Chapter 5
Three days later, Denise came to the house with a suitcase.
She didn't knock.
She used her key.
I was sitting at the kitchen table doing homework when the front door opened.
My stomach dropped.
Denise walked inside wearing her tan blazer.
Her sleek bob was perfectly styled.
She looked around as though nothing had happened.
"Where's Marcus?"
I stood.
"He's at work."
She smiled coldly.
"Good."
Then she walked toward the staircase.
I stepped into her path.
"You're not supposed to be here."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Excuse me?"
"Dad asked you to stay somewhere else."
She laughed.
"This is my home, Maya."
I felt my hands trembling.
But I didn't move.
"Please leave."
Her face hardened.
"You're getting bold."
I swallowed.
"I'm calling Dad."
She stepped closer.
"You think you've won, don't you?"
I took out my phone.
Denise reached toward it.
I backed away.
"Don't touch me."
For a moment, she looked surprised.
Then she smiled.
"You're just like your mother."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
She tilted her head.
"Always acting innocent."
I stared at her.
"You didn't know my mom."
Her expression changed.
"Of course I did."
The words stunned me.
"What?"
Denise looked away.
"Your father never told you?"
I felt cold.
"Told me what?"
She laughed softly.
"Your mother and I knew each other years ago."
I couldn't breathe.
Dad had always told me he met Denise long after Mom died.
He said they met at a company charity event.
Now she was claiming she'd known Mom.
Before I could ask another question, Dad's truck pulled into the driveway.
Denise heard the engine.
Her expression changed immediately.
She rushed toward the door.
"Marcus!"
Dad entered carrying his work bag.
When he saw her, his face hardened.
"What are you doing here?"
She burst into tears.
"I came home."
Dad remained still.
"Denise, we agreed you would stay with your sister until things were resolved."
She shook her head.
"I can't believe you're doing this to me."
Dad looked at me.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded.
But I couldn't stop thinking about what Denise had said.
She knew Mom.
How?
Denise continued crying.
"You're letting your daughter destroy our marriage."
Dad set down his bag.
"Stop blaming Maya."
She froze.
He continued.
"This situation is about the financial decisions you made."
"I was trying to help Jordan!"
"With money that wasn't yours."
She covered her face.
Then she looked at me.
"Tell him, Maya. Tell him you don't want our family destroyed."
I stared at her.
For years, those words would have worked.
I would have apologized.
Promised to be nicer.
Begged everyone to stop fighting.
But I was tired.
Tired of being responsible for other people's choices.
I took a breath.
"I want you to stop taking things from me."
Her mouth fell open.
Dad stood beside me.
"Denise, you need to leave."
She stared at him.
"You're choosing her."
He shook his head.
"I'm choosing to protect my daughter."
Denise's expression twisted.
"Fine."
She grabbed her suitcase.
"But don't come begging when you realize what you've lost."
Then she stormed outside.
Dad watched her leave.
I stood beside him.
My heart was pounding.
Finally, I asked, "Dad, did Denise know Mom?"
He turned toward me.
"What?"
"She said they knew each other."
His face changed.
For a moment, he looked genuinely confused.
Then he shook his head.
"That's not possible."
I swallowed.
"She said you never told me."
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Your mother died years before I met Denise."
I nodded.
"That's what I thought."
He looked toward the door.
Then he took out his phone.
"Let me find out what she's talking about."
He called Denise.
She didn't answer.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Then he called Angela.
I watched his expression change as they spoke.
"What do you mean?"
Silence.
"Angela, why didn't you tell me?"
My stomach tightened.
Dad sat down.
I heard Angela's voice faintly through the phone.
He closed his eyes.
"Okay."
Then he ended the call.
I stared at him.
"Dad?"
He looked exhausted.
"Denise knew your mother before we married."
My heart pounded.
"How?"
He swallowed.
"They worked at the same insurance agency."
I stared at him.
"What?"
Dad nodded slowly.
"Your mother worked there before you were born. Denise apparently joined the agency later."
I felt sick.
"Why didn't you know?"
"Your mother left the company before Denise and I met."
He looked down.
"Angela recognized Denise at our wedding but couldn't remember where she'd seen her."
I stared at him.
"Why would Denise hide that?"
Dad didn't answer.
I thought about the trust.
The stolen savings.
The documents Denise tried to change.
Then I asked the question that frightened me most.
"Did she know Mom left me money?"
Dad went completely still.
"I don't know."
We contacted Rachel immediately.
She advised us not to jump to conclusions.
Knowing Mom years earlier didn't prove Denise had planned anything from the beginning.
But it was relevant.
Especially because Denise had attempted to access the trust.
Rachel began reviewing the records.
Two days later, she called with unexpected news.
She had found an old workplace dispute involving Denise.
It dated back almost twenty years.
The complaint had been filed by my mother.
I stared at Dad.
"What kind of complaint?"
Rachel explained that Mom had reported missing client funds at the insurance agency.
Denise was one of several employees interviewed.
The matter had eventually been resolved internally.
Dad looked stunned.
"Are you saying Denise stole money from my wife?"
Rachel remained careful.
"No. The records don't establish that. But they show your wife and Maya's mother had a professional conflict."
I felt cold.
Mom had reported financial irregularities.
Years later, Denise was accused of misusing my savings.
The similarity frightened me.
Rachel continued.
"There's another document."
Dad leaned forward.
"What?"
"A statement your wife gave during the investigation."
I swallowed.
"What does it say?"
Rachel hesitated.
"Denise accused Maya's mother of trying to ruin her career."
Dad covered his mouth.
I felt tears rise.
My mother had been gone for eight years.
And now I was learning that my stepmother may have resented her long before she married Dad.
Then Rachel said something that made my heart stop.
"Maya, there's one more thing you should know."
I gripped the phone.
"What?"
"Denise's name appears in correspondence concerning your mother's original life insurance policy."
I stared at Dad.
He looked completely pale.
Rachel continued.
May you like
"We need to investigate why she had access to those records."
And suddenly, I wondered whether Denise's interest in my inheritance had begun long before she became my stepmother.
