Chapter 9: The Original Trust
The door opened.
A man stood in the hallway.
He was older, perhaps in his sixties, with silver hair and a perfectly pressed suit.
He held no weapon.
He didn't need one.
Everyone in the room recognized him.
My father whispered,
"Thomas.""
Daniel's face collapsed.
"My attorney.""
Thomas smiled.
"Not anymore.""
Michael stepped forward.
"You shouldn't be here.""
Thomas looked at him.
"Neither should you.""
Then his eyes settled on me.
"Mara.""
I held Lily closer.
"How did you get into my house?""
He smiled.
"Daniel gave me access.""
I turned toward Daniel.
He shook his head.
"Not tonight.""
Thomas chuckled.
"You gave me the spare key years ago.""
Daniel looked horrified.
"I changed the locks.""
"Not on the garage.""
I stared at him.
The man who had helped Daniel prepare my divorce papers had apparently had access to my home all along.
"Why are you here?""
Thomas held out his hand.
"The trust.""
"I don't have it.""
"Daniel does.""
I looked at my husband.
"Give it to him.""
Daniel shook his head.
"No.""
Thomas's expression hardened.
"You know what happens if you refuse.""
Daniel looked at him.
"I'm done.""
Thomas laughed.
"You don't get to be done.""
Michael stepped forward.
"Tell her the truth.""
Thomas looked amused.
"Which truth?""
"The one about Rebecca.""
Silence.
Thomas's face changed.
I looked at him.
"What did you do to her?""
"I did nothing.""
"Then where was she?""
"She left.""
"Why?""
"She was unstable.""
I felt my blood boil.
"That's what you said about my mother.""
Thomas smiled.
"And perhaps your mother was.""
Michael lunged forward.
My father caught his arm.
"Don't.""
Thomas looked at me.
"Your mother was an emotional woman who made poor decisions.""
I stepped toward him.
"She died believing my father abandoned her.""
"That was unfortunate.""
"She died believing Rebecca was dead.""
"People believe many things.""
I shook my head.
"You knew she was alive.""
"Of course.""
"Where?""
Thomas sighed.
"Do you really want to know?""
"Yes.""
"She is in a facility outside the city.""
Vanessa sobbed.
"My mother?""
Thomas glanced at her.
"She doesn't remember you.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"You lied to me.""
"I told you what you needed to know.""
"You told me my parents died.""
"They effectively did.""
I stared at him.
"You recruited Vanessa.""
He looked at me.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"To get close to Daniel.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Why?""
Thomas smiled.
"Because Daniel had become unreliable.""
Daniel's jaw clenched.
"You told me she was part of the plan.""
"She was.""
"You knew she was Rebecca's daughter.""
"Yes.""
Vanessa looked shattered.
"You knew who I was?""
"From the beginning.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because identity is useful when concealed.""
She slapped him.
The sound echoed through the house.
Thomas slowly turned his face back.
"You've become emotional.""
Vanessa stared at him.
"No.""
Her voice was steady.
"I'm finally thinking clearly.""
Thomas looked at Daniel.
"You chose poorly.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"No. I chose too late.""
He pulled his phone from his pocket.
"I recorded everything.""
Thomas froze.
Michael smiled.
"Good.""
Daniel continued.
"You admitted manipulating the trust. You admitted recruiting Vanessa. You admitted knowing Rebecca was alive.""
Thomas's expression changed.
"You wouldn't.""
"I already sent the recording.""
"To whom?""
"My attorney.""
Thomas laughed.
"You don't have an attorney.""
Daniel looked at me.
"I do now.""
My breath caught.
"You hired someone?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Before I came home tonight.""
Thomas stepped backward.
"You think this changes anything?""
Daniel looked at me.
"It changes everything.""
Thomas reached into his jacket.
Michael moved instantly.
"Don't.""
Thomas stopped.
He slowly removed a folded document.
"The original trust.""
I stared.
"Where did you get that?""
Thomas smiled.
"Daniel never had it.""
Daniel looked confused.
"What?""
Thomas held it up.
"I did.""
My father stepped forward.
"Then you know the beneficiary.""
"Of course.""
"Tell her.""
Thomas looked at me.
"Mara Hayes.""
I swallowed.
"What else?""
Thomas unfolded the document.
"The trust contains a condition.""
"Which is?""
He smiled.
"At thirty-five, Mara receives everything.""
I waited.
"But if she has a biological child before thirty-five, the child becomes the primary beneficiary.""
My eyes dropped to Lily.
Thomas nodded.
"Exactly.""
The room went silent.
"So Lily is the key.""
"Yes.""
"To the money.""
"To the trust.""
I stared at him.
"Why did you try to convince me I was unstable?""
"Because an incapacitated mother cannot exercise certain trust rights.""
"And Daniel?""
"He was supposed to become guardian.""
I looked at Daniel.
He closed his eyes.
Thomas continued.
"Once Lily's father was established, control became more complicated.""
I looked at Michael.
"Because of him?""
"Because the child is a Hayes descendant through Michael.""
I understood.
Thomas hadn't cared about Daniel's affair.
He hadn't cared about Vanessa.
He hadn't cared about me.
He cared about Lily.
My daughter.
The child who unknowingly stood between him and seventy-eight million dollars.
Thomas smiled.
"And now you understand why everyone has been so interested in your baby.""
My arms tightened around Lily.
"You're not getting her.""
Thomas's expression didn't change.
"I don't need to.""
The front door opened.
Two men entered.
Michael moved in front of me.
My father reached for his phone.
Daniel stepped beside me.
Thomas looked at him.
"Daniel.""
Daniel stared back.
"No.""
"You know what happens next.""
"No.""
"You will hand over the child.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Never.""
Thomas looked surprised.
"You've finally found a spine.""
Daniel glanced at Lily.
Then at me.
"I'm sorry.""
I looked at him.
"For what?""
"For everything.""
Thomas suddenly pulled out his phone.
A video began playing.
It showed me asleep in a hospital bed.
Lily beside me.
Daniel standing over the crib.
Then another clip.
Daniel holding a syringe.
My heart stopped.
I looked at him.
"What is that?""
Daniel's face went white.
"I didn't do that.""
The video showed him approaching Lily's crib.
Then the screen went black.
Thomas smiled.
"It's enough to convince a judge.""
I stared at Daniel.
"You said you didn't.""
"I didn't.""
"Then who did?""
Nobody answered.
Thomas walked toward the stairs.
"By morning, Mara, you'll be the mother who endangered her child.""
My father stepped in front of him.
"You won't leave this house.""
Thomas smiled.
"You've forgotten one thing.""
"What?""
"Your daughter isn't the only person with a secret.""
He looked at Vanessa.
"Ask her what she did the night Lily was born.""
Vanessa froze.
I turned toward her.
"What did you do?""
She began shaking.
"I didn't hurt Lily.""
"Then what happened?""
"I went to the hospital.""
Daniel whispered,
"Vanessa.""
She looked at me.
"I went because someone told me to.""
"Who?""
She covered her face.
"I don't know.""
"Who?""
She finally looked at me.
"It was your mother.""
I froze.
"My mother was dead.""
"I know.""
"Then who called you?""
Vanessa's phone buzzed.
She looked down.
A new message appeared.
*Mara, come to Room 314. Alone.*
Beneath it was a photograph.
A hospital room.
And in the bed was Rebecca.
But beside her sat another woman.
May you like
My mother.
Alive.
