Chapter 8
I watched the video three times.
My mother's voice filled the room.
She explained that several people had pressured her to sell property inherited from my grandfather.
One was Adrian Price.
Another was Vanessa.
At the time, Vanessa had been helping organize a charity event with my father.
My mother said she had grown suspicious after discovering that someone had requested copies of private financial documents without permission.
She had contacted Daniel Brooks.
Together, they had updated the trust's safeguards.
My mother looked directly into the camera.
“If anyone tells you that you have no right to your home or your future, don't believe them.”
I began sobbing.
For years, Vanessa had told me my mother was gone.
That her belongings were meaningless.
That her memory couldn't protect me.
But my mother had tried.
Even before she knew what would happen to her, she had worked to make sure I would have something nobody could take away.
The video continued.
“I hope your father makes good choices. I hope he remembers what matters. But if he doesn't, I want you to know that you have the right to stand on your own.”
I paused the recording.
My hands shook.
Then I called Daniel.
“I found something.”
Within an hour, he arrived at the house.
Dad sat beside me as we played the video.
When my mother's face appeared, he covered his mouth.
I watched tears roll down his cheeks.
He looked devastated.
Not only because she had been suspicious of Vanessa.
But because she had understood his weakness.
She had known that he might fail to protect me.
And she had made plans anyway.
When the video ended, Dad whispered, “I failed her.”
I looked at him.
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“I failed you too.”
I didn't answer.
Daniel examined the files.
He found copies of correspondence, bank records, and a signed statement explaining why my mother had created the trust.
The documents strengthened our challenge to Vanessa's forged authority.
They also identified Adrian as someone who had previously attempted to obtain information about the properties.
Daniel began preparing the evidence for the financial investigators.
Meanwhile, the court granted temporary relief preventing disputed property transfers while the case proceeded.
The attempted sales were placed on hold.
Vanessa's claimed authority under the forged power of attorney was suspended pending further proceedings.
For the first time, I felt that we were gaining ground.
But Vanessa wasn't finished.
Two days later, she filed a complaint accusing me of stealing family documents.
She claimed I had manipulated Dad and taken property that belonged to him.
She also alleged that the blue ledger had been altered.
The accusations spread quickly through our extended family.
My aunt called.
Then my cousin.
Then my grandmother's oldest friend.
Everyone wanted to know what was happening.
Some believed me.
Others said I should respect Vanessa because she was my father's wife.
I stopped answering unknown numbers.
I stopped checking social media.
I focused on school and the legal case.
Then Maya came to my room one evening.
She stood in the doorway holding a small envelope.
“Nia?”
I looked up.
“What is it?”
She stepped inside.
“I found something in Mom's old jewelry box.”
She handed me the envelope.
Inside were photographs of Vanessa and Adrian.
They were standing outside a hotel.
Holding hands.
Kissing.
The dates printed on the photographs were recent.
I stared at them.
“Maya…”
She began crying.
“I think Mom is having an affair.”
I sat beside her.
“Are you sure?”
She nodded.
“I found messages on her old tablet. She told him she was almost finished getting control of the properties.”
My stomach tightened.
“Did you save them?”
“Yes.”
She handed me a USB drive.
I looked at her.
“Why are you helping me?”
Maya wiped her cheeks.
“Because I'm tired of being used.”
I reached for her hand.
For years, I had blamed Maya for everything Vanessa gave her.
But she was a child.
A child whose mother had taught her that love meant getting what she wanted.
Now she was discovering that even she had been treated like a tool.
“Maya, you didn't deserve this.”
She began sobbing.
I hugged her.
It was the first real hug we had shared in years.
The next morning, Daniel reviewed the messages.
Several were relevant to the financial investigation.
One discussed selling the commercial building.
Another referred to moving money overseas.
A third mentioned the forged documents.
But one message made Daniel stop.
Adrian had written:
Once the house is transferred, Marcus and the girls can be dealt with separately.
I felt sick.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel looked serious.
“It suggests they were planning to remove both you and your father from control.”
He contacted the investigators.
The evidence was preserved.
That afternoon, Vanessa arrived at the house unexpectedly.
She demanded to speak with Maya.
Dad refused to let her enter until Maya agreed.
Maya came downstairs.
Her eyes were red.
Vanessa smiled sweetly.
“Baby, come with Mommy.”
Maya shook her head.
“No.”
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
“What?”
“I want to stay with Dad for now.”
Vanessa looked toward me.
“You turned my daughter against me.”
Maya stepped forward.
“No. You did.”
Vanessa stared at her.
Then she reached into her handbag.
For one terrible second, I thought she was going to pull out something dangerous.
Instead, she removed a thick envelope.
She threw it onto the table.
Inside were photographs of Dad meeting with a woman I didn't recognize.
Vanessa smiled coldly.
“You want the truth, Nia?”
May you like
I stared at her.
“Then ask your father why he was secretly meeting the woman who witnessed your mother's final days.”
