Chapter 5: What Angela Had Left for Maya
I didn't move.
For several seconds, I simply stared at Denise.
"What did Angela leave behind?""
Denise folded her arms.
"An inheritance.""
I felt the room shift.
"What inheritance?""
She looked at the document.
"Something you never mentioned when we got married.""
I shook my head.
"Angela left Maya her personal belongings and some savings. I handled everything after she died.""
Denise gave a short, bitter laugh.
"That's not all.""
I picked up the document again.
Maya's name appeared beneath a section concerning beneficiary interests.
I read the paragraph twice.
Then I looked at Denise.
"Where did you get this?""
"From a solicitor.""
"Which solicitor?""
She hesitated.
"Someone I spoke to about the property.""
I put the paper down.
"Why was a solicitor discussing my daughter's inheritance with you?""
Denise sat back.
"Because I needed to know whether Maya had any claim that could affect the purchase.""
I stared at her.
"You're telling me you investigated my daughter's inheritance to buy another house?""
"That's not what happened.""
"Then explain.""
She pressed her fingers against her forehead.
"Angela's parents left her a property interest.""
I froze.
Angela's parents had both passed away before she died.
I remembered her father, Thomas, mentioning something about an old family property.
But Angela had never made it sound important.
She had always said her parents wanted Maya to have something secure when she grew up.
I had assumed she meant a small savings account.
"What property?""
Denise reached into her handbag again.
This time, she removed a photocopy of an older document.
It was a trust certificate.
I recognized the solicitor's office.
I recognized Angela's signature.
And beneath it was a name.
Maya Bennett.
I sat down.
"What is this?""
Denise looked at me.
"Angela's parents established a trust before she died.""
I studied the document.
The trust had been created to protect a family property and the income generated from it.
Maya had been named the sole beneficiary.
I looked at Denise.
"How much is it worth?""
She hesitated.
"According to the solicitor, the property is worth considerably more than this house.""
My throat tightened.
"How much?""
She whispered a figure.
Nearly $640,000.
I stared at her.
For eleven years, I had believed Angela's family had left Maya only a modest inheritance.
I had never imagined there was a property worth that much.
"Why didn't I know about this?""
Denise looked away.
"Because you weren't involved in the trust.""
"That doesn't make sense.""
"The trustees were responsible for managing it.""
I read the document again.
There was a section stating that Maya would receive full control when she reached a specified age.
She was already twenty-two.
I looked at Denise.
"How did you find out?""
She hesitated.
Then she answered.
"Angela's old solicitor contacted Maya.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"When?""
"Last year.""
I turned toward the staircase.
"Does Maya know?""
Denise looked down.
"Yes.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"She knows.""
I couldn't speak.
My daughter had been giving away her savings, paying household expenses, and working long hours.
All while holding the right to an inheritance that could have changed her life.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
Denise shrugged.
"She didn't want you to know.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because she was afraid you'd try to control it.""
I stood abruptly.
"That's ridiculous.""
Denise's eyes narrowed.
"Is it?""
I stared at her.
She continued.
"She said she wanted to make her own decisions.""
I shook my head.
"She's allowed to.""
"That's exactly why I wanted her out.""
The words stopped me.
I slowly turned.
"What?""
Denise's voice became quieter.
"Once Maya took control of the trust, she could make decisions about the property. She could sell it. She could rent it. She could do whatever she wanted.""
I looked at the legal notice.
Then at the property transfer document.
A terrible possibility began forming in my mind.
"Did you want her to use the inheritance to buy the townhouse?""
Denise didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"Did you?""
She looked at me.
"I thought it would be fair.""
"Fair?""
"She has money coming to her. Jordan and Brianna don't have anything like that.""
I stared at her.
"That inheritance belongs to Maya.""
"We're a family!""
"Then why were you hiding it from me?""
Denise's face hardened.
"Because you would have protected her.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Of course I would have protected her. She's my daughter.""
Denise stood.
"And what about my children?""
I looked at her.
"What about them?""
"They deserve opportunities too.""
I shook my head.
"Then help them build their own lives. Don't steal from Maya's.""
She flinched.
"I didn't steal anything.""
"Not yet.""
She looked toward the document.
Then she said, "I only wanted to arrange things before she got involved.""
I picked up the legal notice.
"Arrange what?""
She didn't answer.
I read the document again.
There was a paragraph about a proposed transfer of funds from the trust.
A proposed purchase.
And a condition requiring Maya's written consent.
My stomach tightened.
"Did you ask her to sign something?""
Denise looked away.
"Yes.""
"What?""
"A consent form.""
"For what?""
"To use some of the trust funds toward the townhouse.""
I felt a cold wave move through me.
"Did she sign it?""
Denise didn't answer.
"Denise.""
She finally whispered.
"No.""
I closed my eyes.
Now I understood.
Maya hadn't simply refused to leave.
She had refused to surrender her inheritance.
And Denise had responded by making her feel unwanted in the very house where she had grown up.
I looked toward the staircase.
"Where is the solicitor's letter?""
Denise shrugged.
"I don't know.""
"Where?""
"In my bedroom.""
I walked out of the living room.
She followed me.
"Marcus, listen. I wasn't trying to hurt Maya.""
I stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
"Then why did you give her until tonight to leave?""
Denise said nothing.
"Why did you tell her she was embarrassing me?""
Still nothing.
"Why did you make her believe she was a burden?""
Her eyes filled.
"Because she wouldn't listen!""
I turned around.
"She wouldn't sign away her inheritance, so you threw her out?""
Denise covered her mouth.
I stared at her.
For eleven years, I had believed I was building a family with someone who loved my daughter.
Now I wondered whether she had simply been waiting for Maya to become old enough to take something from her.
I went upstairs.
Maya was sitting on her bed.
Her mother's photograph was in her hands.
She looked up when I entered.
"Dad?""
I sat beside her.
"Sweetheart, I need to ask you something.""
She nodded.
"Did Angela's solicitor contact you about an inheritance?""
Her face changed.
She looked at the floor.
"Yes.""
"How long have you known?""
"About eight months.""
I took her hand.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
She swallowed.
"Because I wanted to make sure it was real first.""
"Did Denise know?""
Maya nodded.
"She found the letter in the mail.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Did she ask you to sign something?""
Maya reached beneath her pillow.
Then she pulled out a folded envelope.
"She gave me this.""
I opened it.
Inside was a consent form.
It authorized a transfer of funds from Maya's trust into an account connected to a property purchase.
The proposed beneficiary wasn't Maya.
It was Denise.
I looked at my daughter.
"Did you sign it?""
"No.""
I exhaled slowly.
"Good.""
Maya's eyes filled.
"She said if I refused, she would make sure you knew how selfish I was.""
I held her hand.
"She had no right to threaten you.""
Maya nodded.
Then she reached for her phone.
"There's something else, Dad.""
"What?""
She opened a message conversation.
It was between her and Denise.
The first message was dated two months earlier.
*Denise:* You need to think about what's best for this family.
*Maya:* I don't understand what you want me to do.
*Denise:* Sign the form. Your father doesn't need to know every detail.
*Maya:* I want to speak to Dad first.
*Denise:* If you do that, things will become very difficult for you.
I scrolled down.
The final message had been sent three days earlier.
*Denise:* You have until Friday to sign. Otherwise, don't expect to keep living here.
I stared at the screen.
Friday.
Today.
I looked at Maya.
"Why didn't you show me this?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Because I thought you might believe her.""
I pulled my daughter into my arms.
"Never think that again.""
Then I heard my phone ringing.
It was an unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Mr. Bennett? My name is Daniel Foster. I'm the solicitor representing the trustees of the Angela Bennett Family Trust.""
I straightened.
"Yes?""
"I'm calling because we received a concerning request regarding your daughter's inheritance.""
I glanced at Maya.
"What request?""
There was a pause.
Then the solicitor spoke.
"Someone has submitted documents claiming that Maya has agreed to transfer her beneficial interest in the family property.""
My blood ran cold.
"Who submitted them?""
The solicitor lowered his voice.
"That's precisely why I'm calling. The signature appears to be Maya's, but the authorization was never witnessed by our office.""
I looked at the consent form in my hand.
Maya's signature line was blank.
I turned toward the door.
Denise was standing in the hallway.
Watching us.
The solicitor continued.
"Mr. Bennett, I strongly recommend that you and your daughter come to our office immediately. There is another issue.""
"What issue?""
His answer made my fingers go numb.
"The document was submitted in the name of Denise Bennett.""
May you like
I stared at my wife.
And for the first time, I realized that getting Maya out of the house might have been only the beginning of her plan.
