Chapter 5: The Woman My Father Never Forgot
The next morning, I arrived at the Bellamy estate before eight.
I hadn't slept.
Daniel had spent most of the night reviewing my father's old corporate records, but the name Evelyn Cross kept appearing in places where it shouldn't have been.
She was listed as an original shareholder.
Then her name disappeared.
Her shares had apparently been transferred to Bellamy Holdings three months before my father's death.
But there was no signed transfer agreement.
No payment record.
No board resolution.
Nothing.
Someone had simply removed her from the company's ownership history.
I parked outside the house and walked through the front entrance.
The housekeeper, Mrs. Collins, looked startled.
"Miss Camille?""
"Good morning. Is Vanessa home?""
"She's in the breakfast room.""
"And Brielle?""
"Upstairs, I believe.""
I nodded.
As I passed the staircase, I noticed the portrait of my father had been moved again.
It was no longer in the breakfast room.
It was hanging above the entrance to the west corridor.
Someone had placed a large arrangement of white roses beneath it.
My father hated white roses.
He used to say they looked like flowers people bought when they wanted to pretend they were sorry.
I continued toward the breakfast room.
Vanessa was seated at the table, reading a magazine.
She looked up.
"Camille? What are you doing here?""
"I need to talk to you.""
She closed the magazine.
"About the dress?""
"No.""
Her expression tightened.
"Then what?""
"Evelyn Cross.""
The magazine slipped slightly in her hands.
For one brief second, she looked genuinely frightened.
Then she recovered.
"Where did you hear that name?""
"From someone who knows about my father's business.""
Vanessa stood.
"This is not a conversation you should be having.""
"Why?""
"Because you don't understand what happened.""
"Then explain it.""
She walked toward the coffee machine.
"There is nothing to explain.""
I followed her with my eyes.
"She was your husband's business partner. She helped finance the original event. Then her shares disappeared.""
Vanessa turned sharply.
"She was a thief.""
"According to whom?""
"According to your father.""
I looked at her.
"That's interesting. Daniel has records showing my father never filed a complaint against her.""
Vanessa placed her coffee cup down too hard.
"Your father was a sentimental man. He couldn't bear the thought of admitting he'd trusted the wrong person.""
"Did Evelyn steal the money?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
Instead, she walked toward me.
"Listen to me carefully. That woman nearly destroyed your father's company. He was generous enough to let her go without involving the authorities.""
"Then why was there no legal settlement?""
"Because he wanted to protect the family.""
I stared at her.
"Or because she never stole anything.""
Vanessa's face hardened.
"You're becoming just like him.""
"Thank you.""
"Don't take that as a compliment.""
Before I could respond, Brielle entered the room.
She was wearing sunglasses and carrying a designer handbag.
"Mother, the stylist is downstairs. Are we still going shopping?""
She noticed me.
"Oh. You're here.""
I looked at her.
"Where is my father's incorporation folder?""
Brielle froze.
Vanessa turned toward her.
"What folder?""
I didn't take my eyes off Brielle.
"The black folder you removed from his study.""
Brielle laughed nervously.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
"I have the security footage.""
Her expression changed.
Vanessa stepped between us.
"Camille, don't accuse your sister of stealing.""
"Then ask her where the documents are.""
Brielle folded her arms.
"Maybe I took them because I wanted to understand what Father left us.""
I stared at her.
"Those documents don't belong to you.""
"Everything in this house belongs to Mother.""
"Not my company.""
Brielle scoffed.
"Your company? You don't even have a real job.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Is that what you tell her?""
Vanessa ignored the question.
"Enough. Brielle has an important fitting today. We don't have time for this.""
I stepped aside.
"Fine.""
Brielle smiled triumphantly.
Then I added, "But the police may have time.""
Her smile vanished.
Vanessa's voice dropped.
"Don't you dare.""
I picked up my bag.
"Return the documents, and we won't have a problem.""
I turned toward the door.
Behind me, Brielle suddenly spoke.
"Wait.""
I stopped.
She looked at Vanessa.
Then back at me.
"I didn't take the folder.""
I turned slowly.
"Then who did?""
Brielle swallowed.
"Mother told me to move it.""
The silence was immediate.
I looked at Vanessa.
Her face had gone completely still.
"Brielle," she said sharply.
But Brielle continued.
"She said there were papers in Father's study that needed to be protected before the lawyers came.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Where are they?""
Brielle looked toward the staircase.
"Mother gave them to someone.""
"Who?""
Vanessa grabbed her daughter's arm.
"That's enough.""
Brielle pulled away.
"Why? You said everything was fine!""
Vanessa slapped her.
The sound echoed through the breakfast room.
Brielle stumbled backward.
I stared at Vanessa.
For once, she looked less like a powerful woman and more like someone desperately trying to stop a secret from escaping.
"Get out," she said.
I didn't move.
"Who did you give the documents to?""
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
"Get out of my house.""
I looked at her for several seconds.
Then I walked away.
But I didn't leave the estate.
Instead, I went to the old study.
The door was locked.
I took the spare key from the small cabinet where my father had always kept it.
The room smelled faintly of leather and cedar.
His desk remained beneath the tall windows.
His books were still arranged alphabetically.
I approached the shelves and ran my fingers along the spines.
Then I noticed a small brass butterfly tucked between two books.
I remembered it.
My father had given it to me when I was sixteen.
He told me it was a reminder that beautiful things sometimes had to break free from where they were placed.
I pressed the butterfly's wings.
A small click sounded behind the bookshelf.
I stepped back.
Part of the wooden panel shifted.
Behind it was a narrow compartment.
Inside sat a sealed envelope and a small leather-bound notebook.
My name was written across the envelope.
*FOR CAMILLE. WHEN YOU ARE READY.*
My hands trembled.
I opened it carefully.
The letter inside was dated two weeks before my father's death.
My darling girl,
There are things I should have told you sooner.
Evelyn Cross did not steal from the company. She discovered that money was being transferred out of Bellamy Holdings without my approval.
I asked her to investigate quietly.
When she found the evidence, someone threatened her. She left because I begged her to protect herself.
If Vanessa ever tells you that Evelyn betrayed me, do not believe her.
Find Evelyn.
She has the original records.
I read the final paragraph again.
Then I opened the notebook.
The first page contained a list of transactions.
Several were marked with red circles.
The account numbers belonged to Bellamy Holdings.
And one name appeared repeatedly beside the transfers.
Vanessa Bellamy.
I heard footsteps outside.
I quickly slipped the letter and notebook into my bag.
The door opened.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
Her eyes immediately dropped to my bag.
"What did you find?""
I looked at her.
"Nothing.""
She stepped inside and closed the door.
"Don't lie to me.""
I remained silent.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"Evelyn Cross is dead, Camille.""
I stared at her.
"How do you know?""
Vanessa smiled.
"Because I made sure she never came back.""
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Then my phone vibrated.
An incoming call.
Unknown number.
I answered without taking my eyes off Vanessa.
A woman's voice spoke softly.
"Camille Bennett?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Evelyn Cross.""
I stopped breathing.
The woman continued.
"Your father told me you might need me one day.""
I looked at Vanessa.
Her face had lost every trace of color.
Evelyn whispered:
"Whatever your stepmother tells you, don't trust her. And whatever you do, don't let Brielle wear that gown on Halloween night.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Why?""
There was a long pause.
May you like
Then Evelyn answered.
"Because the gown contains something your father hid from Vanessa. Something worth far more than the entire Bellamy estate.""
