Chapter 4: The Man Behind the Plan
Dad didn't move.
The bank manager had stepped out to give us privacy, but I could still hear the printer working somewhere beyond the glass office door.
My uncle Mark was still on the phone.
"Daniel, you need to understand something," he said.
"I didn't know the whole story.""
Dad stared at the beneficiary amendment.
"Then tell me the part you did know.""
Mark sighed.
"Renee came to me last summer. She said you were worried about money. She said you wanted to make sure both girls were provided for.""
"Both girls?""
"She told me you wanted Mia included in the trust.""
Dad's fingers tightened around the phone.
"I never said that.""
"I know that now.""
"Why did you sign?""
Mark hesitated.
"Because she showed me a document with your signature.""
Dad looked at the paper again.
"And you didn't think to call me?""
"I thought you had already discussed it with her.""
"You thought?""
Mark's voice became defensive.
"Daniel, I was trying to help. Renee said you didn't want to upset your daughter before graduation.""
I felt something cold settle in my stomach.
"Uncle Mark?""
There was a pause.
"Is that you, sweetheart?""
"Why did you sign something that would take my mother's money away from me?""
He didn't answer.
I continued.
"Did you know about the money coming out of my bank account?""
Another pause.
Then he said, "I knew Renee was asking you to contribute to the household.""
"She wasn't asking me. She was taking it.""
"I didn't know that.""
"Did you know she was using my money to buy Mia things?""
His voice dropped.
"No.""
I looked at Dad.
He had turned toward the window, one hand pressed against his forehead.
Mark continued.
"Listen, I made a mistake. I shouldn't have signed anything without talking to Daniel.""
"That's not the only thing you did.""
He went silent.
I remembered the previous Thanksgiving.
Mark had sat across from me at dinner and told me that college was expensive. He suggested I consider a cheaper school because my father had another daughter to support.
At the time, I thought he was simply being practical.
Now I wondered whether he had already known what Renee was planning.
Dad finally spoke.
"Who told you to bring the paperwork?""
Mark hesitated.
"Your business partner.""
Dad's head turned.
"What?""
"Victor.""
The name landed heavily.
Victor Hale.
My father's closest friend and business partner for almost fifteen years.
He had been at my mother's funeral. He had helped Dad renovate our house. He attended every family barbecue and always brought expensive bottles of wine.
He was also the man who had given Mia her first internship.
I had never considered him a threat.
Dad slowly lowered the phone.
"Put him on the phone.""
"I can't.""
"Why not?""
"He's not here.""
"Then tell me where he is.""
Mark took a breath.
"Daniel, there's something else. Victor told Renee the trust was going to become inaccessible once you turned eighteen. He said if she wanted Mia to benefit, she needed to act before the graduation ceremony.""
Dad looked at the calendar on his phone.
My eighteenth birthday had been three weeks earlier.
The graduation ceremony was today.
I suddenly understood why Renee had been so desperate to make everything happen before this morning.
"Why today?"" I whispered.
Dad heard me.
He looked at Mark.
"Why did Victor want this finished today?""
Mark's answer was barely audible.
"Because the trustee is scheduled to transfer control to your daughter tomorrow.""
Dad ended the call.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he stood.
"We're going home.""
"Shouldn't we call the police?""
"We will. But first, I need to understand exactly how much of this was planned.""
I looked at the documents.
"Does Victor have access to the trust?""
"No.""
"Then how did he know about it?""
Dad didn't answer.
He gathered the paperwork, placed it in the folder, and thanked Ms. Reynolds.
Before we left, she gave us a business card.
"Mr. Carter, please contact the trustee immediately. Do not sign any additional documents or authorize any transfers. We'll preserve the records.""
Dad nodded.
Outside, the afternoon sun was bright enough to hurt my eyes.
I climbed into the passenger seat.
"Do you think Uncle Mark is lying?""
Dad started the engine.
"I think he's telling us enough to protect himself.""
"And Victor?""
My father stared through the windshield.
"Victor knows things he shouldn't.""
We drove home.
When we entered the house, Renee was sitting at the kitchen island with a glass of water. Her makeup had been retouched. Mia stood beside her, typing furiously on her phone.
Both looked up.
Renee smiled.
"You're back.""
Dad placed the folder on the counter.
"Where's Victor?""
Her smile disappeared.
"I don't know.""
"Call him.""
"Why?""
"Because he seems to know a lot about my daughter's inheritance.""
Mia stopped typing.
Renee slowly put down her glass.
"Daniel, I think you're letting your imagination run wild.""
Dad opened the folder and placed the beneficiary amendment in front of her.
"Recognize this?""
She glanced at it.
Then she looked away.
"I've never seen that.""
"Your name is on the application.""
"Anyone could have written my name.""
"And Mark says Victor arranged the paperwork.""
Renee stood.
"Mark has no idea what he's talking about.""
"Then explain it.""
She folded her arms.
"Victor was trying to help us. That's all.""
Dad stared at her.
"Help you steal my daughter's inheritance?""
Renee's voice sharpened.
"That money should have been shared!""
"Your daughter isn't a beneficiary.""
"She's your daughter now too!""
"No. She's my stepdaughter. And I have paid for her school, her clothes, her car, and every other thing she's asked for.""
Renee slammed her palm against the counter.
"Because you wanted to! You never asked what it cost me!""
Dad didn't raise his voice.
"Apparently, it cost my daughter twenty-eight thousand dollars.""
Mia suddenly grabbed her handbag.
"Mom, I'm leaving.""
Dad turned toward her.
"Sit down.""
"You're not my father.""
The room went silent.
Dad looked at her for a long moment.
"You're right. But I have treated you like my child since the day your mother brought you into this house.""
Mia's eyes filled.
"Then why are you doing this?""
"Because I finally understand that treating you like my child doesn't mean allowing you to hurt mine.""
Renee stepped forward.
"Daniel, stop punishing Mia for my decisions.""
Dad looked at her.
"Then stop hiding behind her.""
A phone began vibrating on the counter.
Renee glanced down.
The screen displayed Victor's name.
Dad reached for it.
Renee grabbed it first.
"Don't answer that.""
Dad froze.
"Why?""
She looked at him.
For the first time, she seemed to realize how much she had revealed.
Then the phone stopped ringing.
A message appeared.
*Victor: Did you get the documents signed? The transfer must be completed before midnight.*
Dad read it.
His face changed.
He picked up the phone and looked at Renee.
"Before midnight?""
She didn't respond.
He read the message again.
Then another notification appeared.
*Victor: If Daniel has discovered anything, use the backup agreement. Don't let the girl speak to the trustee.*
I felt my stomach drop.
Dad looked at me.
Then he turned toward Renee.
"What backup agreement?""
Renee began crying.
But this time, Dad didn't comfort her.
He simply asked again.
"What backup agreement?""
May you like
And Mia, standing beside the staircase, whispered something that none of us expected.
"Mom already has it.""
