Chapter 4: The Man on the Phone
Vanessa stared at me as the voice on the phone repeated its warning.
"Do you understand what I'm telling you?"" the man demanded.
"If she has the original deed, you need to get it back immediately.""
Vanessa swallowed.
"She's in the storage room.""
"Then take it from her.""
"I can't just—"
"Vanessa, you've already made enough mistakes.""
The call ended.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
I tightened my grip on the folder.
"Who was that?""
Vanessa slipped her phone into her purse.
"Someone you don't need to know about.""
"Someone who knows about my mother's trust?""
Her expression hardened.
"Give me the documents, Olivia.""
"No.""
She stepped forward.
I stepped backward.
"Don't make me ask again.""
"You said this house belonged to Dad.""
"It does.""
"No, it doesn't. My grandfather put it in a trust under my name.""
Vanessa laughed, but the sound was strained.
"You're reading legal documents you don't understand.""
"Then why are you frightened?""
Her eyes flashed.
"Because you're a child playing with things that could destroy your family.""
I looked down at the folder.
"My mother protected this house for me.""
"Your mother made promises she had no right to make.""
"She was the owner.""
"She was dying!""
The words exploded from Vanessa's mouth.
I flinched.
She immediately looked toward the door, as if checking whether anyone had heard her.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Your mother was sick, confused, and terrified of losing control. She signed things she didn't understand.""
"That's not what the documents say.""
"Documents can be challenged.""
"By whom?""
"Your father.""
I shook my head.
"He's my guardian, not the owner.""
Vanessa's expression changed.
She looked at the folder again.
Then she smiled.
It was the same smile she had worn when she threw herself onto the living room floor.
The smile that meant she had found another way to hurt me.
"Do you know what will happen when your father finds out you've stolen confidential documents?""
"I didn't steal anything.""
"You entered a locked storage room and removed private property.""
"My mother's property.""
"Your father owns everything in this house.""
"Not anymore.""
For one brief moment, her face became completely blank.
Then she reached for the folder.
I moved away.
"Stop!""
"Give it to me!""
She grabbed my sleeve.
I pulled free, knocking a cardboard box off the desk.
Several old photographs scattered across the floor.
Vanessa glanced at them.
Then she grabbed my wrist.
"Listen to me carefully. You will hand over those documents, go upstairs, and forget what you saw.""
I stared at her fingers wrapped around my skin.
"Let go.""
"You're going to ruin everything.""
"Let go of me!""
She tightened her grip.
Then a familiar voice came from behind us.
"Vanessa!""
My father stood in the doorway.
His face was pale.
He looked at Vanessa's hand around my wrist, then at the folder against my chest.
"What is happening here?""
Vanessa immediately released me.
"Daniel, thank God you're here.""
She moved toward him.
"Your daughter has been going through your private belongings.""
I stared at her.
"They're Mom's documents.""
"She broke into the storage room," Vanessa continued.
"I caught her trying to take things that don't belong to her.""
My father looked at the open drawer.
Then at me.
"Olivia, give me the folder.""
I hesitated.
"Please read it first.""
"Give it to me.""
"Just look at the deed.""
He extended his hand.
I slowly passed him the folder.
He opened it.
At first, his expression was annoyed.
Then he saw the property deed.
His eyebrows drew together.
He turned the page.
And another.
Finally, he reached the letter from the law firm.
His face changed.
"Where did you find this?""
"In Mom's desk.""
He looked at Vanessa.
"Did you know about this?""
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
"Daniel, I told you. Your first wife left behind all kinds of paperwork. I never knew what was in that desk.""
My father turned back to the documents.
"Why does this say the house is held in trust for Olivia?""
I answered before Vanessa could.
"Because it is.""
He ignored her.
He continued reading.
His fingers trembled slightly.
Then he reached the final page.
A document bearing his own signature.
I leaned forward.
"What is it?""
Dad didn't answer.
He stared at the page as though he had seen a ghost.
Vanessa stepped beside him.
"What?""
He looked up.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
She frowned.
"Tell you what?""
He held up the document.
"This is an acknowledgment of the trust restrictions. I signed it three years ago.""
Vanessa's mouth opened.
Then closed.
Dad looked at me.
"Your mother gave me this before she died.""
I stared at him.
"You knew?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"I knew about the trust. I didn't know where the original documents were.""
"But you knew the house belonged to me?""
His eyes dropped.
"Yes.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I took a step backward.
"Then why did you let Vanessa tell me she could transfer it?""
Dad looked toward his wife.
Vanessa immediately intervened.
"Daniel, don't let her twist this. We were discussing a family restructuring. Nothing had been finalized.""
I turned toward her.
"You told me you and Dad would have complete control.""
"I was explaining a possible arrangement.""
"You told me I had no claim.""
"Olivia, enough!""
My father raised his voice.
We both fell silent.
He closed the folder.
"Nobody is making any decisions tonight.""
Vanessa touched his arm.
"Daniel, I think we should discuss this privately.""
He moved away from her.
"Not now.""
Her expression tightened.
I had never seen him pull away from her before.
Not once.
Then Dad looked at me.
"Go upstairs.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because I need to understand what your mother left behind.""
"But—"
"Please, Olivia.""
His voice sounded different.
Not angry.
Frightened.
I walked toward the door.
As I passed Vanessa, she leaned close enough for only me to hear.
"Enjoy your little victory.""
I kept walking.
Then she whispered something else.
"You have no idea what your mother really did.""
I stopped.
I turned around.
"What does that mean?""
Vanessa smiled.
"Ask your father.""
I looked at him.
But he was already staring at the final page of the document.
And his face had gone completely white.
At 9:20 p.m., I was sitting on my bed when someone knocked.
"Olivia?""
Dad.
I opened the door.
He stood there holding the folder.
"Can I come in?""
I stepped aside.
He sat in the chair beside my desk.
For a while, he said nothing.
Then he looked at the photograph of my mother.
"I haven't seen her handwriting in years.""
I sat opposite him.
"Why didn't you tell me about the trust?""
He stared at the floor.
"Your mother wanted you to have something that would always be yours.""
"Then why did you hide it?""
"I didn't hide it.""
"Mom's desk was locked in the storage room. Nobody told me it existed.""
He sighed.
"After she died, I couldn't bear going through her things. Vanessa offered to organize everything.""
I looked at him.
"And you let her?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
He didn't answer.
I leaned forward.
"Did you know Vanessa was trying to transfer the house?""
He looked up sharply.
"I knew she had spoken to an attorney about restructuring some assets. I didn't know she intended to transfer something that belonged to you.""
"She told me you agreed.""
"I never agreed to take your inheritance.""
I wanted to believe him.
But too many things had happened.
"Who was the man on the phone?""
Dad frowned.
"What man?""
"Vanessa called someone when she found me with the documents. He told her not to let me leave the storage room.""
My father's expression darkened.
"Did you hear his name?""
"No.""
He stood.
"Don't mention that conversation to Vanessa.""
"Why?""
He looked toward the door.
Then he said something that made my stomach tighten.
"Because I think I know exactly who that man is.""
Before I could ask another question, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
The caller's name was visible.
*MARTIN HALE — FAMILY ATTORNEY.*
Dad answered.
"Martin?""
A voice came through the speaker.
"Daniel, we have a problem.""
My father looked at me.
"What kind of problem?""
"The transfer documents were submitted this afternoon.""
Dad's face hardened.
"Submitted by whom?""
There was a pause.
May you like
Then the attorney answered.
"Your wife.""
