Chapter 5
Dad moved me behind him.
“What did Rachel promise you?”
Daniel laughed softly.
“Not Rachel.”
He looked at Vanessa.
“She promised.”
Dad's eyes hardened.
“What did Vanessa promise you?”
Vanessa stared at Daniel.
“Don't.”
He ignored her.
“She told me the trust would be released once Marcus lost custody.”
Dad froze.
“Custody?”
Daniel nodded.
“She planned to prove you were an unfit father.”
I looked at Vanessa.
She shook her head.
“I never wanted you taken away.”
Dad said:
“Then why the forged documents?”
Vanessa went silent.
Daniel answered.
“Because she needed Marcus to look irresponsible.”
“She needed evidence that Nia was neglected.”
Dad's face changed.
“She neglected Nia.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Daniel smiled.
“To create the story.”
Everything clicked.
The cheap backpack.
The broken shoes.
The missing lunches.
Vanessa wanted evidence that Dad didn't care about me.
She wanted to blame him for the very neglect she created.
Then Daniel added:
“She needed the school to believe Nia was struggling because Marcus was never home.”
Dad stared.
“But she was the one refusing to buy her things.”
“Yes.”
“And taking her money.”
“Yes.”
“Why would anyone believe that?”
Daniel shrugged.
“People believe what paperwork tells them.”
He handed Dad a folder.
Inside were school reports.
Some were real.
Some were altered.
Teacher comments had been changed.
One said:
Nia frequently arrives without proper clothing.
Another:
Nia appears emotionally withdrawn and afraid to discuss home life.
Dad stared.
“I never saw these.”
“Vanessa intercepted them.”
Dad looked at her.
“Did you?”
Vanessa was crying.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew you would take her away.”
“You were afraid I'd discover what you were doing.”
“Yes.”
Daniel said:
“She needed time.”
“For what?”
“The trust.”
Dad opened the folder.
There was a copy of the trust.
The beneficiary was Nia.
But there was a clause.
If Marcus died or became legally incapacitated before Nia turned eighteen, a temporary guardian would manage the assets.
The proposed guardian?
Vanessa Bennett.
Dad's hands shook.
“Who changed the guardian?”
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
She didn't answer.
Dad looked at the signature.
His own.
Forged again.
Then he noticed another name.
Attorney Robert Hale.
Daniel's father.
Dad looked up.
“Your father is the trustee's attorney?”
Daniel nodded.
“And you?”
“His son.”
Dad understood.
“This was never about Vanessa.”
Daniel smiled.
“It was about the trust.”
“And my daughter was the obstacle.”
“Yes.”
Vanessa suddenly screamed:
“I loved her!”
Dad turned.
“No.”
“I did!”
“You starved her emotionally.”
“You isolated her.”
“You took her mother's money.”
“You made her believe she was unwanted.”
Vanessa cried.
“I thought if she hated you, she'd choose me.”
Dad stared.
“You wanted my daughter to choose the person hurting her.”
Vanessa couldn't answer.
Then I asked the question nobody expected.
“Did Mom know?”
Daniel looked at me.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“She knew your grandfather created the trust.”
“Did she know Vanessa was stealing?”
“She suspected.”
“Then why didn't she tell Dad?”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Because she was afraid.”
“Of Vanessa?”
“No.”
“Of who?”
Daniel looked toward the door.
“Your grandfather.”
Dad froze.
“My father died years before Rachel.”
“Yes.”
“He couldn't threaten her.”
Daniel shook his head.
“He left instructions.”
Dad stared.
“What instructions?”
Daniel opened another file.
Inside was a letter.
From my grandfather.
It stated that if anyone challenged the trust before I turned eighteen, the entire inheritance would be frozen and investigated.
Daniel said:
“Your grandfather knew someone would try.”
“Who?”
Daniel looked at Dad.
“Your father suspected Vanessa long before you did.”
Dad whispered:
“How?”
“Because she asked questions about Nia's inheritance before she married you.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Dad turned toward her.
“When did you know?”
She whispered:
“Before the wedding.”
The room became silent.
“You knew about the trust before marrying me?”
“Yes.”
“And you still married me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vanessa looked at me.
“Because I thought I could make this family mine.”
Dad stepped away from her.
For the first time, there was nothing left to defend.
Then police sirens sounded outside.
Daniel's smile disappeared.
Dad looked toward the door.
“Who called them?”
Daniel slowly looked at me.
“I did.”
I froze.
“You?”
He nodded.
“Your mother left one more thing.”
“What?”
“A recording.”
“Of what?”
May you like
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“Her admitting who she really was.”
