Chapter 3: The Envelope From My Father
I stood there holding the envelope like it weighed fifty pounds.
My father’s name wasn’t written on it.
Mine was.
That was the part I couldn’t understand.
My father had been gone for almost three years. Before he died, he spent months organizing his affairs, meeting with lawyers, and making sure everything was handled.
At least, that’s what I thought.
I looked at Maya.
“You had this the entire time?””
She shook her head quickly.
“No. I found out about it recently.””
“Recently?””
My voice became colder.
“And you decided the best time to tell me was after I caught you with Marcus?””
Her eyes filled with frustration.
“That’s not fair.””
I almost laughed.
“Fair?””
I looked around the driveway.
“Nothing about today has been fair.””
Marcus stood near the doorway, silent.
That bothered me.
Because earlier, he had looked comfortable.
Almost confident.
Now he looked afraid.
I turned toward him.
“What exactly are you involved in?””
Marcus opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
Maya answered for him.
“He knows about your father’s estate.””
My eyebrows tightened.
“My father’s estate was settled.””
“That’s what everyone was told.””
The way she said it made my stomach tighten.
I looked down at the envelope.
There was no return address.
No company logo.
Nothing.
Just my name.
Written in my father’s handwriting.
I knew that handwriting.
I had seen it on birthday cards, old letters, and notes he left around the house.
My fingers tightened.
“How long have you known about this?””
Maya looked away.
A mistake.
A tiny movement.
But I saw it.
“How long?””
She whispered:
“About six weeks.””
Six weeks.
She had known something involving my father, my inheritance, and my family for six weeks.
And she said nothing.
I stepped back.
“I need answers.””
“You will get them.””
“No.””
I looked directly at her.
“I need the truth.””
The front door behind her slowly opened.
Marcus’ face changed.
Someone else was there.
A woman stepped onto the porch.
She was older, wearing a gray coat and holding a leather folder against her chest.
I recognized her immediately.
Not because I knew her.
Because I had seen her before.
At my father’s funeral.
She had stood in the back of the church.
Watching.
Waiting.
“Ethan Carter?””
I stared at her.
“Yes.””
She walked closer.
“My name is Evelyn Grant. Your father’s attorney.””
My heart dropped.
The same voice from the phone.
The same person who had warned me not to open the envelope.
Maya looked nervous.
Marcus looked away.
I noticed.
“You knew she was coming?””
Marcus didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Evelyn looked between all of us.
Then at the envelope in my hand.
“Good. You found it.””
I frowned.
“Found it?””
She nodded.
“Your father wanted you to receive that only when certain conditions were met.””
“What conditions?””
Her expression became serious.
“When you discovered the people closest to you were hiding something.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
I looked at Maya.
She lowered her eyes.
Evelyn opened her folder.
“Your father suspected there would be pressure from certain individuals after his death.””
“Who?””
She didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she looked at Marcus.
“People who believed they were entitled to something that wasn’t theirs.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Careful, Evelyn.””
The warning in his voice surprised me.
She didn’t move.
“You should be the one who’s careful, Marcus.””
The silence that followed felt heavy.
I looked between them.
“What is going on?””
Evelyn handed me another document.
“This is a copy of the original property agreement your father signed twenty years ago.””
I looked at the papers.
“Why would I need this?””
“Because the property you believe belongs to your brother…”
She paused.
“Was never legally transferred.””
My mind went blank.
My brother.
The family argument I thought was over.
The property everyone said was settled.
All of it suddenly looked different.
I looked at Maya.
“Why were you involved?””
Her lips trembled.
“I was trying to protect you.””
I stared at her.
After everything.
Those words sounded impossible.
Evelyn closed her folder.
“There’s something else you need to know.””
“What?””
She looked toward the house.
“Your wife wasn’t the only person who had access to information about your father’s hidden documents.””
A chill moved through me.
“Who else?””
Evelyn slowly turned her eyes toward Marcus.
And Marcus immediately stepped back.
Because he knew.
May you like
He knew exactly what she was about to say.
“Your brother.””
