Chapter 4: The Man Who Stood Beside Me
The name at the bottom of Rebecca's letter was Gregory Hale.
My older brother.
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the ticking clock on Rebecca's dressing table.
Gregory had been my best man eight months earlier. He had given a speech at my wedding, welcomed Vanessa into our family, and promised to help me raise Lily whenever I needed him.
He had also been the person who encouraged me to move forward after Rebecca died.
And now his name was written on a letter suggesting that Rebecca had feared someone close to us.
Marcus read the name again.
“Is this your brother?””
I nodded.
Vanessa suddenly grabbed the edge of the dressing table.
“Darius, don't do anything stupid.””
I turned toward her.
“Why would Gregory's name be on this letter?””
“I don't know.””
“Stop lying.””
“I'm not lying!””
Marcus carefully placed the letter inside a protective folder.
“Vanessa, did Gregory know about the trust?””
She looked down.
“Everybody knew Rebecca had money.””
“That wasn't my question.””
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
“Gregory helped me understand some of the financial arrangements when I first moved into this house.””
I stared at her.
“You discussed my daughter's inheritance with my brother?””
“He offered to help!””
“With what?””
She didn't answer.
I took out my phone.
Gregory's contact was still near the top of my favorites.
I pressed CALL.
He answered after two rings.
“Little brother! What's going on?””
His voice sounded cheerful.
Too cheerful.
“Gregory, I need you to come over.””
“Everything okay?””
“No. I found something Rebecca left behind.””
Silence.
Then he asked, “What exactly did you find?””
I looked at Marcus.
He gave me a subtle nod.
“A letter.””
Gregory exhaled.
“Darius, listen. Grief makes people interpret things strangely. Whatever you found, don't let it destroy your marriage.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“How do you know this has anything to do with my marriage?””
Another pause.
“Vanessa called me.””
I turned toward my wife.
She looked away.
Gregory continued.
“She's upset. Apparently, you two had an argument about Lily's haircut.””
“That's what she told you?””
“Darius, it's hair. It'll grow back.””
I looked at the curls scattered across the makeup room floor.
“Get here. Now.””
He sighed.
“Fine. I'll be there in twenty minutes.””
I ended the call.
Marcus moved closer.
“Don't confront him alone.””
“I wasn't planning to.””
Vanessa suddenly stepped between us.
“Please don't bring Gregory into this.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
“Because he doesn't deserve to be dragged into our problems.””
“Our problems?””
I pointed toward the stairs.
“My daughter is downstairs believing she's being punished for remembering her dead mother. And you're worried about my brother's reputation?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“Darius, I made a mistake. I know that. But I love you.””
I said nothing.
She reached for my hand.
“Please. We can fix this privately.””
I pulled away.
“Go downstairs. Stay away from Lily.””
Her expression changed.
“You can't separate me from her.””
“I can make sure she's safe while the truth is investigated.””
She opened her mouth, but Marcus interrupted.
“Vanessa, I strongly recommend you stop discussing the matter without legal advice.””
She glared at him.
“You think you're so important.””
Marcus calmly replied, “No. I think the little girl downstairs is.””
Twenty minutes later, Gregory arrived.
He walked through the front door wearing his usual navy suit and carrying a bottle of expensive wine.
“Where's my favorite niece?”” he called.
Nobody answered.
He noticed Marcus standing near the staircase.
His smile disappeared.
“What's going on?””
I walked into the living room.
“Sit down.””
Gregory placed the wine on the table.
“Darius, you're frightening me.””
“Good. Maybe you'll finally take this seriously.””
I placed Rebecca's letter in front of him.
He looked at it.
His face went pale.
Not gradually.
Immediately.
He recognized it.
I watched him carefully.
“Have you seen this before?””
Gregory adjusted his cuff.
“No.””
“Look at me.””
He raised his eyes.
“Have you seen this letter?””
“I said no.””
I placed another document beside it.
The attempted trust amendment.
Then I showed him the photograph of the signature.
Gregory stared at the paper.
Finally, he leaned back.
“Vanessa told me she was going to make some changes.””
My hands curled into fists.
“What changes?””
“Nothing illegal.””
“Explain.””
He rubbed his jaw.
“Rebecca's trust was complicated. When she died, you were grieving. Vanessa thought it would be better to reorganize everything.””
“Why was her signature on a document concerning Lily's inheritance?””
“Because she was helping.””
“She's not Lily's legal guardian.””
Gregory looked toward Marcus.
“Is this really necessary?””
Marcus answered.
“Given the circumstances, yes.””
Gregory sighed.
Then he said something that made the room feel colder.
“Rebecca didn't trust Vanessa.””
I stepped forward.
“What?””
“Before she died, Rebecca came to me. She thought Vanessa was getting too close to you.””
I stared at my brother.
“Vanessa wasn't even in my life when Rebecca died.””
Gregory looked down.
And that was when I noticed the date on the trust amendment.
It had been prepared nearly a year before my wedding.
I picked it up.
“Gregory, why does this document have your signature as a witness?””
He said nothing.
Marcus looked at the page.
“That's interesting.””
Gregory suddenly stood.
“I don't have to sit here and be interrogated.””
I moved toward the door.
“You're not leaving until you answer one question.””
He looked at me.
“What?””
“Did you know Vanessa was trying to take money from Lily?””
Gregory's jaw tightened.
Then his phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
A message appeared.
I caught only a few words.
*Nicole: He found the original. Don't let him see the second file.*
Gregory quickly locked his phone.
But it was too late.
I had read every word.
“What's the second file?”” I asked.
Gregory didn't answer.
Marcus reached for his briefcase.
“Darius, I think we need to contact the firm that prepared these documents.””
Gregory looked at him with sudden panic.
“You can't do that.””
I stared at my brother.
“Why not?””
He swallowed.
“Because the second file isn't about the money.””
He looked toward the stairs.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“It's about Lily's mother.””
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