Chapter 3
I stared at Marcus.
"What did you just say?"
He looked down at the letter again.
His face had gone pale.
"Nia, Dad says money from your mother's estate helped purchase the house."
I felt the room shift beneath me.
That house.
The one I'd been told I didn't belong in.
The one Evelyn called hers whenever we argued.
The one where I'd spent my childhood trying not to take up too much space.
My mother's money had helped pay for it.
I turned toward Evelyn.
"Is that true?"
She looked at the floor.
"Arthur handled the finances."
"Did you know?"
No answer.
I stepped closer.
"Evelyn, did you know my mother's money bought this house?"
She lifted her chin.
"Your mother left money for the family."
I stared at her.
"That wasn't what I asked."
Marcus placed the letter on the counter.
"Mom, answer her."
Evelyn snapped.
"Don't speak to me like that!"
He didn't move.
"Then tell us the truth."
She looked between us.
For the first time, Marcus wasn't automatically defending her.
I saw how much that frightened her.
Finally, she spoke.
"Lorraine had a life insurance policy."
My stomach tightened.
I knew about that policy.
My father had told me it helped pay medical bills and funeral expenses.
He said very little remained.
I believed him.
Evelyn continued.
"Arthur used some of it toward the house."
"How much?"
She hesitated.
"Does it matter?"
"How much?"
Her lips tightened.
"About two hundred thousand."
I grabbed the counter.
Two hundred thousand dollars.
Money my mother had left behind.
Money I'd been told was gone.
I stared at Arthur's portrait.
For years, I'd saved money for college.
Worked weekends.
Applied for scholarships.
Taken out loans.
While my mother's inheritance sat inside the walls of a house where Evelyn constantly reminded me I was unwanted.
I felt physically sick.
Marcus caught my arm.
"Nia, sit down."
I pulled away.
"No."
Evelyn folded her arms.
"Arthur raised you. He spent money on you. You weren't neglected."
I stared at her.
"That doesn't give anyone the right to hide my inheritance."
She scoffed.
"You always were ungrateful."
Something inside me snapped.
"Ungrateful?"
My voice shook.
"I spent twenty-four years being told I was lucky you tolerated me."
Evelyn looked away.
"You turned every family holiday into a reminder that I wasn't your daughter."
I pointed toward the kitchen doorway.
"You made me eat Christmas dinner at the children's table when I was twenty-three because you said I wasn't a real Bennett."
Marcus closed his eyes.
He remembered.
I knew he did.
"You hid my mother's photographs."
Evelyn said nothing.
"You told people I was a charity case Arthur brought into your marriage."
My throat tightened.
"And now you're telling me my mother's money helped buy the house you used to humiliate me?"
She finally looked at me.
"That house became our home."
I laughed bitterly.
"Not mine, according to you."
Marcus picked up the will.
"We need a lawyer."
Evelyn's face changed.
"No."
He stared at her.
"Why not?"
"This is a family matter."
"Then why are you afraid of someone reviewing the documents?"
She stepped closer.
"Marcus, sweetheart, don't let her turn you against me."
He looked at her.
"Mom, you slapped my sister."
Evelyn flinched.
"You lied about her aunt."
She opened her mouth.
"And you may have helped hide money that belonged to her."
Tears filled her eyes.
"After everything I've done for you?"
Marcus shook his head.
"Don't make this about me."
I stared at him.
For years, Marcus had been caught between us.
He loved his mother.
He loved Arthur.
And although we weren't related by blood, he'd always called me his little sister.
But he hadn't always defended me.
Sometimes he looked away.
Sometimes he told me to ignore Evelyn.
Sometimes he said she didn't mean what she said.
Now he looked ashamed.
"Nia, I'm sorry."
I swallowed.
"For what?"
"For not asking more questions."
My eyes burned.
He glanced toward Arthur's portrait.
"Dad used to tell me you were sensitive."
I laughed without humor.
"That's what people say when they don't want to acknowledge someone is being hurt."
Marcus nodded.
"You're right."
The admission surprised me.
But before I could respond, Evelyn snatched the will from the counter.
"This document is invalid!"
Marcus reached toward her.
"Mom, put it down."
She backed away.
"Arthur wasn't thinking clearly when he signed this!"
I froze.
There it was.
Her next weapon.
The dead man couldn't defend himself.
So she would attack his mind.
I stepped forward.
"Arthur signed it with an attorney present."
She glared at me.
"You don't know that."
I reached into my handbag.
Actually, I did.
Three days before he died, Arthur had given me the envelope.
He told me his attorney, Camille Reed, had copies of everything.
He made me write down her number.
I took out my phone.
"Then let's ask her."
Evelyn went still.
Marcus looked at me.
"You know his attorney?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
Evelyn suddenly moved toward the phone.
"Don't call anybody!"
Marcus stepped between us.
"Mom, stop."
I dialed.
Camille answered after the second ring.
"Nia?"
My throat tightened.
"Ms. Reed, I'm sorry to call on Christmas."
Her voice softened.
"You don't need to apologize. How are you holding up?"
I glanced at Evelyn.
"Not well."
Camille paused.
"Has something happened?"
I swallowed.
"Evelyn opened Dad's will. She's saying it isn't valid."
The attorney became quiet.
Then she asked a question that made Evelyn's expression collapse.
"Has Evelyn told Marcus about the trust amendment Arthur signed last month?"
I stared at the phone.
"Trust amendment?"
Camille hesitated.
"Nia, I think we need to meet as soon as possible."
My heart began pounding.
"What amendment?"
She took a slow breath.
"Arthur discovered that money had been moved from an account connected to your mother's estate."
I gripped the phone.
"And?"
May you like
Her next words made the entire room feel cold.
"He believed someone in the family had been hiding those transfers for years."
