Chapter 2: The Woman Who Wanted My Son's Inheritance
"Turn it off.""
Marcus's voice was quiet.
That frightened me more than shouting would have.
Ethan paused the recording.
I stood beside the bedroom door, gripping the handle so tightly my fingers hurt.
Marcus looked at me.
"What guardianship papers?""
I swallowed.
"Marcus, I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
"That recording is being taken out of context.""
Ethan laughed.
"Of course it is.""
Marcus raised one hand.
"Ethan, let her speak.""
I took a breath.
"The lawyer called me because there were concerns about your estate planning. He wanted to discuss some documents.""
"Why were you talking about declaring my son unfit?""
"That's not what I meant.""
"Then what did you mean?""
I looked at Ethan.
He was standing with his mother's old necklace in his hand.
The silver chain caught the light.
"I was worried about him," I said.
"You know how unpredictable he's become.""
Ethan stared at me.
"Unpredictable?""
"Yes.""
"Because I refused to leave my own home?""
"Because you've been disrespectful.""
"Because I wouldn't let you steal my mother's things?""
Marcus turned sharply.
"What?""
Ethan placed the necklace on the dresser.
"She didn't just take the necklace, Dad.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
He reached into his pocket and removed a folded sheet of paper.
"I found this in the folder she left behind.""
Marcus took it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he read the heading aloud.
"Medical authorization and temporary financial guardianship.""
He looked up.
"Vanessa, what is this?""
I shook my head.
"It's a draft.""
"A draft for what?""
"An emergency arrangement.""
"For me?""
I hesitated.
Ethan answered for me.
"For him and for me.""
Marcus studied the document.
The first page contained his name, his date of birth, and his signature line.
The second page contained Ethan's personal information.
At the bottom was a section identifying the proposed temporary financial guardian.
Vanessa Cole.
Me.
"I don't understand," Marcus said.
I stepped forward.
"Darling, listen. You've been under enormous pressure. The company has been dealing with financial problems, and Ethan has been making things difficult at home. I thought it would be sensible to have a backup plan.""
Marcus held up the paper.
"Why does it say I'm incapable of making financial decisions?""
"That is standard legal language.""
"Is it?""
I nodded too quickly.
Ethan took out his phone.
"There's more.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Son, what else?""
"The original document has a date.""
He opened a photograph.
It showed the same paperwork, except this version had been signed.
Not by Marcus.
By a physician.
Marcus stared at the screen.
"Who signed this?""
"Dr. Robert Harlan.""
I recognized the name immediately.
Marcus did, too.
He had been his personal physician for eleven years.
"Why would Robert sign something like this?""
Ethan looked at me.
"Maybe you should ask Vanessa.""
I forced myself to remain calm.
"Dr. Harlan was concerned about your stress levels. He thought you should reduce your responsibilities.""
Marcus looked at me.
"Did you ask him to sign this?""
"No.""
"Did you give him any money?""
"Absolutely not.""
Ethan's expression hardened.
"Then why did I find a bank transfer from your account to his?""
Silence.
Marcus looked at him.
"How much?""
"Fifty thousand dollars.""
I felt the room tilt.
Ethan opened another image.
It showed a bank transfer confirmation.
The recipient was Robert Harlan.
The sender was my personal account.
The date was two days before the medical document had been signed.
Marcus sat down again.
"Vanessa.""
I moved toward him.
"Darling, I can explain the payment.""
"Please stop calling me that.""
The words struck harder than a slap.
I froze.
Marcus placed the document on the bed.
"How long have you been planning this?""
"I haven't.""
"Then why is my son finding documents about my financial incapacity in Elizabeth's bedroom?""
"Because Ethan has been going through my belongings!""
Ethan shook his head.
"I found them because you left the folder open.""
"You're invading my privacy!""
"You're trying to take my father's money!""
"Enough!"" Marcus shouted.
The room fell silent.
He stood and walked toward the window.
Outside, the garden lights illuminated the swimming pool. Everything looked peaceful.
It was the same view from our wedding photographs.
I remembered standing there in my white dress while Marcus promised that I would never have to worry about anything again.
He had meant every word.
I had simply misunderstood what he was offering.
I had believed that marrying a wealthy man meant becoming entitled to everything he owned.
Marcus turned.
"Where did you get the money for Dr. Harlan?""
"My account.""
"Your account?""
"Yes.""
"Show me the statements.""
I laughed nervously.
"Marcus, this is getting ridiculous.""
"Show me.""
"I don't have them on my phone.""
"Then we'll call the bank tomorrow.""
I felt my heart pound.
Because there was no bank statement that would explain the money.
The fifty thousand dollars had come from a company account I had been authorized to access.
A company account I had already been investigated for using.
But Marcus didn't know that.
Not yet.
Ethan placed the necklace inside a small jewelry box.
"There's another reason I installed the camera.""
Marcus looked at him.
"What reason?""
Ethan hesitated.
"Mom left something in this room before she died.""
Marcus's expression softened.
"What?""
"A letter.""
My blood went cold.
I knew about the letter.
Or at least, I thought I knew.
Three months earlier, while Marcus was traveling, I had found an envelope hidden behind the drawer of Elizabeth's dressing table.
It was addressed to Ethan.
I had opened it.
Inside were several handwritten pages and a small photograph.
I had read enough to understand that Elizabeth had suspected someone was stealing money from the family foundation.
I had destroyed the letter.
At least, I thought I had destroyed it.
"Where is this letter?"" Marcus asked.
Ethan walked toward the old dressing table.
He pulled open the bottom drawer.
Then he reached beneath the wooden lining and removed a small envelope.
My mouth went dry.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
Ethan looked at me.
"What's impossible?""
"Nothing.""
Marcus took the envelope.
The handwriting on the front was unmistakable.
Elizabeth.
He sat down and carefully opened it.
His hands began to shake.
He read silently for several seconds.
Then his expression changed.
"She knew.""
Ethan stepped closer.
"What did she know?""
Marcus looked up.
"Your mother knew someone was moving money from the family foundation before she died.""
I forced a laugh.
"That's absurd.""
Marcus continued reading.
"She wrote that she had discovered irregular payments. She suspected the person responsible had access to the household accounts.""
He looked at me.
My face went numb.
Ethan spoke quietly.
"Read the last paragraph, Dad.""
Marcus lowered his eyes.
His voice cracked.
"If anything happens to me, don't trust the person who offers to help you forget what happened.""
Nobody moved.
Marcus read the sentence again.
Then he looked at me.
"What happened to Elizabeth?""
I shook my head.
"I don't know.""
He folded the letter.
"She died in a car accident.""
"Yes.""
"On her way home from the foundation office.""
"Marcus, please.""
"Was it an accident?""
The question hung in the air.
Ethan stared at his father.
Then he said something I hadn't expected.
"Mom was supposed to meet someone that night.""
Marcus turned.
"Who?""
Ethan looked at me.
"Vanessa.""
My knees nearly gave way.
Marcus's voice dropped.
"Explain.""
Ethan took out another photograph.
It showed an old security image from the foundation's parking garage.
Elizabeth was standing beside a black sedan.
And beside her was a woman wearing a red coat.
My red coat.
I stared at the photograph.
It had been taken six years earlier.
Before I married Marcus.
Before I moved into his house.
Before I became his wife.
Marcus looked from the photograph to me.
"Vanessa, why were you with my first wife on the night she died?""
I opened my mouth.
But before I could answer, Ethan's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Then his face changed.
"Dad, it's the police.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why are they calling you?""
Ethan answered.
He listened for several seconds.
Then he slowly looked at me.
May you like
His voice was barely audible.
"They found Elizabeth's original medical records.""
