Chapter 10 - THE FORTY-MILLION-DOLLAR SECRET
The next morning, financial reporters surrounded my house.
Someone had leaked the story.
By noon, my name was everywhere.
LOCAL WOMAN INHERITS FORTUNE AFTER FAMILY FINANCIAL SCANDAL.
But the truth was stranger.
I hadn't inherited the fortune.
My daughters had.
My father had created a trust worth approximately forty million dollars.
Merisette and Tansy were the beneficiaries.
And the trust had one unusual condition.
Neither parent could access the money.
Not me.
Not Griffin.
Nobody.
Until each daughter turned twenty-five.
That explained everything.
Ilsa hadn't wanted the house.
She wanted control.
If she could convince me to sign away the property and manipulate Griffin into becoming trustee, she could eventually reach the larger trust.
But there was another problem.
Someone had already attempted to access it.
Evelyn showed me the records.
"These signatures are forged."
"Whose?"
"Griffin's."
I looked at him.
He shook his head.
"I never signed anything."
"I believe you."
He looked surprised.
It was the first time I had said those words.
But belief wasn't forgiveness.
Not yet.
That afternoon, Ilsa's attorney called.
He requested a settlement.
I laughed.
"No."
"Mrs. Whitaker, your mother-in-law is willing to leave the property voluntarily."
"She doesn't own it."
"She's willing to sign a release."
"After breaking into my house?"
"She claims she was looking for documents belonging to her."
"She can explain that to a judge."
The attorney lowered his voice.
"She says Griffin will testify against you."
I looked at my husband.
He shook his head.
"Tell her," I said, "that Griffin has already told the truth."
The attorney hung up.
That evening, Griffin sat across from me.
"I know you don't trust me."
"No."
"I know you don't forgive me."
"No."
He nodded.
"But I'm going to tell you something anyway."
He pulled out his phone.
"I recorded a conversation with Mom."
My heart stopped.
"When?"
"Before she was arrested."
He played it.
Ilsa's voice filled the room.
"You think you can leave me?"
Griffin answered:
"I think Claire knows."
"You idiot."
"I know everything."
"Then you know what happens if you betray me."
"I don't care anymore."
Ilsa laughed.
"You should."
Then another voice appeared.
Evan.
"Enough."
I stopped the recording.
"Where did you get this?"
"Mom sent it to me."
"Why?"
"Because she wanted me scared."
I looked at Griffin.
"She wasn't the only one."
He nodded.
Then I asked:
"Why did you stay?"
His eyes filled with tears.
"Because I was afraid of losing everything."
I whispered:
"You did."
He nodded.
"I know."
For the first time, there were no excuses.
No explanations.
No defense.
Just consequences.
I stood.
"You're moving out."
He looked at me.
"I understand."
"Tonight."
He nodded.
As he walked upstairs, my phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
YOU WON THE HOUSE.
Another message appeared.
BUT YOU STILL DON'T KNOW WHO KILLED YOUR FATHER.
Then a photograph arrived.
My father.
Standing beside a hospital bed.
May you like
And behind him was Griffin.
Holding a syringe.
