Chapter 10: The Letter My Father Stole
"Your father collected it three weeks ago?""
I repeated Martin's words, hoping I had misunderstood him.
"Yes, sir," he answered.
"I contacted the solicitor's office. They confirmed that a sealed envelope addressed to you was collected by someone presenting himself as your legal representative.""
"Who signed for it?""
"Richard Cole.""
I looked at Daniel.
He had stopped typing.
"Ask them whether they made a copy before releasing it," Daniel said.
I repeated the question.
Martin put me on hold.
For nearly a minute, nobody spoke.
Then he returned.
"Mr. Cole, the solicitor says they scanned the envelope before handing it over. They have a digital copy of the delivery receipt, but not the contents.""
"Who was the solicitor?""
"Harold Bennett. He worked with Mrs. Whitmore for more than thirty years.""
Daniel immediately wrote the name down.
"Get me his number.""
Martin promised to call back.
I sat down.
My father had collected a letter intended for me, signed as my legal representative, and apparently kept it hidden.
He had known that Margaret Whitmore's final instructions could expose something.
And he had been willing to impersonate my representative to obtain them.
Daniel closed the financial records.
"Adrian, we need to stop treating this as a family disagreement.""
"I know.""
"No. I don't think you do. If these documents are genuine, we're looking at potential fraud, unauthorized transfers, forged signatures, and deliberate concealment of trust assets.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"What happens now?""
"We preserve every record, freeze any pending transactions where legally possible, and establish who has authority over the trust.""
"And my father?""
"Until we know more, don't confront him again.""
I gave a bitter laugh.
"That might be difficult.""
"Make it possible.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Natalie appeared.
I know you're angry. Please meet me tonight. I have something important to tell you about Richard.
I showed Daniel.
He read it twice.
"Don't meet her alone.""
"Do you think she's lying?""
"I think she's frightened. Frightened people sometimes tell the truth, and sometimes they tell whatever they believe will save them.""
I looked at the message.
"She gave me the USB drive.""
"Which is useful. But it doesn't make her innocent.""
I nodded.
An hour later, Martin called again.
He had found Harold Bennett's number.
I contacted him immediately.
"Mr. Bennett, my name is Adrian Cole. Margaret Whitmore was my grandfather's solicitor.""
His voice became warmer.
"Of course, Adrian. I remember you. A very bright young boy, always following your grandfather around.""
"I understand she left a sealed letter for me.""
A long silence followed.
"Yes," he said.
"My father collected it.""
Another silence.
"Mr. Cole, I was not comfortable releasing that envelope.""
"Why did you?""
"Your father presented a signed authorization. He claimed you were traveling and had asked him to collect it on your behalf.""
"Did he provide proof?""
"He provided a letter bearing your signature.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"My signature?""
"Yes.""
"I never signed anything.""
Mr. Bennett sighed.
"That is precisely why I was concerned.""
"Did Margaret tell you what was inside?""
"She gave me specific instructions. The envelope was not to be opened by anyone except you. If you personally requested it, I was to provide you with a second copy of the documents.""
I sat forward.
"A second copy?""
"Yes. Margaret anticipated that the original might disappear.""
I closed my eyes.
My mother had warned Elena.
Margaret had anticipated the same thing.
"Do you have that copy?""
"I do.""
"Can I collect it?""
"Tomorrow morning. But there's something else, Adrian.""
"What?""
"Margaret asked me to tell you that the contents could affect your wedding.""
I looked at Daniel.
"What does that mean?""
Mr. Bennett lowered his voice.
"She believed your father was arranging a marriage-based transfer of the estate. She said you should not marry until you had read her instructions.""
I ended the call.
For a few seconds, I stared at the desk.
Then I turned toward Daniel.
"We need that letter tomorrow.""
He nodded.
"Agreed.""
That evening, I returned to Cedar Hollow.
Natalie was waiting in the conservatory.
She had changed into a black dress. Her hair was tied back, and her makeup was lighter than usual.
She looked tired.
"Thank you for coming," she said.
I remained near the doorway.
"You said you had something important to tell me.""
She nodded.
"Please sit.""
"I'd rather stand.""
She swallowed.
"Richard is planning to leave the country.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"He has been arranging transfers to accounts overseas. He told me that once the wedding is over, he'll spend several months in Europe.""
"Why didn't you mention this earlier?""
"Because I didn't know the full extent of it.""
I watched her carefully.
"How long have you known about the money?""
"Since January.""
"January?""
She nodded.
"He told me he was restructuring the estate. He said your grandfather's trust had become an obstacle.""
"And you agreed to help him?""
Natalie began crying.
"I was afraid of losing everything.""
I almost interrupted, but she continued.
"My family has debts, Adrian. My father invested badly. We lost our house when I was younger. Richard knew about it.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"He promised to help me. He said that after the wedding, I would never have to worry about money again.""
"So you helped him steal from my family.""
"I thought it was temporary.""
"Did you know he had forged my mother's signature?""
She looked away.
"Not until last month.""
"And you still continued?""
She covered her face.
I stood silently.
Finally, she whispered:
"There's something I haven't told you.""
"What?""
"Richard didn't originally choose me because he thought I would make you happy.""
I stared at her.
"Explain.""
She took a breath.
"Three years ago, he approached my father. He knew about our financial problems. He offered to settle them if I agreed to get close to you.""
The words seemed to echo around the conservatory.
I couldn't move.
"You were paid to date me?""
Natalie shook her head quickly.
"It wasn't supposed to be like that.""
"Then what was it supposed to be?""
"He said we would become friends first. Then he wanted me to understand your interests, your habits, and your plans for the future.""
I felt something inside me go cold.
"And the engagement?""
"He encouraged it.""
I looked at the woman I had planned to marry.
"Did you ever love me?""
She began sobbing.
"Yes.""
"Was any part of our relationship real?""
"Adrian, please.""
"Answer me.""
She looked directly at me.
"I didn't expect to fall in love with you.""
I stared at her.
"That's not an answer.""
She lowered her head.
"I don't know anymore.""
I turned toward the door.
"Adrian, wait!""
I stopped.
"Richard has something else planned," she said urgently.
"He told me that if you refused to sign the agreement, he would use the original trust documents to force a legal review.""
"How?""
She hesitated.
"He said the marriage would make you vulnerable.""
I turned.
"What does that mean?""
Natalie looked terrified.
"He said there was a clause concerning your mother's death. A clause that could expose something about the circumstances surrounding her final days.""
My blood ran cold.
"What are you talking about?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know everything.""
"Then tell me what you do know.""
She whispered:
"Richard said your mother didn't die before discovering the missing money.""
She swallowed.
"She died because she discovered it.""
I stood completely still.
My mother had died when I was sixteen.
I had been told it was a sudden medical emergency.
My father had arranged the funeral.
My grandmother had been too devastated to question anything.
And now Natalie was suggesting there had been something else.
Before I could ask another question, my phone rang.
It was my grandmother.
"Adrian, come home immediately.""
"Grandma, what's wrong?""
Her voice trembled.
"I found something in your mother's old room.""
"What?""
"A letter. It's addressed to you.""
I looked at Natalie.
May you like
Then I heard Grandma whisper:
"It says your mother was afraid someone in this family would kill her.""
