Chapter 4: The Secret Behind My Mother's Death
"Your mother didn't die the way you were told.""
My father's words seemed to drain every bit of warmth from the hospital room.
I stared at him.
For fifteen years, I had believed my mother died from complications following emergency surgery. I remembered the funeral, the white flowers, the black dresses, and my father holding my hand while I cried into his coat.
I remembered asking him why she had to leave us.
He had told me there was nothing anyone could have done.
Now he was telling me that wasn't true.
"What do you mean, Daddy?""
Arthur pulled his chair closer.
"Your mother, Elizabeth, was investigating financial irregularities involving your grandmother's estate shortly before she died.""
I frowned.
"Grandma's estate?""
He nodded.
"She discovered that someone had been transferring money from Eleanor's accounts without authorization. Your mother believed the person responsible was Victoria.""
My aunt.
The same woman whose name had appeared on Margaret's paper.
I shook my head.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because you were seventeen. Your mother had just died, and I was trying to keep you safe.""
"Safe from what?""
He looked down.
"From people who knew how much money was involved.""
I felt a chill move through me.
"Daddy, are you saying Aunt Victoria had something to do with Mom's death?""
"I'm saying I never believed the official explanation told the whole story.""
My eyes filled.
"Then why didn't you investigate?""
"I did.""
He reached inside his coat and removed an old photograph.
It showed my mother standing beside my grandmother in front of a large house.
Both were smiling.
On the back, my mother's handwriting read:
For Arthur. Don't let them take what's ours.
I touched the photograph.
"Where did you get this?""
"Your grandmother gave it to me two weeks before she died.""
I looked at him.
"Grandma knew?""
"She suspected Victoria had been manipulating the estate. She was gathering evidence, but she became ill before she could finish.""
I remembered Grandma Eleanor's final months.
She had become quieter.
She often asked me whether I trusted Adrian.
At the time, I thought she was simply worried about me getting married.
One afternoon, she had held my hand and said, "Never sign anything just because someone tells you it's easier, sweetheart.""
I had promised her I wouldn't.
And yet I had signed Adrian's documents without reading them.
My father continued.
"After your mother died, I found a letter she had written to a lawyer. It mentioned a missing medical report.""
"What report?""
"An independent examination she had requested before her death.""
I stared at him.
"Why would she need an independent examination?""
"She had been experiencing unexplained symptoms. She believed someone was giving her medication she hadn't been prescribed.""
My stomach tightened.
"Was she poisoned?""
"I don't know.""
He looked at me.
"The hospital records showed she had been receiving medication for a heart condition. But your mother had never been diagnosed with that condition.""
I covered my mouth.
"Then why was she receiving it?""
"That's what I tried to find out.""
He removed another document from his folder.
It was an old hospital discharge summary.
My mother's name was printed at the top.
Beneath it was a medication list.
I recognized none of the names.
"Your aunt Victoria was listed as an emergency contact," Dad explained.
"She had been helping your mother with appointments because I was traveling frequently for work.""
I looked at him.
"And you trusted her?""
"She was my sister.""
He paused.
"At the time, I thought she was helping us.""
I looked at the date.
Three days before my mother died.
Then I noticed something.
A handwritten note appeared beside the medication section.
Authorized by V. Mitchell.
My hands began trembling.
"She approved Mom's medication?""
"Apparently.""
I looked up.
"Did you confront her?""
"Yes. She told me your mother had been confused and that the doctors had recommended the treatment.""
"And you believed her?""
"I wanted to believe her.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"I was grieving, Serena. I had just lost the woman I loved. I couldn't imagine my own sister being involved in something terrible.""
I swallowed.
"Did you ever find the medical report?""
He shook his head.
"No. But two weeks ago, I received an anonymous envelope containing a copy of a hospital access log from fifteen years ago.""
He placed it beside the discharge summary.
I read the page.
It listed several people who had accessed my mother's medical file.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Victoria Mitchell.
Another name appeared beneath it.
Diane Walker.
I blinked.
"Diane?""
My father nodded.
"She was working as a consultant for a private healthcare company at the time. Victoria introduced her to the family.""
I stared at the page.
"So Diane knew Mom?""
"Yes.""
"How?""
"Your mother was helping Eleanor investigate financial transfers involving a company Diane's family had an interest in.""
I felt sick.
The two women who had spent months trying to control my life had apparently been connected to my mother's final days.
A knock interrupted us.
Dr. Patel entered with a nurse.
"Mr. Mitchell, may I speak with your daughter?""
My father stood immediately.
"Of course.""
Dr. Patel checked my monitor.
"Your blood pressure is still concerning. We have administered medication, but we're not seeing the improvement we'd hoped for.""
I gripped the blanket.
"What does that mean?""
"It means we may need to deliver your baby sooner than planned.""
My father stepped closer.
"How soon?""
"Possibly tomorrow, depending on your next readings and the baby's condition.""
I stared at her.
"Will she be okay?""
Dr. Patel smiled gently.
"She's responding well to monitoring. We're preparing the neonatal team in case she needs additional support.""
I nodded, but my mind was somewhere else.
My mother.
My grandmother.
My aunt.
Diane.
How many years had these people been hiding things from me?
Dr. Patel adjusted the monitor.
"Mrs. Walker, I need you to avoid unnecessary stress. We're also arranging additional security because of the incident earlier.""
My father nodded.
"Thank you.""
After the doctor left, I turned toward him.
"I want to see Aunt Victoria.""
"No.""
"Daddy.""
"Not while you're in this condition.""
"She has answers.""
"And she may have reasons to lie.""
I looked down at the photograph.
"She was my aunt. She held me at Mom's funeral.""
My father softened.
"I know.""
"She used to bring me birthday presents.""
"I know, sweetheart.""
I wiped my cheeks.
"How can someone do that?""
He didn't answer.
Instead, he opened his laptop and called his attorney.
I heard him explain the hospital access logs, the forged documents, and the connection between Diane and Victoria.
Then he said something that made me look up.
"I want the original estate file from Eleanor Mitchell's solicitor. Especially the amendment made three months before Elizabeth died.""
I frowned.
"Amendment?""
My father closed the laptop halfway.
"Your grandmother changed her will shortly before your mother's death.""
"Because of Victoria?""
"Possibly.""
He took a breath.
"She removed Victoria as a beneficiary and placed the majority of the estate into a protected trust for you.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't she tell me?""
"She intended to explain everything when you turned thirty.""
I remembered the trust.
The three million dollars.
The documents Diane had allegedly tried to manipulate.
But something still didn't make sense.
"Why would Grandma leave everything to me if she knew someone might come after it?""
My father looked at the photograph.
"Because she believed you were the only person who could eventually uncover what had happened.""
My phone vibrated.
Another unknown number.
This time, it was a photograph.
I opened it.
The image showed a handwritten letter on yellowed paper.
At the bottom was my grandmother's signature.
I read the message beneath it.
Eleanor's final instructions were never carried out. Victoria has the original.
My father leaned closer.
His face changed.
"Where did you get that?""
I typed a reply.
Who are you?
The answer came almost immediately.
Someone who worked at St. Mary's Hospital when your mother died.
Then another message appeared.
If you want to know why your grandmother changed her will, find the locked cabinet in Victoria's old office.
I looked at my father.
"What's in Victoria's old office?""
He went completely still.
Then he whispered:
"Your grandmother's original medical file.""
Before I could ask anything else, my phone rang.
The caller ID showed Adrian.
My father shook his head.
"Don't answer.""
But I did.
"Serena," Adrian said.
His voice sounded different.
No irritation.
No arrogance.
Just panic.
"Where are you?""
"In the hospital.""
"I know. Listen to me carefully. You need to get your father away from Victoria's office.""
My heart began racing.
"Why?""
"Because Mother just found out someone is trying to get inside.""
I stared at the phone.
"Who?""
There was a pause.
Then Adrian whispered:
"Your aunt is already there.""
The call ended.
And a second later, another message appeared.
It was from Adrian.
Serena, I need to tell you something before my mother does.
May you like
I knew about the forged documents.
But I didn't know they were planning to hurt you.
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