Chapter 4: The Heir My Father Never Wanted
"Ask your wife why she never told you who your father really wanted to inherit the company.""
Andre's words hung in the living room.
I looked at him, then at Nia.
My wife had gone completely still.
"What is he talking about?"" I asked.
Nia opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Andre gave a bitter laugh.
"See? She can't even tell you.""
"Shut up, Andre.""
"No, Marcus. You've spent your entire life believing you're the golden child. Dad's favorite.
The responsible son. The one who deserved everything.""
He stepped closer.
"But you never bothered asking why he changed his will three months before he died.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"My father never changed his will.""
"That's what Mom told you.""
I turned toward Evelyn.
She was standing beside the fireplace, her fingers gripping the edge of the mantel.
"Mom?""
She didn't answer.
Andre continued.
"Dad discovered something about the company. Something he couldn't forgive. He was going to remove you from the inheritance entirely.""
"That's a lie.""
"Ask Nia.""
I turned to my wife.
She was crying silently.
"Baby, what does he mean?""
Nia reached for my hand.
"Marcus, your father came to see me two weeks before he died.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"At the time, you were in Chicago negotiating the Riverside contract. Your father called me and asked me to meet him privately.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he asked me not to. He said he needed to protect you until he could explain everything himself.""
I sat down slowly.
"What did he tell you?""
Nia wiped her cheeks.
"He said someone inside the family had been stealing from Sterling Holdings. He suspected your mother and Andre were working together.""
Andre slammed his hand against the dining table.
"That's ridiculous!""
Nia flinched.
I immediately stood.
"Don't you dare shout at her.""
Andre pointed at my wife.
"She's making everything up!""
"Then explain the forged transfers.""
He looked away.
Nia continued.
"Your father showed me a document. It was an amendment to his original trust. He wanted Sofia to become the primary beneficiary of his controlling shares.""
I frowned.
"Sofia?""
She nodded.
"He said he didn't trust any of the adults around him to protect what he'd built. He wanted his granddaughter to inherit it when she became an adult.""
My mother finally spoke.
"That's impossible.""
Nia turned toward her.
"Why?""
"Because Robert would never have made that decision without consulting me.""
"He did.""
"You're lying!""
Nia reached beneath the blanket and pulled out a small photograph.
It showed my father sitting at his desk.
Beside him was Nia.
On the desk lay a document bearing his signature.
I recognized the room immediately.
It was his private study, the one Evelyn had kept locked since his death.
I took the photograph.
"When was this taken?""
"Two weeks before he died.""
I looked at the image again.
My father looked tired, but his eyes were clear.
He was smiling at Nia.
Behind them, a small wooden box sat on the desk.
I remembered that box.
It had belonged to my grandfather.
"What was inside?""
Nia shook her head.
"I don't know. Your father said it contained the original trust documents and evidence of the financial fraud.""
"Where is it now?""
She looked toward the hallway.
"Your mother took it.""
I turned toward Evelyn.
"Where's the box?""
She lifted her chin.
"I have no idea what you're talking about.""
"Stop lying!""
My voice echoed through the room.
For the first time, my mother looked genuinely afraid.
Then Andre laughed.
"You still don't understand, do you?""
I turned.
"What now?""
"Dad didn't leave Sofia the company because he thought she'd be a better businesswoman than you.""
"Then why?""
"Because he knew you wouldn't be able to protect it.""
I stared at him.
Andre's eyes were red.
"While you were traveling around the world signing contracts, I was here. I worked beside Dad. I knew everything.""
"You worked for the company for six months before Dad fired you.""
His expression changed.
"Because Mom convinced him to.""
Nia slowly shook her head.
"No, Andre. Your father fired you because you transferred company money into your personal account.""
Andre stepped toward her.
"Keep my name out of your mouth.""
I moved between them.
"One more step, and you'll be explaining yourself to the officers.""
He stopped.
My phone was still connected to Dr. Coleman.
"Marcus?"" the doctor called.
I lifted it to my ear.
"Yes?""
"I need you to understand something. The medical assessment submitted under your name was not the first one.""
I frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"Six months ago, I was asked to evaluate another member of your family.""
"Who?""
He hesitated.
"Your father.""
My blood ran cold.
"My father was never diagnosed with anything.""
"I know. He was perfectly capable of making his own decisions. But someone wanted a medical report suggesting otherwise.""
I looked at Evelyn.
She slowly lowered her eyes.
"Who requested it?"" I asked.
"Your mother.""
The room went silent.
Dr. Coleman continued.
"She wanted to have your father declared incompetent before he could change the trust. I refused. A few weeks later, I was offered a substantial payment to sign a different report.""
"Did you take it?""
"No.""
"Then why did you sign mine?""
His voice broke.
"Because I was told you had already agreed. I believed I was helping with a legitimate evaluation.""
I closed my eyes.
"Who told you?""
"Evelyn.""
My mother suddenly grabbed her purse.
Vanessa moved toward the front door.
I noticed.
"Where are you going?""
She froze.
"Home.""
"Nobody is leaving.""
Evelyn's face turned hard.
"You cannot hold us here.""
"I haven't. But the police are on their way.""
She looked at me with a strange expression.
Then she said something quietly.
"You have no idea what your father did.""
Before I could respond, the front doorbell rang.
Two police officers stood outside.
Behind them was a paramedic carrying a medical bag.
I opened the door.
The officers entered and immediately separated everyone.
One paramedic approached Nia.
"Ma'am, can you tell me your name?""
"Nia Sterling.""
"Do you know what day it is?""
"Christmas Eve.""
"Do you know where you are?""
"At my husband's family home.""
The paramedic examined her hands and checked her temperature.
Another officer began asking me questions.
I showed him the forged transfers, the medical documents, and the photograph of my father.
When I mentioned the shed, his expression changed.
"Your wife was locked outside for four days?""
"Yes.""
"Who locked her in?""
I pointed toward Evelyn.
My mother immediately protested.
"This is a family matter!""
The officer looked at her.
"Ma'am, a person being confined against their will is not a family matter.""
Evelyn's lips tightened.
The officer turned to Vanessa.
"Did you witness what happened?""
Vanessa started crying.
"I didn't lock her in.""
"Did you know she was there?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you help her?""
She shook her head.
The officer wrote something down.
Then another officer approached Andre.
"Sir, we'd like to speak with you about several financial documents.""
Andre looked at my mother.
She gave him a small shake of her head.
He immediately closed his mouth.
I recognized the gesture.
It was the same one she'd used when we were children.
The silent instruction to obey.
But this time, I saw something else in Andre's expression.
He was terrified of her.
As the paramedics prepared to take Nia to the hospital, she grabbed my hand.
"Marcus.""
"I'm here.""
"Your father's box.""
"What about it?""
She leaned closer.
"There's something inside that box your mother doesn't know I copied.""
I frowned.
"What?""
Nia looked toward the study.
"An audio recording.""
Then she whispered:
"Your father recorded the conversation where Evelyn told him what really happened to your first inheritance.""
Before I could ask another question, the paramedic wheeled her toward the door.
And behind us, Evelyn suddenly shouted.
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO OPEN THAT STUDY!""
Every person in the room turned.
The officer looked at her.
"Why not?""
My mother didn't answer.
She simply stared at the locked study door.
May you like
And I finally understood.
Whatever my father had left behind was still inside that room.
