Chapter 13: The Two Million Dollars My Mother Hid for Me
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Two million dollars.
My mother had left more money in my name than I could have imagined, and Monica had spent months trying to make me disappear before I could discover it.
Dad read Samuel's email again.
Then he looked at me.
"Jasmine, this account belongs to you.""
I stared at the screen.
"How?""
"Your mother established it before she died.""
"But why didn't she tell you?""
Dad looked toward Monica.
"Apparently, she had reasons.""
Monica came down the stairs slowly.
"Marcus, you need to understand something.""
He turned.
"Don't.""
"Laura wasn't honest with you.""
"Don't you dare use her name to justify what you've done.""
Monica wiped her cheeks.
"She was hiding money. She was making arrangements behind your back. You don't know what she was planning.""
Dad shook his head.
"She was protecting her daughter.""
"From you?""
The question hung in the air.
Dad looked genuinely hurt.
Monica continued.
"Laura knew you trusted Richard. She knew you weren't paying attention to the company. She knew you would sign anything if someone told you it was routine.""
Dad's jaw tightened.
"That's not an excuse for what you've done.""
"I'm trying to explain why everything happened!""
"Then explain the London account.""
Monica looked away.
I stepped forward.
"Did you know about the two million dollars?""
She didn't answer.
"Did you know my mother left it for me?""
Monica finally looked at me.
"Yes.""
The admission was so quiet that I almost didn't hear it.
I felt my knees weaken.
"How long?""
"Since before I married your father.""
Dad stared at her.
"Before you married me?""
Monica nodded.
"Richard told me about the account. He said Laura had moved company funds into an offshore trust.""
I looked at her.
"Those weren't company funds. They were mine.""
"That's what she claimed.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"She was my mother!""
Monica's expression hardened.
"And she left you everything while Olivia was expected to start with nothing.""
Dad stepped forward.
"Olivia has a father, a mother, and a future. Jasmine lost hers when Laura died. How could you compare those situations?""
Monica shook her head.
"Because I watched you spend five years treating Jasmine like she was the only child who mattered.""
I stared at her.
"I never asked Dad to ignore Olivia.""
"You didn't have to.""
"All I wanted was to live in my own home!""
Monica looked down.
For once, she had no immediate response.
Dad picked up his phone.
"We're contacting Margaret and Samuel. Nobody touches another document until the lawyers review everything.""
Monica laughed bitterly.
"You still don't understand. Richard already moved the money.""
Dad went still.
"What?""
"The London account isn't as secure as you think.""
I looked at her.
"What did you do?""
She swallowed.
"Daniel arranged access.""
"To my account?""
"He couldn't withdraw the money without the beneficiary authorization. But he managed to freeze the transfer process.""
Dad immediately called Samuel.
The attorney answered.
"Marcus?""
"Monica says someone has interfered with Jasmine's London account.""
Samuel became silent.
Then he asked:
"Has anyone contacted the bank directly?""
"I don't know.""
"Listen carefully. Do not give anyone account details, passwords, or verification codes. I am contacting the trust administrator now.""
Dad put the call on speaker.
Samuel explained that the account was held through an independent fiduciary arrangement. The money could not legally be transferred simply because someone had access to company paperwork.
However, a fraudulent claim had recently been submitted.
It alleged that I was not the rightful beneficiary.
Dad gripped the edge of the counter.
"Who submitted it?""
Samuel checked his records.
"An attorney representing Daniel Price.""
Monica closed her eyes.
I looked at her.
"You knew they were trying to take my money.""
She didn't answer.
Samuel continued.
"Jasmine, your mother anticipated this possibility. She placed a verification requirement on the account. Before any distribution, the trustee must confirm your identity and review the original beneficiary agreement.""
"How do I do that?""
"You'll need to meet the independent trustee. Eleanor has the relevant documentation.""
Dad thanked him.
Then Samuel added:
"There's something else. Your mother left a recording explaining why she established the account. I believe you should hear it before making any decisions.""
I looked at Dad.
"When?""
"Tomorrow morning.""
The call ended.
Dad took a long breath.
"You're going to meet Eleanor. We'll bring everything.""
Monica suddenly stepped forward.
"Marcus, please. I can still fix this.""
He looked at her.
"How?""
"I can call Richard. I can get Daniel to withdraw the claim.""
"Why would they listen to you?""
"Because I know where the original records are.""
Dad stared.
"Where?""
Monica hesitated.
Then she looked at me.
"There's a safe deposit box.""
My heart started racing.
"Where?""
"At a bank in the city.""
"What is inside?""
"The original company documents. The first trust agreement. And something Laura left specifically for Jasmine.""
Dad took out his phone.
"Give me the details.""
Monica shook her head.
"Not until you promise you won't have me arrested.""
Dad looked at her with disbelief.
"You think you're in a position to negotiate?""
"I have a daughter to protect.""
I looked at Olivia.
She was standing halfway down the staircase, listening.
For the first time, I noticed how frightened she looked.
Dad spoke firmly.
"Olivia will be protected. But that doesn't mean you get to escape responsibility.""
Monica began crying.
Then she gave him the bank's name and the safe deposit box number.
Dad wrote everything down.
That evening, the house was quieter than I had ever known it.
Monica stayed in the guest room under Dad's supervision while he contacted the attorneys.
Olivia came to my bedroom shortly before midnight.
She stood in the doorway, holding something behind her back.
"Can I come in?""
I looked at her.
"What do you want?""
She walked inside.
Then she placed a small silver necklace on my desk.
My mother's necklace.
The one that had disappeared months earlier.
I stared at it.
"Where did you get that?""
"Mom kept it in her jewelry box.""
I picked it up.
The chain was tangled, and the little silver heart pendant had a scratch across its surface.
I remembered my mother wearing it every Sunday.
"Why are you giving it back?""
Olivia began crying.
"Because it was yours.""
I looked at her.
"It was my mother's.""
"I know.""
I waited.
She wiped her face.
"Jasmine, I know saying sorry doesn't fix anything.""
"No, it doesn't.""
"I was jealous of you. I hated that Dad was always proud of you. I hated that teachers talked about you. I thought if you left, everything would finally be fair.""
I put the necklace down.
"And now?""
She looked around my bedroom.
"Now I know what I helped Mom do.""
I didn't forgive her.
Not that night.
Maybe not for a long time.
But I let her finish speaking.
Before she left, she turned around.
"There's one more thing you should know.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"Uncle Richard told Mom that if the London account couldn't be accessed, they would use the safe deposit box to get the original beneficiary agreement.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
Olivia swallowed.
"Because there's another name written inside it. A name that could stop the whole inheritance.""
She walked toward the door.
Then she turned back.
"Mom said it was your mother's final secret.""
I stared at the necklace.
May you like
Tomorrow, I would hear my mother's voice again.
And I was beginning to fear what she had left me to discover.
