Chapter 7: The Beneficiary They Chose
The document stayed on Marcus's phone long after Detective Morgan stopped speaking.
I kept staring at my mother's name.
Linda Bennett.
Primary beneficiary.
My mother was supposed to receive the money if something happened to me.
Not Marcus.
Not our daughter.
Not even the family trust we'd discussed creating before the baby arrived.
Her.
“That's impossible,” I whispered.
Marcus sat beside me.
“Claire, look at me.””
I turned.
“We're going to investigate every part of this. Nobody is getting near our accounts.””
Detective Morgan placed the document inside a protective folder.
“I want to be clear about something. A beneficiary-change request isn't necessarily proof that a change was completed. We need confirmation from the insurance provider, including when the request was submitted and how it was authenticated.””
“Can you find out who submitted it?”” Marcus asked.
“We'll request the relevant records.””
I looked at the detective.
“Why would my mother want to be my beneficiary?””
She didn't answer immediately.
“That's something we'll need to establish through evidence.””
Daniel shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
“I think Rachel knows.””
Everyone turned toward him.
“What do you mean?”” I asked.
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“Last month, Rachel told me your parents were going to receive a significant amount of money after the baby was born.””
My throat tightened.
“What exactly did she say?””
He searched through his messages.
Then he read aloud.
“She said, 'Once everything is finalized, Mom won't have to worry about money anymore. Dad can finally retire, and we can start over.''”
Marcus frowned.
“Did she explain what everything meant?””
“No. I thought she was talking about the house sale.””
Daniel scrolled further.
“There was another conversation.””
He showed us a screenshot.
Rachel had written:
*Rachel:* Claire has no idea how much protection Mom has arranged for herself.
Daniel had replied:
*Daniel:* What protection?
Rachel's response was chilling.
*Rachel:* Don't worry about it. It's family business.
I felt nauseated.
My mother had always been the person who called me after difficult days.
She'd helped me choose my wedding dress.
She'd cried when Marcus proposed.
She'd sat beside me during my first ultrasound.
And now I was beginning to wonder whether every affectionate gesture had been genuine.
“Detective,” I said, “I want my mother investigated.””
Morgan nodded.
“We'll document everything and determine the appropriate next steps.””
She turned toward Daniel.
“I'll need you to provide a formal statement and preserve the communications you mentioned.””
“Of course.””
After the detective left, Marcus called our insurance company.
He put the call on speaker.
A representative verified our identities and explained that any beneficiary changes would need to be reviewed.
Marcus requested an immediate security hold on both policies.
“Can you tell us whether a recent change request was received?”” he asked.
There was a pause.
The representative typed.
“Yes, Mr. Bennett. We received a request concerning your wife's policy eleven days ago.””
My heart stopped.
“Was it approved?”” I asked.
“I'm unable to confirm that without completing an additional verification process.””
Marcus leaned closer.
“Who submitted it?””
Another pause.
“The request was submitted through the online customer portal using your wife's credentials.””
I shook my head.
“I didn't submit anything.””
“I understand, ma'am. We can flag the request as disputed.””
Marcus asked for a supervisor.
After several minutes, the representative returned.
“Mr. Bennett, the request was not finalized because the additional identity verification was incomplete.””
I exhaled.
“So my mother didn't get the money?””
“Not through this request, ma'am. The existing beneficiary designation remains in effect pending further review.””
Marcus thanked her.
When the call ended, he sat silently.
I reached for his hand.
“Who is your beneficiary?””
“You.””
“And yours?””
“You've always been mine.””
He kissed my fingers.
“That's how it's staying.””
For a moment, the room was quiet.
Then my phone rang.
Dad.
I answered.
“What do you want?””
“Claire, your mother is very upset.””
I closed my eyes.
“I'm sure she is.””
“You've been spreading accusations.””
“I have documents.””
“Documents can be misunderstood.””
“Did you use my name to borrow money?””
He sighed.
“Your mother and I were trying to protect the family's future.””
“Did you submit a beneficiary change request?””
Silence.
“Dad?””
“Your mother handled that.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“So you knew.””
“We were trying to make sure the money stayed within the family.””
“Which family?””
“The Bennett family!””
“I am a Bennett!””
“You're married now. Things change.””
I stared at the phone.
“Are you seriously suggesting that my husband and daughter aren't my family?””
“That's not what I meant.””
“Then explain why you tried to make Mom the beneficiary of my life insurance.””
He lowered his voice.
“Because your mother has spent her entire life looking after everyone. She deserves security.””
“And I don't?””
“You have Marcus.””
I laughed bitterly.
“So that's the plan? Take my inheritance, put debt in my name, and make sure Mom receives my insurance money?””
“Claire, stop exaggerating.””
Then he said something that made me go completely still.
“Your grandmother would never have wanted that house to tear this family apart.””
I looked at Marcus.
“Grandma left the house to me because she wanted me to have it.””
“Your grandmother wasn't thinking clearly toward the end.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What?””
“She was old. She didn't understand the financial situation.””
“Did you just say Grandma wasn't mentally competent?””
“I'm saying there were complications.””
“What complications?””
He hesitated.
Then I heard my mother in the background.
“Robert, don't tell her that!””
My father went silent.
I leaned forward.
“Tell me what?””
He exhaled.
“Your grandmother changed her will because she discovered something about Rachel.””
My heart pounded.
“What did she discover?””
My father didn't answer.
Instead, he said:
“Ask your sister what happened to the money your grandmother left her.””
The call disconnected.
I stared at the phone.
Marcus immediately reached for it.
“Call him back.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Because I finally understood that my grandmother's house wasn't just an inheritance.
May you like
It was the center of a secret my family had spent years trying to bury.
And Rachel might have kicked me because she believed I was about to uncover it.
