Chapter 6: The Woman Who Knew His First Wife
Marcus didn't recognize the hospital at first.
He turned the photograph over again.
The date was clear.
Six months before Rachel died.
Rachel stood in the middle, wearing a blue cardigan and holding a paper cup of coffee.
Richard Cole stood beside her.
Vanessa stood behind them, one hand resting on Rachel's shoulder.
They were smiling.
All three of them.
Marcus looked at Evelyn.
“Where did you get this?””
“Rachel gave it to me.””
“Why?””
“She said I should keep it somewhere safe.””
“Did she explain what was happening?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“She told me she had made a mistake trusting someone.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa's face in the photograph.
She appeared younger.
Her hair was longer. Her smile was warmer.
But there was no mistaking her.
“How did you never tell me about this?””
“Because Rachel asked me not to.””
Marcus stood and paced across the living room.
“Mom, Rachel was my wife. Jordan was my son. I deserved to know.””
“I know.””
“You let me marry someone who knew my first wife!””
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“I didn't know Vanessa was the same woman until after you married her.””
Marcus stopped.
“What?””
“Rachel never mentioned her full name. She called her V. I thought she was talking about a former friend.””
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
“Then why didn't you recognize her?””
“Because she looked different. And because I believed she had moved away.””
Marcus lowered the photograph.
“When did you realize?””
“About two months after your wedding.””
He stared.
“Two months?””
Evelyn nodded.
“I found an old photograph in Rachel's belongings. Vanessa was standing beside her. I recognized her immediately.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I tried. But Vanessa told me you would think I was trying to ruin your marriage because I couldn't accept that you had moved on.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You should have told me anyway.””
“I know.””
Evelyn looked toward the staircase.
“But Vanessa threatened to keep Jordan away from me if I interfered.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
The pieces were beginning to form a picture.
His mother had been afraid.
Jordan had been afraid.
And Vanessa had been controlling what everyone knew.
“What did Rachel know about her?”” he asked.
Evelyn reached into her handbag again.
“I found something else after Rachel died.””
She removed a small notebook.
Its cover was worn, and the first few pages had come loose.
Marcus recognized it immediately.
Rachel's journal.
He hadn't seen it since the funeral.
“Where did you find that?””
“In the storage box you gave me.””
Marcus opened it carefully.
Several pages contained ordinary entries about Jordan, family dinners, and medical appointments.
Then he reached a page dated six months before Rachel's death.
Vanessa called again.
She says she only wants to talk. I don't believe her.
Richard is still asking questions about the account.
I need to speak with Marcus, but I don't want to frighten him until I understand what's happening.
Marcus turned the page.
Another entry.
Jordan's trust is safe for now. I moved the documents. If anything happens to me, Evelyn knows where to look.
Marcus stopped.
“Jordan's trust?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Rachel established a trust for him when he was little.””
Marcus looked up.
“I thought we closed that account.””
“We didn't.””
He stared.
“What?””
“Rachel left money for Jordan. A substantial amount.””
“How much?””
Evelyn hesitated.
“About $180,000.””
Marcus felt his chest tighten.
“Where is it?””
“Still protected.””
He looked at the journal.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Rachel's instructions were very specific. She wanted Jordan to have access when he turned eighteen.””
Marcus read the entry again.
Jordan's trust is safe for now.
He turned several pages.
A folded sheet of paper slipped out.
It was a copy of a bank statement.
The account was held in a trust managed by a financial institution in Ohio.
The balance was significantly higher than Marcus expected.
$186,420.
But something else caught his eye.
There had been a withdrawal request eleven months earlier.
The request had been denied.
The name listed on the application was Vanessa Williams.
Marcus looked up.
“She tried to access Jordan's trust?””
Evelyn nodded.
“Apparently.””
“Why didn't the bank notify me?””
“Because Rachel had named me as the secondary trustee.””
Marcus stared at the statement.
“Did you report it?””
“I did. The bank flagged the account.””
Marcus turned another page.
There was a copy of a letter from the bank.
The request had been submitted using a power of attorney.
A document Marcus had never seen.
And it bore another forged signature.
This time, Rachel's.
Marcus's hands began shaking.
“Who did this?””
Evelyn looked at him.
“I believe Vanessa.””
He stared at the page.
“She tried to steal Jordan's inheritance?””
“Yes.””
“Then married me?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
Marcus looked toward the stairs.
“Where is she?””
“In the kitchen, I think.””
He started toward the door.
Evelyn caught his arm.
“Marcus, don't confront her yet.””
“Mom, she's been stealing from my son for more than a year!””
“I know.””
“She forged my signature. She tried to access Rachel's trust. She put a life insurance policy on Jordan.””
“I know.””
“What else am I supposed to wait for?””
Evelyn's voice became quiet.
“For the truth.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What truth?””
“The reason she wanted Jordan's money in the first place.””
Before he could answer, a loud crash came from the kitchen.
They hurried downstairs.
Vanessa was standing beside the counter.
A glass lay shattered near her feet.
She was holding a phone.
Marcus stopped in the doorway.
“What happened?””
Vanessa looked at Evelyn.
“You went through my things?””
Evelyn frowned.
“Excuse me?””
“My bedroom. My drawers. My files.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Nobody has been in your bedroom.””
Vanessa laughed.
“Don't lie to me!””
She pointed at the journal in his hand.
“Where did you get that?””
Marcus looked at the notebook.
“Rachel's journal.””
Vanessa's face changed.
For the first time, her composure completely disappeared.
“Give it to me.””
“No.””
“Marcus, that belongs to me!””
He stared at her.
“Rachel's journal belongs to you?””
Vanessa froze.
Then she recovered.
“I mean, it has private information.””
“Information about Jordan's trust?””
Vanessa's lips tightened.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
She looked toward Evelyn.
“She's been poisoning you against me for years!””
Evelyn remained calm.
“I'm not the one who tried to withdraw money from a child's trust.””
Vanessa turned sharply.
“That account was supposed to be closed!””
Marcus stared.
“How do you know about the account?””
Vanessa said nothing.
He stepped closer.
“Did you submit the withdrawal request?””
“No.””
“Then why did the bank list your name?””
“I don't know!””
“Did you forge Rachel's signature?””
Vanessa's breathing became uneven.
“Rachel was not the person you think she was.””
Marcus went still.
“What did you just say?””
“She kept secrets from you, Marcus. She wasn't innocent.””
“Don't talk about my first wife.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“You worship a woman who lied to you.””
Marcus's voice dropped.
“What did Rachel lie about?””
Vanessa looked at him.
Then she glanced toward the staircase.
“Ask your son.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“Ask Jordan what Rachel told him before she died.””
Marcus felt the blood drain from his face.
“Jordan was eight years old.””
“Exactly.””
“What could he possibly know?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You should ask him.””
Marcus took a step toward her.
“Tell me what happened.””
She backed away.
“I won't.””
“Vanessa!””
She grabbed her handbag.
Then she stopped beside the front door.
“One more thing,” she said.
Marcus stared.
“What?””
“Richard isn't the only person who knows about the trust.””
She opened the door.
“Someone else has been looking for that money.””
Then she walked out.
Marcus immediately called Daniel.
“Vanessa just left the house. I need you to find out where she's going.””
Daniel answered with a warning.
“Don't follow her yourself. I'll arrange for the investigator to check.””
Marcus ended the call.
Then he turned toward the stairs.
“Jordan?””
A moment later, his son appeared.
He was holding a small framed photograph.
Rachel's photograph.
The one Marcus had thought was lost.
Jordan looked at his father.
“Dad, I heard what Vanessa said.””
Marcus crouched.
“Buddy, do you remember anything your mother told you before she died?””
Jordan nodded slowly.
“Something about a box.””
“What box?””
“The blue one.””
Marcus's heart began beating faster.
“Where is it?””
Jordan looked toward the hallway.
“In the basement.””
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Are you sure?””
Jordan nodded.
“Mom told me not to let anyone take it. She said it was important.””
Marcus took his son's hand.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Jordan's eyes filled.
“Because Vanessa said it belonged to her.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
He had spent years believing Rachel's belongings were safely stored away.
He had never imagined that someone had been searching through them.
“Show me,” he said.
Jordan led them downstairs.
The basement smelled of cardboard, dust, and old wood.
Boxes were stacked along the walls.
Jordan walked past the Christmas decorations and stopped beside a metal storage cabinet.
He pointed to a shelf.
“It's there.””
Marcus pulled down a blue plastic box.
The lid was secured with an old brass lock.
Evelyn looked at it carefully.
“Rachel gave me the key.””
She searched her handbag and produced a small silver key.
It turned easily.
Inside were photographs, letters, medical records, and a thick sealed envelope.
Marcus lifted the envelope.
His name was written across the front in Rachel's handwriting.
Beneath it were five words:
*OPEN ONLY IF VANESSA RETURNS.*
Marcus stared at the message.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
“Rachel knew,” she whispered.
Marcus slowly opened the envelope.
The first page was a letter.
Marcus,
If you're reading this, then the woman I warned you about has somehow entered your life again.
I'm sorry.
I tried to protect you. I tried to protect Jordan.
But there's something I never told you about his biological father.
Marcus stopped reading.
His son's biological father had died before Jordan was born.
At least, that was what Rachel had told him.
He continued.
The truth is that Jordan's father may not be dead.
Marcus's fingers went numb.
He looked at Evelyn.
She was staring at the letter in disbelief.
Then Marcus read the next sentence.
And if Richard Cole is still looking for him, it means he knows the secret too.
A sound came from behind them.
Jordan had dropped the framed photograph.
It shattered against the basement floor.
The boy stood completely still.
His face was white.
“Dad,” he whispered.
Marcus turned.
“What is it?””
Jordan stared at the letter.
Then he spoke words that made Marcus's entire world collapse.
“Vanessa told me my real father was coming to take me away.””
Evelyn grabbed the edge of the cabinet.
Marcus looked back at Rachel's letter.
The next page contained a name.
A name he had never heard before.
And beneath it was a photograph of a man holding a newborn baby.
The baby was Jordan.
May you like
But the man in the photograph was not Marcus.
*He was Richard Cole.*
