Chapter 5: The Letter From His First Wife
Marcus didn't speak for nearly a minute.
He simply stood in the middle of the living room, holding the phone.
Then he asked, "Olivia, where is your mother's letter?""
"It's with me.""
"Can you bring it?""
"Yes.""
"Please. I need to see it.""
Olivia hesitated.
"I don't think you should read it alone.""
Marcus frowned.
"Why?""
"Because it explains why I was kept away from you. And why Vanessa was so determined to stop me from finding you.""
My stomach tightened.
Marcus looked directly at me.
"Does this have something to do with you?""
I shook my head.
"She's confused.""
Olivia heard me.
Her voice became sharper.
"Vanessa?""
Marcus looked down at the phone.
"Yes, sweetheart. She's here.""
"Then please put me on speaker.""
He did.
Olivia's voice filled the room.
"Vanessa, do you remember the blue jewelry box in my mother's bedroom?""
I couldn't move.
"Of course," I replied.
"Do you remember taking the envelope underneath it?""
I forced a laugh.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
"You took it on October 12.""
My blood ran cold.
Olivia continued.
"I know because Mom wrote the date on the back of the photograph inside.""
Marcus slowly turned toward Daniel.
"Did you know about this?""
Daniel nodded reluctantly.
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I was instructed not to disclose the information.""
"By Vanessa?""
Daniel lowered his eyes.
"Yes.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Bring me the letter," he told Olivia.
"I will.""
The call ended.
He turned toward me.
"Go upstairs.""
I stared at him.
"Marcus—"
"Go upstairs.""
"You're treating me like a criminal.""
His expression didn't change.
"Then stop giving me reasons to.""
Ethan stood.
"I'll stay with Dad.""
Marcus nodded.
I walked toward the staircase, feeling their eyes following me.
Halfway up, I heard Ethan speak.
"Dad, there's something else.""
I stopped.
"What?"" Marcus asked.
"The letter isn't the only thing Mom left.""
I turned slightly.
Ethan continued.
"There's a recording.""
Marcus frowned.
"What recording?""
"A video she made shortly before she died.""
I gripped the banister.
"How do you know?""
Ethan looked toward the staircase.
He knew I was listening.
"Olivia told me.""
Marcus looked stunned.
"She has a video?""
"Yes.""
I hurried upstairs before either of them could see my expression.
I locked myself in the bedroom.
My hands shook as I opened the drawer beside the bed.
The blue jewelry box wasn't there.
I had moved it months earlier.
I searched beneath the clothes, inside the safe, and behind the false bottom of my dressing table.
Nothing.
Then I remembered.
The envelope.
I had hidden it in the storage room behind the old suitcases.
I rushed downstairs.
Daniel was still in the living room, speaking quietly with Marcus.
Ethan was standing near the fireplace.
I walked past them.
"Where are you going?"" Marcus asked.
"To get some water.""
He didn't respond.
I entered the storage room and closed the door.
The box was still where I had left it.
Behind two old suitcases.
I pulled it out.
My fingers trembled as I opened the lid.
Inside were several photographs, a gold bracelet, and a folded letter.
I removed the letter.
The paper was old.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Laura Cole.
Marcus's first wife.
I unfolded it.
Marcus,
If you're reading this, something has happened that I never wanted for our family.
I need you to know that Olivia is alive. I know you believe the doctors, but please don't stop looking.
There are people who have made decisions about our daughter without telling us.
I discovered that the adoption papers were altered.
My breath caught.
I continued reading.
If anything happens to me, please trust my sister, Catherine. She knows everything.
And never trust the woman who says she is helping you.
I stopped.
The letter continued.
She has already asked questions about your inheritance.
I stared at the words.
My throat tightened.
The letter had been written before Laura died.
Before I met Marcus.
Before I became part of his life.
And yet it described me.
I folded it quickly.
A knock sounded on the door.
"Vanessa?""
Daniel.
I shoved the letter into my robe pocket.
"What?""
"Marcus wants to see you.""
"Tell him I'm coming.""
Daniel didn't leave.
"Vanessa, open the door.""
I turned.
"Why?""
"Because I know you found it.""
My stomach dropped.
I opened the door just enough to look at him.
Daniel's face was pale.
"Give me the letter.""
I stared.
"You're not getting anything.""
"Listen to me. Whatever you're planning, stop.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You're suddenly concerned about doing the right thing?""
"I should have told Marcus months ago.""
"Then you should have thought about that before accepting my money.""
Daniel flinched.
I smiled.
There it was.
The truth he didn't want anyone to hear.
"You accepted the payment," I whispered.
"You prepared the documents. You helped me access the estate files. You're involved in this just as much as I am.""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Not anymore.""
I stepped closer.
"Do you think Marcus will believe you? You forged documents. You helped conceal evidence. And now you're pretending to be innocent?""
"I have records of every instruction you gave me.""
My smile vanished.
Daniel continued.
"Emails. Voice messages. Bank transfers.""
I felt a cold wave pass through me.
"Delete them.""
"No.""
"Daniel.""
"I'm done.""
I grabbed his sleeve.
"You don't understand what will happen if Marcus finds out everything.""
He pulled away.
"Then maybe he should.""
The storage room door opened.
Marcus stood there.
His eyes moved from Daniel to me.
"What's going on?""
I quickly stepped back.
"Nothing.""
Marcus noticed the folded paper in my hand.
"What's that?""
I tried to hide it.
He extended his hand.
"Give it to me.""
"It's personal.""
"Is it Laura's letter?""
I said nothing.
Marcus's face tightened.
"Vanessa. Give it to me.""
I shook my head.
He stepped forward.
"Please don't make this worse.""
Something in his voice made me pause.
For the first time, he wasn't angry.
He sounded heartbroken.
I handed him the letter.
He unfolded it carefully.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he reached the final paragraph.
His lips parted.
He read it again.
"Never trust the woman who says she is helping you.""
He looked at me.
"She knew about you?""
I couldn't answer.
Marcus held the paper with both hands.
"How?""
Daniel spoke quietly.
"There's something else in the box, Mr. Cole.""
Marcus turned.
"What?""
Daniel pointed to a small photograph.
Marcus picked it up.
It showed Laura standing outside a hospital.
Beside her was a young woman holding a newborn baby.
Marcus stared at the photograph.
"Who's that?""
I felt my heart stop.
Daniel answered.
"That's Catherine. Laura's younger sister.""
Marcus looked confused.
"Where is she?""
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said:
"She was the person who originally arranged for Olivia to be placed with another family.""
Marcus looked at him.
"Why?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Because Laura didn't want you to know that Olivia wasn't your biological daughter.""
The room went silent.
Marcus stared at the photograph.
Then at the letter.
And finally at me.
"Vanessa...""
I couldn't breathe.
He spoke slowly.
"Did you know?""
Before I could answer, Daniel's phone rang.
He checked the screen.
His face changed.
"Mr. Cole, it's Catherine.""
Marcus immediately reached for the phone.
"Put her on speaker.""
Daniel answered.
A woman's voice came through.
"Daniel, is Marcus there?""
"Yes.""
"Good. Tell him I need to speak to him before Olivia arrives.""
Marcus leaned toward the phone.
"This is Marcus. What happened?""
Catherine took a breath.
"There's something I never told you about Laura's death.""
Marcus gripped the table.
"What?""
Her voice trembled.
"She didn't die in a car accident.""
A long silence followed.
Then Catherine whispered:
"Someone tampered with her medication before she left the hospital.""
Marcus went completely still.
May you like
And then she added:
"I have proof. And Vanessa knows exactly where it is.""
