Chapter 4: The Mother Who Knew Everything
“Vanessa said you agreed.””
Mom's words hung in the hospital room.
I stared at her.
“Agreed to what?””
She glanced at Daniel, then at the laptop.
“Emily, I don't think this is the right time to discuss family finances.””
I almost laughed.
“Someone forged my signature, Mom. I think this is exactly the right time.””
Her fingers tightened around her handbag.
“Don't use words like forged. You don't know what you're talking about.””
Daniel turned the laptop toward her.
“Then perhaps you can explain why Vanessa emailed the solicitor asking whether this document was sufficient.””
Mom looked at the screen.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she reached for the laptop.
Daniel moved it out of her reach.
“Please don't touch that.””
“It's a family matter.””
“No,” I interrupted.
“It's my signature.””
Mom looked at me.
Her expression changed into the one I remembered from childhood. The disappointed look. The one that always made me feel as though I had done something wrong simply by asking a question.
“Emily, your grandmother left money to both of you because she wanted you girls to look after each other.””
“And she wanted me to give Vanessa my share?””
“That's not what I'm saying.””
“Then what are you saying?””
Mom sat down.
She placed her handbag on the floor and folded her hands.
“Vanessa has been under pressure. Daniel's family is wealthy, and there are expectations. She wanted to make sure everything was settled before the wedding.””
I stared at her.
“By taking my inheritance?””
“She wasn't taking anything. She was trying to organize things.””
“Without asking me?””
Mom sighed.
“You've never been particularly interested in money.””
I felt my face grow hot.
“That doesn't mean you can give it away.””
Daniel leaned against the wall.
“Patricia, did you know about the document?””
Mom looked at him.
“I knew Vanessa had spoken to Richard.””
“Did you know Emily's signature was on it?””
“I thought Emily had signed something.””
I shook my head.
“You thought?””
Mom looked away.
“I didn't ask too many questions.””
The room went quiet.
That answer hurt more than I expected.
I had spent years believing Mom was simply too overwhelmed by Vanessa's personality to stand up to her.
Now I was realizing that sometimes she didn't stand up because she didn't want to.
“Did you help her?”” I asked.
Mom's eyes returned to mine.
“What?””
“Did you help Vanessa forge my signature?””
“Absolutely not!””
Her voice rose so sharply that Olivia stepped forward.
“Then why did you tell Daniel I agreed?””
Mom's expression crumpled.
“I was trying to protect the family.””
I stared at her.
“From what?””
“From embarrassment. From arguments. From unnecessary drama.””
I looked at my injured arm.
“Mom, I almost drowned last night.””
“I know.””
“Vanessa pushed me into the pool.””
“She didn't mean—”
“Stop.””
The word came out louder than I expected.
Mom fell silent.
For the first time, I didn't feel guilty about interrupting her.
“You keep explaining what Vanessa meant to do. Nobody is asking what happened to me.””
Mom pressed her lips together.
Daniel opened another email.
“This one was sent three days before the accident.””
He turned the screen toward her.
It was a conversation between Vanessa and Richard Hale.
Vanessa: We need to finalize Emily's release before the review.
Richard: I still need confirmation that she understands the implications.
Vanessa: Mom has spoken to her. Emily won't make trouble.
I read the last sentence twice.
Mom went pale.
“Richard shouldn't have kept those emails.””
Daniel stared at her.
“That is your concern?””
She looked at him.
“I didn't mean—”
“Then tell us what you know.””
Mom stood abruptly.
“I am not going to be interrogated by my future son-in-law.””
“Former future son-in-law, if I have anything to say about it.””
The room went silent.
Mom's eyes widened.
“Daniel, you cannot seriously be considering canceling the wedding over a misunderstanding.””
He didn't blink.
“This isn't a misunderstanding.””
“Vanessa loves you.””
“I thought she did.””
Mom turned to me.
“Emily, please. You know how much this wedding means to her.””
I looked at her.
“What did Grandma mean to you?””
Mom frowned.
“Don't bring your grandmother into this.””
“She trusted me with that money. Why are you helping Vanessa take it?””
Mom's face tightened.
Then she said something I would never forget.
“Because Vanessa needs it more than you do.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“She has a wedding to pay for. A new life to build. You have a job, and you live alone. You can manage.””
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Grandma had left me money because she knew I had always been the quieter daughter. She wanted me to have security.
Mom had turned that kindness into an inconvenience.
“So you decided my future mattered less?””
“That's not fair.””
“No. It isn't.””
Mom picked up her handbag.
“I hope you understand what you're doing. Vanessa will never forgive you for this.””
I looked directly at her.
“I'm not asking her to forgive me.””
She left without another word.
That afternoon, Daniel took the laptop to a solicitor he trusted.
Olivia stayed with me.
I spent most of the time staring at the ceiling, trying to understand how my family had become a collection of strangers.
At 4:30 p.m., Daniel returned.
He looked serious.
“The solicitor has reviewed the document.””
“And?””
“He believes the signature needs to be independently examined. He's also contacted the trust administrator to place a temporary hold on any transfer.””
I exhaled.
“Can Vanessa still take the money?””
“Not without further investigation.””
He sat beside me.
“There's something else.””
I looked at him.
“The wedding venue called.””
“What about it?””
“Vanessa has been telling everyone the wedding is still going ahead tomorrow.””
I closed my eyes.
“Of course she has.””
“She also sent an email to the guests saying you've had a medical emergency and won't be attending.””
I opened my eyes.
“What?””
Daniel handed me his phone.
The email was brief.
Dear friends and family,
Unfortunately, Emily has experienced another setback with her recovery. She's resting and won't be able to attend tomorrow's ceremony.
We appreciate your understanding and ask that everyone respect our family's privacy.
I stared at the message.
She had already written me out of the wedding.
Without asking.
Without even checking whether I was alive.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
Vanessa.
He answered on speaker.
“Hello.””
“Daniel, finally! Where have you been?””
“Busy.””
“Are we still meeting the florist at six?””
“No.””
A pause.
“What do you mean, no?””
“I mean I'm not meeting the florist.””
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“Okay, funny. Are you still upset about last night?””
“I'm not upset. I'm making a decision.””
Her voice changed.
“Daniel, please don't do this.””
“I'm not marrying someone who deliberately hurts an injured person and then tries to cover it up.””
Silence.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“Who told you I did it deliberately?””
Daniel glanced at me.
“You did.””
Another pause.
And then my sister said something that made my stomach turn.
“If Emily hadn't been so desperate for attention, none of this would have happened.””
Daniel ended the call.
But before he could put his phone down, a notification appeared.
A message from Vanessa.
It contained a photograph.
A photograph of me sleeping in my hospital bed.
Taken through the open doorway.
May you like
Underneath it were six words.
*You should tell your sister to stop.*
