Chapter 6: The Secret Between Two Families
For several seconds, neither Daniel nor I moved.
His father's email address sat on the screen.
I read it again.
Then once more.
“Are you sure?””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“I've had that address saved in my phone for years.””
I looked at the screenshot.
“Why would Vanessa be emailing your father about my inheritance?””
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“I'm going to call him.””
He stepped toward the window.
I watched his face as the call connected.
“Dad?””
A pause.
“Did Vanessa contact you about Emily's trust?””
Another pause.
Daniel's expression tightened.
“I'm asking because I have a screenshot of an email conversation.””
He listened.
Then he said quietly:
“Don't tell me you didn't know.””
I couldn't hear his father's response.
But whatever he said made Daniel close his eyes.
“Dad, I need the truth.””
Another pause.
Then Daniel ended the call.
He turned toward me.
“My father wants us to meet him.””
“Why?””
“He says he can explain.””
I looked at Olivia.
She shook her head.
“Something is very wrong here.””
I agreed.
But I wanted answers.
The next morning, my doctor discharged me with strict instructions to rest my shoulder and attend a follow-up appointment with my specialist.
Daniel arranged a car to take me to his parents' house.
Olivia insisted on coming.
“I don't trust anyone in this situation,” she said.
Neither did I.
Daniel's parents lived in a large stone house outside the city. The front garden was immaculate, and the driveway was lined with expensive cars.
I had been there many times.
His mother, Helen, always welcomed me warmly. His father, Robert, was more reserved, but I had never had a reason to distrust him.
Until now.
Robert was waiting in the study when we arrived.
A thick folder sat on his desk.
Helen stood beside the fireplace, looking worried.
“Emily,” she said, approaching me.
“How are you feeling?””
“Better, thank you.””
She glanced at my shoulder.
“I heard what happened. It's awful.””
I nodded.
Daniel closed the study door.
“Dad, start talking.””
Robert sighed.
“Before we begin, I want you to understand that I never intended to hurt Emily.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“That sounds like something someone says before admitting they did.””
Helen looked at me.
“Emily, please.””
Robert opened the folder.
“Vanessa came to me about six weeks ago.””
Daniel frowned.
“Why?””
“She said she was worried about your relationship with Emily.””
Daniel stared at him.
“What does that have to do with her inheritance?””
Robert looked uncomfortable.
“She told me Emily had been asking questions about your financial arrangements. She claimed Emily believed that marrying into our family would give her access to money.””
I shook my head.
“That's a lie.””
“I understand that now.””
“Did you believe her?””
Robert looked down.
“At the time, I thought she might be telling the truth.””
Daniel stepped closer to the desk.
“Why?””
“Because she showed me messages.””
“What messages?””
Robert removed several printed pages from the folder.
They were screenshots of text conversations.
My name appeared repeatedly.
One message supposedly from me read:
Daniel has more money than I thought. Vanessa doesn't understand how lucky she is.
Another said:
If something happens to their marriage, I know I could get Daniel to help me.
I stared at the pages.
“I never wrote these.””
Robert nodded.
“I know.””
“How?””
“Because I asked Daniel about them. He said he had never received such messages from you.””
Daniel picked up one of the pages.
“Where did Vanessa get these?””
Robert hesitated.
“She said they came from your phone.””
“That is impossible,” I replied.
He nodded.
“That's what I eventually realized.””
Helen sat down.
“Robert, tell them the rest.””
He looked at her, then opened the folder to another section.
“Vanessa asked me to help her understand the family trust. She said she wanted to protect her future with Daniel.””
I frowned.
“Why would you help her?””
“Because I believed she was trying to prevent a financial dispute after the wedding.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You should have spoken to me.””
“I know.””
Robert removed a copy of the forged document.
“She gave me this and asked whether it could be submitted to the trust administrator.””
I stared at the signature.
“Did you submit it?””
“No.””
I exhaled.
“Why not?””
“Because something didn't look right.””
He pointed toward the bottom of the document.
“The witness section was incomplete. I also noticed that the date on the document didn't match the date Vanessa said you had signed it.””
I looked at Daniel.
“So he knew it was suspicious.””
Robert continued.
“I told her I wouldn't get involved unless Emily confirmed the document herself.””
“And what did Vanessa say?”” Daniel asked.
Robert's expression darkened.
“She said Emily was unreliable and that your mother had already obtained permission.””
My heart sank.
“Mom.””
Robert nodded.
“I called Patricia. She told me Emily had agreed to everything.””
I looked down at my hands.
The same answer.
The same excuse.
Everyone had been passing responsibility around while expecting me to remain silent.
“Did you know about the accident?”” I asked.
Robert shook his head.
“No. Vanessa contacted me afterward and said Emily had been injured in a minor incident. She insisted you were recovering well.””
Daniel's voice sharpened.
“Then why did she send you another email yesterday?””
Robert reached into the folder.
He placed a printed message on the desk.
The subject line read:
*URGENT — BEFORE THE WEDDING.*
I read it.
Robert,
I need you to confirm that the trust issue will be resolved. Emily is becoming difficult, and I don't want this situation affecting Daniel's future.
If the original document cannot be accepted, we need another option.
Please don't discuss this with Daniel.
I stared at the final sentence.
Daniel looked at his father.
“You didn't tell me.””
Robert lowered his eyes.
“I thought I could resolve it privately.””
“You thought you could resolve a forged signature privately?””
“I made a mistake.””
Daniel stepped back.
For the first time since I had known him, I saw genuine disappointment in his face.
Helen approached the desk.
“There's something else you should know.””
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked at me.
“Vanessa came to this house last week. She wasn't alone.””
“Who was she with?”” I asked.
Helen hesitated.
“Your mother.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“They came together?””
“Yes.””
Helen opened a drawer and removed a small envelope.
“I wasn't supposed to see this, but I found it after they left.””
Inside was a handwritten note.
I recognized Mom's handwriting immediately.
It read:
Once Emily signs, everything will be easier. Vanessa can handle the trust, and we won't have to keep worrying about the money.
Beneath it was another sentence.
Just make sure she doesn't talk to Daniel before the wedding.
I felt my eyes burn.
“Mom wrote this?””
Helen nodded.
“I believe so.””
Daniel took the note.
His jaw tightened.
“I'm going to confront her.””
“No,” I said.
He looked at me.
I took a breath.
“Not yet.””
I had spent my entire life reacting to Vanessa's decisions.
Reacting to her insults.
Reacting to her lies.
Reacting to whatever version of the truth she presented to our family.
I wasn't going to do that anymore.
I looked at the note again.
“Where is the original?””
Helen frowned.
“What?””
“The original document with my signature. The one Vanessa gave Robert.””
Robert searched through the folder.
After a moment, he pulled out a sealed plastic sleeve.
Inside was a printed copy.
At the bottom, I noticed something I hadn't seen on the laptop.
A handwritten reference number.
I took a photograph of it.
Then I asked Robert a question.
“Who witnessed this document?””
He examined the page.
“According to the form, someone named Michael Bennett.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Do you know him?””
Daniel's expression changed.
“Yes.””
“Who is he?””
“My father's business partner.””
Robert went completely still.
Daniel turned toward him.
“Dad, why would Michael witness a document involving Emily's inheritance?””
Robert didn't answer.
Instead, he opened another drawer and pulled out a second folder.
He flipped through several pages before stopping.
“Because Michael was supposed to be reviewing a separate financial agreement with Vanessa.””
Daniel stared at him.
“What financial agreement?””
Robert placed the document on the desk.
It contained Vanessa's name.
And Daniel's.
But the final paragraph was what caught my attention.
It stated that, following the wedding, Vanessa would receive a significant financial payment connected to a family business transaction.
I looked up.
“Daniel, what is this?””
He read the page.
His face drained of color.
“That's impossible.””
“What?””
He turned the document toward me.
“This agreement says Vanessa was supposed to receive two hundred and fifty thousand dollars after our wedding.””
I stared at the amount.
“Why?””
Robert slowly sat down.
“Because Michael told me Vanessa had introduced him to an investment opportunity.””
Daniel looked furious.
“An investment opportunity?””
Robert nodded.
“She claimed she had access to funds that could be used as collateral.””
I felt a chill.
“Whose funds?””
Robert looked directly at me.
“Your grandmother's trust.””
The room went silent.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
The caller ID showed Vanessa.
He answered.
“Hello?””
Her voice came through immediately.
“Daniel, where are you?””
“With my father.””
A pause.
“Why?””
“Because we're discussing your agreement with Michael.””
Silence.
Then Vanessa's voice changed.
“You have no right to go through my private documents.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Your private documents involve Emily's inheritance.””
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“That's not what you think.””
“Then explain it.””
“I will. But not over the phone.””
“Fine. Come here.””
Another pause.
Then she whispered:
“Daniel, please. You don't understand what happens if that money doesn't come through.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“What happens?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Instead, she said something that made Robert stand abruptly.
“Michael told me he would make sure Emily never found out.””
The call disconnected.
Robert stared at the phone.
Daniel slowly lowered his hand.
I looked between them.
“Who is Michael Bennett?””
Robert's face had gone pale.
Then he spoke.
“Emily, Michael isn't just my business partner.””
May you like
He swallowed.
“He was also the man who arranged the car that hit you three months ago.””
