Chapter 4: The Brother Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
"Your brother didn't die in that accident, Michael. At least, not the way you've always been told.""
For several seconds, my father didn't move.
His fingers remained wrapped around the edge of the table. His eyes were fixed on Vanessa, but I could see something breaking behind them.
"Take that back," he whispered.
Vanessa shook her head.
"You heard me.""
"My brother Daniel is dead.""
"That's what you were told.""
Dad stepped closer.
"I attended his funeral.""
"You attended a closed-casket funeral.""
"Because his body was burned!""
"Exactly.""
My stomach tightened.
I looked between them.
"Someone needs to explain what's happening.""
Dad turned toward me, his face pale.
"Daniel was my younger brother. He died when I was twenty-seven. His car supposedly caught fire after crashing on a country road outside Richmond.""
"Supposedly?"" I repeated.
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"The police identified the vehicle. There were dental records. Your grandfather arranged everything.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Your grandfather arranged a lot of things.""
Dad grabbed the back of a chair.
"Don't drag my father into this.""
"Why not? He was the one who paid Richard Hale!""
Dad's head snapped up.
"What?""
Vanessa looked almost satisfied now.
"You think your family was innocent? Your father knew about the baby. He knew about the money. He knew exactly why Daniel had to disappear.""
I felt the room tilt.
"The baby?""
Vanessa glanced at me.
Then she looked directly at Dad.
"Ask your mother what happened the night Emily was born.""
"My mother died years ago.""
"Then ask the hospital.""
Dad immediately reached for his phone.
But before he could make a call, Thomas Reed spoke through the speaker.
"Michael, I need you to listen carefully. I'm sending someone to the house. Nobody should touch those documents.""
"Thomas, my wife just told me my brother might be alive.""
There was a pause.
"Did she say that?""
"Yes.""
"Then I need to check something.""
Dad's voice became sharp.
"Check what?""
"Your brother's death certificate.""
"What about it?""
"I requested a certified copy this morning after discovering the forged trust documents. There's something unusual about the date.""
"What?""
Thomas hesitated.
"The certificate was issued eleven days before the accident supposedly happened.""
Dad stared at the phone.
"That's impossible.""
"I thought so too.""
Vanessa suddenly moved toward the front door.
Dad blocked her path.
"You're not leaving.""
"Get out of my way.""
"Not until you explain.""
She laughed.
"You want an explanation? Fine. Daniel was alive when I married you. He contacted me two years ago.""
Dad looked as if someone had punched him.
"Why would my brother contact you?""
"Because he wanted his money.""
"What money?""
"The money your father promised him.""
Dad shook his head.
"You're lying.""
Vanessa reached into her purse and pulled out a small folded photograph.
She threw it onto the table.
It landed beside my mother's letter.
Dad picked it up.
His hands began shaking.
The photograph showed a man standing outside a small roadside café. He had dark hair, a familiar jawline, and a faint scar across his left eyebrow.
Dad stared at it.
"Daniel.""
I leaned over his shoulder.
The man in the picture looked older, but the resemblance was unmistakable.
"Where did you get this?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"He sent it to me.""
"When?""
"Two years ago.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because he told me not to.""
Dad looked up.
"Why?""
"Because he wanted to know whether Emily had received her inheritance.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"Why would Uncle Daniel care about my inheritance?""
Vanessa gave me a cold smile.
"Because he believes some of that money belongs to him.""
Dad slammed the photograph onto the table.
"He's not entitled to a single dollar!""
"That's not what the original agreement said.""
"What agreement?""
Vanessa said nothing.
Dad grabbed the legal document from the table and began searching through its pages.
Then his eyes stopped on a paragraph near the bottom.
He read it twice.
"Thomas?""
"I'm here.""
"There's a clause about a secondary beneficiary.""
"Yes. I noticed that.""
"Who is it?""
Thomas answered slowly.
"Daniel Carter.""
Dad closed his eyes.
I stared at the paper.
My uncle's name was listed beside a percentage of the original estate.
But there was something else.
A handwritten note appeared in the margin.
Beneficiary status contingent upon confirmation of biological relationship.
I looked up.
"What does that mean?""
Thomas sighed.
"Emily, I believe your mother established the trust partly to protect you from a family dispute involving your biological father.""
Dad turned toward Vanessa.
"Tell me the truth. Was Daniel Emily's father?""
Vanessa's face crumpled.
"I don't know.""
"You're lying!""
"I'm telling you what I know!""
She began crying.
"Your brother and Claire were involved before she married you. Your father discovered it. He threatened to destroy Daniel's life if he didn't leave.""
Dad stumbled backward.
"My wife loved me.""
"She did.""
"Then why?""
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"Because she was pregnant before your wedding.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Dad looked at me.
"Emily was born eleven months after we married.""
Vanessa nodded.
"Exactly.""
"That proves nothing.""
"No. But the hospital records do.""
She reached into her purse again.
This time, she produced a small envelope.
It was old, yellowed, and creased along the edges.
Dad took it.
Inside was a photocopy of a birth certificate.
My name was printed across the top.
My mother's name appeared underneath.
But the section identifying my father was different from the birth certificate I had seen growing up.
There was a handwritten amendment.
*BIOLOGICAL FATHER: DANIEL JAMES CARTER.*
I couldn't breathe.
Dad stared at the page.
Then he whispered:
"Why would you keep this?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Because I knew one day she'd ask.""
I shook my head.
"No. You're making this up.""
Vanessa's voice softened.
"Your mother made me promise never to tell you.""
"Then why are you telling me now?""
She looked toward the open safe.
"Because your father is about to destroy me, and I refuse to be the only person who loses everything.""
Dad took out his phone.
"I'm calling the police.""
Vanessa's expression changed.
"Michael, don't.""
"You stole money, forged documents, and lied about my daughter.""
"Your daughter?""
She laughed through her tears.
"Which daughter, Michael? The one you raised or the one your brother fathered?""
Dad's hand trembled.
He dialed.
But before the call connected, my own phone began ringing.
I didn't recognize the number.
I answered cautiously.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Emily Carter?""
"Yes. Who is this?""
"My name is Richard Hale.""
My stomach tightened.
The attorney from the documents.
He continued.
"I understand Vanessa has been discussing your birth records.""
I looked at Dad.
"How do you know that?""
"Because I've been trying to prevent this conversation for twenty-five years.""
May you like
Then he said something that made my legs weaken.
"Your mother didn't just leave you an inheritance, Emily. She left you evidence of a murder.""
