recover the money and everything would go back to normal.””
Marcus looked at Richard.
“And you believed her.””
Richard lowered his eyes.
“I did.””
Daniel put the forged agreement into a protective folder.
“We have enough evidence now to establish that Peter was manipulating several people. But we still need the original documents.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What exactly was in the box?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Your grandfather's final letter, a financial statement, and a recorded video.””
“A video?””
“Yes.””
Richard looked up.
“Edward made a video?””
Daniel nodded.
“He asked me to show it to Marcus only after the original documents were recovered.””
Marcus stared.
“Why?””
“Because he believed the video might expose a person who had been lying to the family for years.””
Vanessa's face went pale.
Brianna looked at her mother.
“Who?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know. I never watched it.””
He checked his phone.
“Peter has just sent another message.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What does it say?””
Daniel read it silently.
Then he looked at Richard.
“He says he'll return the documents tonight.””
Richard frowned.
“Why would he suddenly cooperate?””
Daniel showed them the message.
*Bring Marcus, Richard, and Vanessa to the old Carter warehouse at eight. No police. No lawyers. If you want the truth, come prepared to hear it.*
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“It's a trap.””
“Probably.””
Richard immediately shook his head.
“Then nobody goes.””
Marcus picked up the brass key.
“I'm going.””
“Absolutely not,” Richard replied.
Marcus turned toward him.
“You've made enough decisions for me today.””
“Marcus, that man is dangerous.””
“And whose fault is it that he has Grandpa's documents?””
Richard had no answer.
Lily appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Marcus?””
He turned.
“Hey, sweetheart.””
She held Mr. Buttons tightly.
“Can I come with you?””
“No, Lily. You need to stay home.””
She looked disappointed.
Then she reached into the teddy bear's pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“I found this inside Mr. Buttons.””
Marcus frowned.
“What is it?””
“Grandpa put it there.””
Marcus took the paper.
It was an old photograph.
Edward stood beside a younger Marcus in front of the Carter warehouse.
On the back, Grandpa had written:
The truth is kept where the first promise was made.
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“The warehouse.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
Then Marcus noticed something else.
There was a second line beneath the message.
Look beneath the red floorboard.
May you like
His grandfather had left him a clue.
And suddenly, Marcus realized the documents Peter had stolen might not be the only evidence Edward had hidden.
