Chapter 12: The Woman Who Knew Their Family Secret
Marcus stared at the photograph.
His father.
Lauren.
And a date from twelve years earlier.
It made no sense.
His father had died before Marcus met Lauren.
How could they possibly have known each other?
"Daniel, where did this come from?""
The attorney examined the photograph.
"Your mother found it among Richard's personal documents.""
Marcus turned it over again.
There was another handwritten sentence.
The first meeting was not an accident.
He felt his throat tighten.
"Did my father know Lauren?""
Daniel studied the photograph.
"I can't confirm that from the picture alone.""
Marcus looked toward the officer.
"Can we take this?""
The officer nodded.
Daniel carefully placed the photograph inside a protective sleeve.
Richard had been standing near the doorway.
He suddenly spoke.
"That picture doesn't mean anything.""
Marcus turned.
"Then explain it.""
Richard shook his head.
"You're digging into things that have nothing to do with Zoe.""
"Everything in that folder has something to do with Zoe.""
Richard laughed bitterly.
"Your mother always enjoyed creating drama.""
Marcus took a step toward him.
"Did Dad know Lauren?""
Richard looked away.
"Ask your mother.""
"She's dead.""
"Then maybe you should have listened when she was alive.""
Marcus felt his anger rise.
Daniel stepped between them.
"Richard, I suggest you stop making statements until you have legal representation.""
Richard turned toward the officer.
"I want to leave.""
The officer informed him that he needed to remain available while the documents were reviewed.
Richard muttered something under his breath and sat down.
Marcus followed Daniel into the hallway.
"I need to know who Lauren was before she met me.""
Daniel nodded.
"I've already asked my investigators to review the records.""
"How long?""
"Possibly several days.""
Marcus looked at the photograph.
"I don't have several days.""
Daniel studied him.
"Marcus, I understand. But we need evidence, not assumptions.""
Marcus took a breath.
"Then let's start with the courthouse.""
Daniel examined the date.
"I recognize the building. It's the county courthouse where your father's estate was handled.""
Marcus looked up.
"Could Lauren have been involved in his estate?""
"It's possible.""
"Why would she be?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he opened another folder.
Inside was a list of people who had accessed the estate records over the years.
Three names appeared.
Marcus.
Richard.
And a woman named Lauren Bennett.
Marcus stared.
"That's her.""
Daniel nodded.
"Your mother must have requested these records.""
"Why would Lauren have access?""
"She may have been listed as a witness or an authorized representative in another matter.""
Marcus looked at the date.
It was two years before his father died.
He felt a strange pressure building behind his eyes.
His entire life, he had believed Lauren was someone he met by chance at a charity fundraiser.
They had spoken about books, travel, and family.
She had seemed kind.
Patient.
Interested in him.
He remembered how she had listened when he talked about losing his mother temporarily during his father's illness.
He remembered how she had comforted him.
Had any of it been real?
His phone rang.
It was Lauren.
He almost declined the call.
Then he answered.
"What?""
Her voice was trembling.
"Marcus, please. We need to talk.""
"About what?""
"About everything.""
"Then tell me why you were standing beside my father twelve years ago.""
Silence.
Marcus closed his eyes.
He had expected denial.
Instead, Lauren whispered:
"I knew your father.""
His blood ran cold.
"How?""
"Not over the phone.""
"Tell me now.""
She began crying.
"Your father helped me once. Before I met you.""
"With what?""
"Please, Marcus. I can explain.""
"You have one chance.""
Lauren took a shaky breath.
"Richard introduced us.""
Marcus looked at Daniel.
The attorney's expression sharpened.
"Richard?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because your father was helping with a financial problem I had.""
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
"What financial problem?""
Lauren hesitated.
Then she said:
"I was in debt.""
He almost laughed.
"That's it?""
"No. It was worse.""
"How much?""
"About one hundred thousand dollars.""
Marcus stared at the photograph.
His father had been dead for years.
Lauren had apparently known Richard long before she met Marcus.
And now the woman who had helped raise his daughter was admitting that her connection to the family began with money.
"What did Dad do?""
"He paid some of it.""
"With what?""
"I don't know.""
"Don't lie to me.""
Lauren started crying harder.
"Your father told me he was helping someone in need. He said it was a private arrangement.""
Marcus's voice became cold.
"Why did you marry me?""
A long silence followed.
Then Lauren whispered:
"Because I loved you.""
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
"Was that before or after you found out about my mother's estate?""
Lauren didn't answer.
He ended the call.
Daniel watched him carefully.
"Are you all right?""
"No.""
Marcus placed the photograph on the table.
"I need to know everything.""
Daniel nodded.
"Then we need to locate the original estate records.""
He made another call.
While he spoke, Marcus noticed a second photograph inside the folder.
This one showed Richard and Lauren standing outside a restaurant.
The date was from the year Marcus met Lauren.
On the back, Eleanor had written:
They were already working together.
Marcus felt a wave of nausea.
He had introduced Lauren to Zoe as someone who would love and protect her.
Instead, it seemed that Lauren had entered their family with an agenda.
But there was one thing Marcus still couldn't understand.
If Lauren and Richard had planned everything, why had Eleanor allowed the marriage to happen?
He asked Daniel.
The attorney was quiet for a moment.
"Your mother may have suspected their intentions, but she didn't have proof at the time. She also wanted to respect your choices.""
Marcus looked down.
"She must have felt helpless.""
"She did. But she never stopped trying to protect Zoe.""
His phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a message from Madison.
*Dad, please come home. Mom is packing. She says she's leaving tonight.*
Marcus immediately called her.
"Where's Zoe?""
"She's upstairs with Mrs. Carter.""
"Is Lauren there?""
"Yes. She's putting things in the car.""
"Don't confront her. Stay with Zoe. I'll be home soon.""
He ended the call.
Daniel gathered the documents.
"We should go.""
Marcus nodded.
But as they reached the front entrance, the officer received a call.
He listened for several seconds.
Then he looked at Marcus.
"Mr. Marcus, there's a problem.""
"What?""
"The bank has reported an attempted withdrawal from Zoe's protected account.""
Marcus went still.
"Who tried to withdraw it?""
The officer checked his phone.
"The request was submitted online less than twenty minutes ago.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Who authorized it?""
The officer read the name.
"Lauren Bennett.""
Marcus felt his entire body go cold.
"She doesn't have authority.""
Daniel quickly examined the transaction details.
"She's using an old authorization.""
Marcus frowned.
"What old authorization?""
Daniel's face hardened.
"An authorization submitted before your mother's amendment was registered.""
"Can she access the money?""
"Not if the bank follows the current protective order. But we need to contact them immediately.""
Marcus called the bank.
After several minutes of verification, a representative confirmed that the withdrawal request had been flagged and temporarily blocked.
But then the representative added something unexpected.
"Mr. Marcus, there is another pending request associated with the same account.""
"What request?""
"A change of authorized trustee.""
Marcus looked at Daniel.
"Who is being added?""
The representative read the name.
*Richard Bennett.*
Marcus almost dropped the phone.
Richard had used Lauren's maiden-name-linked records to establish another financial connection.
The brother who had been trying to take control of Zoe's inheritance had apparently prepared a second route.
Daniel immediately instructed the bank to freeze all disputed transactions pending legal review.
Then Marcus's phone rang again.
Madison.
He answered.
"Dad?""
Her voice was shaking.
"Mom found Grandma's letter.""
Marcus stopped walking.
"Which letter?""
"The one from the storage room. The original one.""
"Where is it?""
"She took it.""
Marcus looked at Daniel.
"Can you stop her?""
But Madison's next words were worse.
"She's leaving with it. And Dad...""
"What?""
Madison began sobbing.
"She said she isn't going to fight you anymore.""
Marcus frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"She said if she can't get Zoe's money, she'll make sure nobody gets anything.""
The call disconnected.
Marcus immediately called the house.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
Then Mrs. Carter sent a message.
*Mr. Marcus, Lauren just left. But Zoe found something in her room before she went. I think you need to see it immediately.*
A photograph followed.
It showed a folded document hidden inside the lining of Lauren's suitcase.
At the top were the words:
*PATERNITY AND BENEFICIARY INVESTIGATION.*
Marcus stared.
Beneath the heading was his father's full name.
And beside it was a second name.
A name he had never heard before.
*Evelyn Bennett.*
Daniel looked over his shoulder.
His face changed.
"Marcus...""
"What?""
Daniel slowly lowered the photograph.
"Your father may have had another child.""
Marcus couldn't speak.
Because beneath the second name was a date.
The child had been born only eight months before Marcus himself.
And the document suggested that Lauren had known about the secret for years.
If the records were genuine, Zoe's inheritance wasn't the only thing someone had been trying to control.
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There was another heir.
And Lauren might have known exactly where to find her.
