Chapter 12: The Woman Who Held the Original Will
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Graham stared at his phone.
"My mother?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Richard's wife?""
"Yes.""
I looked at him.
"Why would she have my father's will?""
Graham rubbed his forehead.
"I don't know.""
Emily looked toward Daniel.
"Maybe she was protecting it.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Or maybe she was protecting someone.""
I felt another headache building.
There were too many secrets.
Too many people who had apparently known the truth while I spent eight years believing my father had left us nothing.
I turned toward Graham.
"Can you contact her?""
He nodded.
"Her name is Eleanor.""
"Does she know about the wedding?""
"She was invited, but she didn't attend.""
"Why?""
Graham looked uncomfortable.
"She hasn't spoken to my father in months.""
That made sense.
If Richard had been involved in the fraud, perhaps his wife had discovered something.
Graham called her.
The phone rang four times.
Then a woman's voice answered.
"Hello, Graham.""
"Mom, where are you?""
A pause.
"At home.""
"Are you alone?""
"Yes.""
Graham looked at Daniel.
"Mom, I need to ask you something. Do you have an original document belonging to Robert Bennett?""
Silence.
Then Eleanor asked:
"Who told you?""
Graham closed his eyes.
"Is it true?""
She sighed.
"Yes.""
I stepped closer.
"Can I speak to her?""
Graham handed me the phone.
"Mrs. Ellison, my name is Claire Bennett.""
Her voice softened.
"Oh, Claire.""
I froze.
"You know me?""
"Of course. I met you once, years ago. Your father brought you to a charity dinner.""
I remembered a woman in a cream-colored dress.
She had complimented my shoes and asked about my teaching career.
I had barely spoken to her.
"Do you have my father's final will?""
Eleanor hesitated.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because your father asked me to keep it safe.""
I felt tears gathering.
"When?""
"Three days before he died.""
I looked at Daniel.
He appeared stunned.
Eleanor continued.
"Robert came to our house late one evening. He told me he no longer trusted Victor or Patricia. He said he needed someone outside the Bennett family to hold the original document.""
I swallowed.
"Why you?""
"Because Richard had been trying to involve me in his business arrangements. Robert believed I would recognize when something was wrong.""
Graham's face hardened.
"Did Dad know what my father was doing?""
"Yes.""
"How long?""
"Long enough.""
Graham looked away.
Eleanor's voice became emotional.
"Your father made mistakes, Graham. But he wasn't a cruel man. He thought he could fix everything before it became too late.""
I took a breath.
"Can you bring the will to us?""
"Not yet.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"Because there's a second document attached to it.""
"What document?""
"The original guardianship agreement.""
I felt Lily's hand find mine.
Eleanor continued.
"Robert didn't just protect Lily's inheritance. He appointed someone to become her legal guardian if anything happened to Claire.""
I stared at Daniel.
He looked confused.
"Who?""
Eleanor answered.
"Me.""
Graham's head snapped toward the phone.
"What?""
Eleanor continued.
"Your grandfather knew that if Patricia and Vanessa ever gained control of the trust, they might attempt to take Lily away from Claire. He wanted an independent adult to be legally prepared to protect her.""
I couldn't speak.
A woman I had barely known had been chosen by my father to protect my daughter.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Robert asked me not to reveal the arrangement until the independent review began.""
My voice trembled.
"Did you know my mother was trying to get custody?""
"Not until recently. I discovered the guardianship papers had been altered.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Mrs. Ellison, do you have those documents?""
"Yes.""
"Then we need you here immediately.""
Eleanor hesitated.
"There's a problem.""
"What?""
"Someone broke into my house tonight.""
Graham went pale.
"Are you safe?""
"I'm at a neighbor's house. The police are on their way.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"Did they take the will?""
"No.""
"Where is it?""
Eleanor lowered her voice.
"Somewhere your father chose.""
"Where?""
She paused.
Then she said:
"Inside the old Bennett estate.""
I stared at Daniel.
"The house?""
"Yes.""
Daniel shook his head.
"We searched that property years ago.""
Eleanor's voice softened.
"Not the house, Daniel. The foundation.""
I frowned.
"What foundation?""
"My father built a small stone room beneath the old greenhouse. It was used to store family records.""
I remembered it.
As a child, I had been told never to enter the greenhouse because the floor was unstable.
My father used to disappear inside for hours.
I had assumed he was repairing equipment.
Eleanor continued.
"Robert told me that the original will was placed inside a locked steel box beneath the greenhouse floor.""
Daniel immediately stood.
"Then we need to get there.""
Graham looked toward the police officers.
"We should inform them.""
Daniel nodded.
But before anyone could move, Noah began crying.
I turned.
He was standing beside the sofa, holding his stuffed rabbit.
Emily crouched beside him.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?""
Noah looked at me.
"Is my mommy going to jail?""
I knelt.
"I don't know, Noah.""
He wiped his nose.
"She said if I was good, she'd come back.""
My throat tightened.
"You're not in trouble.""
He looked toward Graham.
"Are you still my daddy?""
Graham crouched beside him.
"I don't know what happens next, buddy.""
Noah's eyes filled.
"But Mommy said you were.""
Graham gently touched his shoulder.
"Whatever happens, none of this is your fault.""
Noah nodded.
Then he whispered something that made Emily's expression change.
"Mommy said the little girl had to disappear.""
I felt cold.
"What little girl?""
Noah pointed toward Lily.
"Her.""
I immediately pulled Lily behind me.
Emily looked at him.
"Who told you that?""
Noah clutched his rabbit.
"Grandma Patricia.""
Daniel stood.
"What exactly did she say?""
Noah began crying harder.
"She said if Lily stayed with her mommy, the papers would be gone forever.""
I felt my blood turn to ice.
"Did she say when?""
Noah nodded.
"Tonight.""
Daniel immediately contacted the officers.
They began securing the estate.
Graham checked the entrances.
I pulled Lily close.
My daughter was trembling.
"Mommy, why does Grandma want me gone?""
I knelt and held her face.
"Listen to me. You have done nothing wrong. Nobody is going to take you away.""
"Promise?""
I kissed her forehead.
"I promise I'll do everything I can to keep you safe.""
Then a police officer approached.
"Ms. Bennett, we've received information that someone may be attempting to remove a minor from the property.""
I stood.
"Who?""
The officer looked toward the security desk.
"Your mother.""
I felt sick.
"Where is she?""
"Her vehicle was spotted near the north gate.""
Daniel hurried toward the entrance.
"Stop her.""
The officer shook his head.
"We're trying.""
Then another officer ran into the ballroom.
"She's gone.""
My stomach dropped.
"What do you mean?""
"Her vehicle was found abandoned near the service road.""
"Where is she now?""
The officer hesitated.
"We don't know.""
Daniel turned toward me.
"Claire, we need to get Lily somewhere secure.""
I nodded.
But before we could move, my phone rang.
It was a video call.
The caller ID showed:
*MOM.*
I answered immediately.
Her face appeared on the screen.
She was sitting inside a dark car.
Her eyes were red.
"Claire," she whispered.
"Where are you?""
She ignored the question.
"Listen to me. I need you to understand something before it's too late.""
"Mom, where's the car?""
"Don't trust Daniel.""
I looked at my uncle.
He stepped closer.
"Patricia, what are you doing?""
She flinched at the sound of his voice.
Then she looked directly into the camera.
"Claire, your father didn't leave everything to you.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"There's another beneficiary.""
Daniel went completely still.
My mother continued.
"And if you find that original will, you'll discover that the person your father wanted to inherit the Bennett estate was never supposed to be you.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"Then who?""
She began crying.
"Your sister.""
I stared at the screen.
Vanessa?
After everything?
My mother nodded.
"But not the Vanessa you know.""
She leaned closer.
"There's something your father discovered about the two of you. Something that explains why he protected Lily differently.""
I couldn't breathe.
"What are you talking about?""
My mother's face twisted with fear.
Then a man's hand reached into the frame and grabbed her shoulder.
She screamed.
The phone dropped.
I heard a car door slam.
Then a man's voice.
"Patricia, I told you not to make that call.""
The screen went black.
Daniel grabbed my arm.
"Claire, we need to move.""
I stared at the dark screen.
Because I recognized that voice.
It belonged to Victor Hale.
And now I knew one thing for certain.
My mother hadn't been protecting Vanessa.
May you like
She had been protecting a secret about me.
And my father's final will was about to reveal it.
