Chapter 5: The Night His First Wife Died
Marcus held the yellow envelope as if it contained something that might explode.
"Open it," Ethan whispered.
Margaret nodded.
"That's why I brought it.""
Marcus carefully broke the seal.
Inside was a single folded page and a small photograph.
He opened the letter first.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
His first wife's.
He read silently for several seconds.
Then he stopped.
"What?"" Ethan asked.
Marcus looked at Margaret.
"Why didn't you give me this seven years ago?""
Margaret lowered her eyes.
"Because I didn't know what it meant.""
"Explain.""
She pulled out a chair.
"Your wife called me three nights before the accident. She sounded frightened. She told me she had discovered something serious involving the foundation and someone she trusted.""
"Who?""
Margaret glanced at me.
"She wouldn't say.""
I forced a laugh.
"Because she had no idea what she was talking about.""
Marcus ignored me.
"What happened next?""
"She asked me to keep the envelope safe. She said she would explain everything after she met someone the following evening.""
"Who was she meeting?""
Margaret shook her head.
"I don't know. She never told me.""
Ethan picked up the photograph.
It showed his mother standing outside a restaurant.
A man was beside her.
His face was partially turned away from the camera.
Ethan studied it.
"Do you recognize him?""
Margaret shook her head.
Marcus leaned closer.
Then his expression changed.
"Wait.""
He took the photograph.
"I know that jacket.""
I looked up.
Marcus pointed at the man.
"That's Daniel Price.""
The room went silent.
Ethan stared at the picture.
"The same Daniel?""
Marcus nodded slowly.
"He worked with my first wife's foundation for a short time. He was introduced as a financial consultant.""
Margaret frowned.
"I thought he left before she died.""
"He did.""
Marcus looked at the photograph again.
"At least, that's what I was told.""
I felt my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
Daniel had never mentioned that he had met Marcus's first wife.
Never.
Not once.
I had always assumed that his involvement with the family began years after her death.
Apparently, I had been wrong.
Marcus unfolded the letter completely.
"There's a date on this.""
He read it aloud.
"November 12.""
Ethan frowned.
"That's three days before Mom died.""
Marcus nodded.
He continued reading.
Marcus, I need you to understand something. I may have made a terrible mistake trusting the wrong person. The money is not the only thing at risk. If I disappear, please don't let anyone convince you that everything was an accident.
Marcus stopped.
His face went pale.
Ethan looked at him.
"Dad?""
Marcus sat down.
For several seconds, he didn't speak.
Then he whispered:
"The police told me she lost control of the car because of the rain.""
Margaret nodded.
"That's what the report said.""
"She was driving home from a charity event. They said the road was slippery.""
He looked at the letter again.
"But she was afraid something would happen.""
Margaret's voice softened.
"She was.""
I watched Marcus.
This was dangerous.
He was no longer thinking about the money or the forged signatures.
He was thinking about the woman he had loved before me.
And grief could make a man do unpredictable things.
"Marcus," I said quietly, "you need to be careful. This is an old letter. It doesn't prove anything.""
He looked at me.
"Neither does your explanation.""
I stood.
"I was not involved in her accident.""
Nobody had accused me of that.
But the words had already escaped.
Ethan noticed.
His eyes narrowed.
"Why did you say that?""
I stared at him.
"Because you're all looking at me like I'm responsible.""
"Nobody said you were.""
Margaret slowly closed her handbag.
"Actually, there's one more thing.""
Marcus looked exhausted.
"What now?""
"Your first wife's attorney received a call the morning after the accident. Someone requested access to her private files.""
"Who?""
"The caller identified herself as a family representative.""
Marcus frowned.
"Was it you?""
Margaret shook her head.
"No.""
She opened a small notebook.
"The attorney wrote down the caller's name.""
She turned the notebook around.
Vanessa Miller.
My old surname.
Marcus stared.
"You called her attorney?""
I forced myself to remain calm.
"I don't remember.""
"How could you forget something like that?""
"It was seven years ago!""
Margaret's voice became sharp.
"You called less than twenty-four hours after my sister died.""
"I was trying to help!""
"By asking for her financial records?""
I swallowed.
"I was still employed by the foundation. I had responsibilities.""
Marcus looked at me.
"Hadn't she already dismissed you?""
I didn't answer.
Ethan stepped forward.
"She was fired?""
I turned toward him.
"Stay out of this.""
"No. I want to know.""
Margaret nodded.
"Your mother dismissed Vanessa two weeks before her death. She discovered unauthorized payments and ordered a full audit.""
Marcus slowly stood.
"Then why did Vanessa still have access to the foundation's files?""
"Because someone reinstated her credentials.""
"Who?""
Margaret looked at the notebook.
"The request came from a temporary administrator.""
Marcus's expression darkened.
"Name?""
Margaret turned another page.
"Daniel Price.""
Nobody moved.
The pieces were falling into place.
Daniel had worked with the foundation.
He had access to the accounts.
He had reinstated my credentials.
And now, seven years later, he was working with me again.
Marcus turned toward me.
"How long have you known him?""
I tried to speak.
My throat felt dry.
"Vanessa.""
"Since before.""
"Before what?""
"Before we met.""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"How long before?""
I looked at the carpet.
"Several years.""
He let out a slow breath.
"So you knew him before you became my wife.""
"Yes.""
"And you never told me.""
"Because it wasn't relevant.""
Marcus gave a bitter laugh.
"Not relevant?""
He pointed at the photograph.
"That man was standing beside my first wife three days before she died. He helped access her accounts. And now he's moving money out of my company.""
I looked at him.
"You're making connections that don't exist.""
"Then explain the flash drive.""
I had nothing.
Ethan walked toward the desk.
"There's something else we need to check.""
He opened his phone.
"I found an old email from Mom's foundation while I was reviewing the trust records.""
Marcus looked at him.
"What email?""
"One sent to Grandma's estate attorney six days before the accident.""
He turned the screen around.
The subject line read:
*URGENT: Vanessa Miller and Daniel Price.*
Marcus stared.
"Open it.""
Ethan tapped the message.
The email contained a short note.
I have evidence that Vanessa and Daniel have been working together to redirect foundation money. I have arranged to meet Daniel privately. I need the original records before I can proceed.
At the bottom was another sentence.
If anything happens to me, please protect Ethan from anyone who attempts to take control of his inheritance.
Marcus sat down again.
He covered his mouth with one hand.
Ethan's voice softened.
"She was trying to protect me.""
Marcus nodded.
"I know.""
For the first time that evening, father and son stood together without arguing.
I felt like an outsider.
A stranger in my own house.
And I refused to accept it.
"You are all making a terrible mistake," I said.
Marcus didn't look at me.
"Maybe.""
I stepped closer.
"I loved you.""
He finally raised his eyes.
"Did you?""
The question hurt more than I expected.
I wanted to tell him yes.
I wanted to remind him of the dinners, the vacations, the nights we had spent together.
But something in his expression stopped me.
He no longer believed that any of it had been real.
Marcus picked up his phone.
"Daniel Price. I'm calling him.""
I immediately stepped forward.
"Don't.""
He looked at me.
"Why?""
"Because he'll lie.""
"Then I'll know.""
Marcus dialed.
The call rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then a familiar male voice answered.
"Marcus? This is unexpected.""
Marcus put the phone on speaker.
"Daniel, we need to talk.""
A short pause followed.
"Of course. Is everything all right?""
Marcus looked at the photograph.
"No. I found something from seven years ago.""
Silence.
Then Daniel asked:
"What did you find?""
Marcus glanced at me.
"Your photograph with my first wife.""
The silence on the other end lasted several seconds.
Then Daniel sighed.
"I was wondering when that would happen.""
Marcus stiffened.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel's voice became quieter.
"It means Vanessa should have told you the truth before she married you.""
My stomach tightened.
Marcus leaned toward the phone.
"What truth?""
Daniel answered with a sentence that made my blood run cold.
"Your first wife's accident wasn't the first time Vanessa tried to get someone out of her way.""
Ethan looked at me.
Margaret stood motionless.
Marcus gripped the phone.
"What are you saying?""
Daniel exhaled.
May you like
"Ask your wife what happened to her previous employer.""
Then the call ended.
