Chapter 4: The Inheritance That Could Destroy Them
Marcus stared at the document in Vanessa's hand.
The garden had gone strangely quiet. Somewhere behind the mansion, a fountain continued splashing against its marble basin. The guests had disappeared inside, and the housekeepers were watching from the windows.
Ava clung to her father's neck.
“Daddy,” she whispered, “why is that lady holding Mommy's paper?””
Marcus kissed the top of her head.
“Because she's been lying to us, sweetheart.””
Vanessa gave a small laugh.
“Careful, Marcus. You always were emotional when it came to Eleanor.””
“Put the document down.””
“Why? You're interested now?””
She lifted the paper so he could see it more clearly.
The signature at the bottom belonged to his father, Richard Whitmore. Marcus recognized the distinctive slant of the final letter. He had seen it thousands of times on birthday cards, business contracts, and the handwritten notes his father used to leave on his desk.
But the sentence above the signature was impossible.
The sole beneficiary of the Whitmore estate is not Marcus Whitmore.
It is Ava Eleanor Whitmore.
Marcus looked at his daughter.
“Why would my father leave everything to a six-year-old?””
Vanessa tilted her head.
“Because he knew you weren't the person he thought you were.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Show me the document.””
Vanessa smiled.
“Of course, Daniel. You should be particularly interested.””
She handed it to him.
Daniel examined the paper, then turned it over.
“Where did you get this?””
“Your father gave it to Eleanor before he died.””
Marcus frowned.
“That's impossible. Dad's will was finalized four years ago.””
“The will you read was a copy,” Vanessa replied.
“A convenient copy.””
Daniel's fingers tightened around the paper.
“Are you saying Dad secretly changed his will?””
“I'm saying your father discovered that someone in this family had been stealing from him.””
Marcus stared at his brother.
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“Don't look at me.””
“Then who?””
Vanessa answered before Daniel could.
“Your father believed you were making terrible financial decisions. He discovered that millions of dollars had disappeared from the family trust. He suspected someone was using your authority to move money without your knowledge.””
Marcus felt his jaw tighten.
“I never stole from my father.””
“I know,” Vanessa said sweetly.
“But someone did.””
Daniel folded the document.
“That's enough. We need to get the police here.””
Vanessa raised the black device.
“Go ahead.””
Marcus glanced at it.
“What is that?””
“Your security system.””
“You don't have access to my security system.””
Vanessa smiled.
“Don't I?””
She pressed another button.
A faint mechanical sound came from beneath the garden.
Marcus looked toward the swimming pool.
The water had begun moving again.
Not through the filtration system.
Downward.
A circular current formed near the deep end, pulling floating flower petals toward the center.
Marcus rushed toward the pool.
“Turn it off!””
Vanessa didn't move.
“Your wife is in a room with an independent oxygen supply. For now.””
Marcus spun around.
“You said she's alive.””
“She is.””
“Then open the door!””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“Not until we finish our conversation.””
Daniel moved toward her.
“Give me that device.””
She stepped backward.
“Don't come closer.””
Daniel stopped.
For the first time, Marcus noticed something unusual about his brother. Daniel wasn't simply frightened of Vanessa.
He was frightened of what she might reveal.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Daniel, tell me what happened four years ago.””
His brother looked at him.
“What?””
“The money Dad discovered. The missing millions. What do you know?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Marcus, this isn't the place.””
“Then where is the place?””
Vanessa laughed.
“Oh, Daniel. Don't you think he's earned the truth?””
Daniel's face reddened.
“You're the one who arranged the transfers!””
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
“Be careful.””
“No,” Daniel snapped.
“I'm finished being careful.””
Marcus stared between them.
Daniel took a shaky breath.
“Four years ago, Dad discovered that somebody had been transferring money out of the family trust through a shell company. He asked me to investigate because I was handling some of the company's financial records.””
“Who owned the shell company?”” Marcus asked.
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“She did.””
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“That's a ridiculous accusation.””
“You used my login credentials,” Daniel continued.
“You copied my signature. When Dad found out, you threatened to expose my gambling debts unless I helped you access the company accounts.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You had gambling debts?””
Daniel looked down.
“I'm sorry.””
“That's what you have to say?””
“I was desperate.””
“And Eleanor?””
Daniel's voice broke.
“Eleanor found the transfer records. She discovered everything. She told Dad she was going to take the documents to the police.””
Vanessa's fingers tightened around the device.
“Enough.””
Daniel ignored her.
“She also found out about the second will. Your father had changed the inheritance so Ava would receive the entire controlling interest in the company when she turned eighteen. Until then, Eleanor would act as her legal guardian and trustee.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Why didn't Eleanor tell me?””
“She tried.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“She lied to you, Marcus. She was planning to take Ava and disappear.””
“Stop.””
“She was going to leave you with nothing.””
“STOP!””
His shout echoed across the garden.
Ava began crying.
Marcus immediately lowered his voice.
“I'm sorry, sweetheart.””
He turned back to Vanessa.
“Why did you keep Eleanor here?””
Vanessa's face became cold.
“Because she had something I needed.””
“The will?””
“The original trust agreement. The original signatures. The evidence that could destroy everything.””
Marcus looked at the black device.
“And the water?””
Vanessa glanced toward the pool.
“An unfortunate inconvenience.””
Marcus took one step toward her.
“Open that door.””
She pressed the device against her chest.
“Not yet.””
Then Ava suddenly spoke.
“Daddy?””
Marcus looked down.
The little girl was staring at Vanessa's right hand.
“That's Mommy's bracelet.””
Vanessa looked at her wrist.
A thin gold bracelet circled it. A tiny silver butterfly hung from the clasp.
Marcus recognized it immediately.
He had given it to Eleanor on their fifth wedding anniversary.
His throat tightened.
“Where did you get that?””
Vanessa pulled her sleeve over it.
“I bought it.””
“No, you didn't.””
“It's just a bracelet.””
Ava shook her head.
“Mommy had the other half.””
Marcus frowned.
“What other half?””
Ava reached into the pocket of her little dress and pulled out a tiny silver butterfly charm.
The matching piece.
Vanessa's face went completely white.
Marcus stared at the charm.
“Where did you get that?””
“Mommy gave it to me through the little window,” Ava whispered.
“She told me to keep it safe.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“You took that bracelet from her?””
Vanessa backed away.
“I don't have time for this.””
She pressed the black device again.
A loud alarm sounded from inside the mansion.
Then every light around the swimming pool went dark.
Daniel grabbed Marcus's shoulder.
“Get Ava inside!””
But before Marcus could move, the enormous glass doors of the mansion opened.
Two men in dark suits stepped onto the terrace.
One carried a metal case.
The other held a folder.
Vanessa smiled again.
“Perfect timing.””
Marcus moved Ava behind him.
“Who are they?””
Vanessa looked directly at him.
“Your father's former attorneys.””
The older man stepped forward.
“Mr. Whitmore, we need to discuss the authenticity of the document your fiancée is holding.””
Marcus looked at the paper.
Then at Vanessa.
And suddenly, he understood why she had chosen tonight for the proposal.
May you like
She hadn't wanted a wedding.
She had wanted his signature.
