Chapter 8: Sunrise
At 5:42 a.m., Mark was still awake.
Daisy slept on the couch beside him.
Victoria sat across the room.
Daniel was gone.
The police had taken the stranger, Ethan, into custody, but the estate dispute had become a legal maze.
Mark called the attorney listed in his father’s documents.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
Finally, a voicemail came through.
“Mr. Hale, you need to come to the courthouse immediately.””
Mark looked at the clock.
6:11.
He woke Daisy gently.
“Sweetheart, get dressed.””
“Where are we going?””
“Somewhere safe.””
Victoria stood.
“I’ll come.””
Mark looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because I know where the missing page is.””
Mark stopped.
“Where?””
Victoria reached into her coat.
She pulled out a key.
“The old family chapel.””
Mark remembered it.
A tiny stone building at the edge of the estate.
They drove there in silence.
The sun was beginning to rise.
Inside the chapel, dust covered the wooden pews.
Victoria walked to the altar.
She removed a brass candle holder.
Behind it was a narrow compartment.
She reached inside.
Pulled out a folded document.
Mark took it.
The missing page.
His father’s final trust amendment.
He read the first paragraph.
Then stopped.
“What?””
Victoria watched him.
“The estate wasn’t left to Daisy.””
Mark looked at her.
“It was left to…”
He read the final name.
His face went pale.
“Me.””
Victoria nodded.
“Why?””
“Because your father believed you would protect Daisy.””
Mark shook his head.
“But the rest of the trust says Daisy becomes owner when she turns eighteen.””
“Yes.””
“So why did Daniel say he could take it?””
“Because the bank transfer was fraudulent.””
Mark stared at her.
“How do you know?””
“Because I signed it.””
Mark’s eyes hardened.
“Then how do we prove it?””
Victoria pointed to the document.
“Read the witness section.””
Mark did.
Two witnesses.
One was his father’s attorney.
The other was—
He froze.
The second signature belonged to Evelyn Hale.
His mother.
“That’s impossible.””
Victoria whispered, “Look at the date.””
Mark did.
It was five years ago.
The same year the photograph of his mother had been taken.
Mark’s hands began shaking.
“She was alive.””
“Yes.””
“And she witnessed this.””
“Yes.””
“Where is she now?””
Victoria looked toward the chapel doors.
“She’s here.””
The doors slowly opened.
An elderly woman stepped inside.
Mark stopped breathing.
She looked exactly like the photograph.
His mother.
Alive.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Mark?””
He could not move.
Daisy whispered, “Daddy…”
The woman looked at Daisy.
Then she smiled.
“My granddaughter.””
Mark took one step forward.
“Mom?””
Evelyn nodded.
May you like
And then she said the words that broke him.
“I’m sorry I let you believe I was dead.””
