Chapter 6: The Grandfather at the Door
Patricia hurried toward him.
“Arthur, you were supposed to remain at the lodge.”
“I received Vanessa’s message.”
Marcus turned on her.
“You called him?”
“I sent one photograph.”
Arthur looked at the children.
His cane shook against the floor.
“Which one of you is Noah?”
Noah raised his hand cautiously.
“And Ethan, Sophia, Olivia?”
Each child answered.
Arthur pressed his lips together.
“Four names I should have known for eight years.”
Marcus moved to his side.
“Father, she concealed them.”
Arthur pulled away.
“I heard the recording from the hallway.”
“You heard part of it.”
“I heard enough.”
Marcus pointed to me.
“She came here to claim the trust.”
“I didn’t know there was a trust until ten minutes ago.”
Arthur faced Grace.
“Who controls the children’s shares?”
“The trust says their mother does until each child turns twenty-five.”
Marcus’s face hardened.
“That isn’t the current version.”
Arthur reached inside his coat and removed a sealed folder.
“It is now.”
Graham stood.
“Mr.
Reynolds, any amendment made under pressure could be challenged.”
“I signed it six months ago, after the audit found four missing beneficiary declarations.”
Marcus stared at him.
“You knew?”
“I knew records were missing.
I did not know there were children.”
Arthur placed the folder in Grace’s hands.
“The amendment also removes any parent who intentionally concealed a beneficiary.”
Marcus grabbed the folder.
Grace held on.
“Release it.”
He pulled harder, tearing the corner.
Vanessa lifted her phone.
“I’m recording.”
Marcus let go.
“This family company would collapse without me.”
Arthur tapped his cane once.
“The board meets at nine tomorrow.”
“You cannot remove me.”
“I can ask you one question in front of them.”
Marcus folded his arms.
“Ask it now.”
“Did you forge your former wife’s signature on the beneficiary waiver?”
My head snapped toward Marcus.
“What waiver?”
Grace opened the folder.
A copied document lay behind the amendment.
My name appeared at the bottom.
“That is not my signature.”
Marcus looked at Graham.
“She signed dozens of papers during the divorce.”
“Not this one,” I said.
Patricia stepped forward.
“I notarized it.”
Arthur stared at his wife.
“You did what?”
“Marcus said she had signed it and left before I came home.”
“You notarized a signature you did not witness?”
Patricia’s shoulders collapsed.
“Yes.”
Marcus took her arm.
“You’re confused.”
She pulled free.
“I remember the pen you used.”
“Stop talking.”
“I remember you practicing her name.”
“Stop.”
“And I remember asking whether the baby would lose anything.”
Marcus swept the papers from the table.
The handwritten letter slid toward the fireplace.
He bent, snatched it, and thrust one edge toward the flame.
Vanessa moved first.
She knocked the fire screen closed with the poker.
Grace seized Marcus’s wrist, and the page fell onto the hearth.
Marcus jerked away.
“None of this proves intent.”
Vanessa held up her phone.
“You just tried to destroy the original.”
“I was angry.”
“You were frightened.”
Marcus stared at her.
“After everything I gave you, you choose strangers?”
Vanessa removed the ring from her pocket and placed it in his palm.
“They stopped being strangers when you made me part of your lie.”
The ring fell from his open hand.
Dana’s tablet chimed.
“The investigator sent another file,” she said.
Marcus lunged for the tablet, but Arthur planted his cane in front of him.
Dana pressed play.
Marcus’s younger voice filled the room.
“If the pregnancy continues, I’ll use the waiver.
Once Father transfers the shares, neither she nor the baby will ever touch this family again.”
The recording continued.
Then another man asked, “And if there is more than one child?”
May you like
Marcus answered with a laugh.
“Then I’ll make sure nobody ever counts them.”
