Chapter 7 - The Deed Vanessa Wanted
The next morning, Dad canceled our plans to leave for the airport immediately.
Not the vacation.
Just our departure time.
Thomas wanted to meet us first.
I sat at the kitchen table staring at my untouched breakfast.
Vanessa hadn't come downstairs.
Jordan and Nia were unusually quiet.
The entire house felt different.
As though everyone knew something terrible was about to happen.
Dad entered carrying his phone.
"Thomas will be here in twenty minutes."
I looked up.
"Did he find out what Vanessa wants?"
Dad nodded.
"He has a theory."
I swallowed.
"What theory?"
Before he could answer, Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
She wore a cream-colored blouse and perfectly styled hair.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
"Good morning," she said.
Nobody answered.
She looked at our suitcases.
"I thought you two were leaving."
Dad stared at her.
"We're meeting with Thomas first."
Her expression flickered.
"Thomas?"
"Our attorney."
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Why?"
Dad stood.
"Because we have questions about Elizabeth's estate."
The color drained from her face.
I saw it.
Just for a second.
Then she smiled.
"Marcus, honestly, you're becoming paranoid."
Dad didn't answer.
Vanessa turned toward me.
"Maya, sweetheart, aren't you excited about Hawaii?"
I stared at her.
She had spent years refusing to call me sweetheart unless Dad was listening.
Now she used the word so casually.
It made my stomach twist.
"Yes," I answered.
She smiled.
"Then don't let all this adult drama ruin your trip."
Dad stepped beside me.
"Maya is allowed to know what's happening with her own property."
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
"She's sixteen."
Dad looked at her.
"Exactly. She's a child you were supposed to protect."
Silence.
Vanessa turned away.
Then she said something strange.
"Elizabeth was always dramatic about money."
Dad froze.
"What did you say?"
Vanessa shrugged.
"Nothing."
He stepped forward.
"You never knew Elizabeth."
Her face changed.
"I've heard enough stories."
Dad stared at her.
"Then how do you know what she was like about money?"
Vanessa said nothing.
At that moment, the doorbell rang.
Thomas.
Dad walked to the door.
I watched Vanessa's hands tighten around the edge of the kitchen counter.
Something was wrong.
Thomas entered carrying a leather briefcase.
He greeted everyone politely.
Then asked to speak with Dad and me in the study.
Vanessa immediately objected.
"I'm Marcus's wife."
Thomas looked at her.
"That doesn't automatically entitle you to confidential information concerning Maya's separate inheritance."
Her face turned red.
Dad guided me toward the hallway.
We entered his office and closed the door.
Thomas opened his briefcase.
Inside were several documents.
He placed them on the desk.
"Elizabeth originally intended to leave the Hawaii cottage inside a broader family trust."
Dad nodded.
"I remember discussing that."
Thomas continued.
"But shortly before her death, she amended the arrangement."
I frowned.
"Why?"
Thomas looked at Dad.
"She wanted the cottage protected exclusively for Maya."
My chest tightened.
He continued.
"The property was transferred into a trust that names Maya as the sole beneficiary."
Dad exhaled.
"That's what you told us yesterday."
Thomas nodded.
"Yes. But the amendment also removed any future spouse of Marcus from having authority over the property."
I stared at him.
"Mom planned for that?"
He nodded.
"She wanted to ensure that no one could interfere with Maya's inheritance."
Dad looked devastated.
"Elizabeth was protecting her."
Thomas continued.
"The original deed and supporting documents were placed in secure storage."
I frowned.
"Then why would Vanessa need to find them?"
Thomas sighed.
"Because she's apparently been working with someone who promised he could challenge the trust."
Dad's expression hardened.
"Who?"
Thomas took out a photograph.
It showed Vanessa standing outside a downtown office building beside a man in a dark suit.
I didn't recognize him.
Dad did.
"Daniel Brooks."
I looked at him.
"Who is that?"
Dad swallowed.
"My former business partner."
Thomas nodded.
"Brooks has been involved in several disputed real estate transactions."
My stomach tightened.
Dad continued.
"We ended our partnership five years ago."
I frowned.
"Why?"
Dad looked uncomfortable.
"Because I discovered he had been misrepresenting financial records."
Thomas placed another document on the desk.
"He's now advising Vanessa."
I stared at the photograph.
"How long?"
Thomas looked directly at me.
"At least six months."
My chest tightened.
Six months.
Vanessa had been planning this for half a year.
Dad stood abruptly.
"I'm calling the police."
Thomas raised one hand.
"We have enough to make a formal report about the financial irregularities, but we need to be careful about what we can prove."
Dad nodded reluctantly.
"What do you suggest?"
"Preserve the evidence, secure the property, and let investigators examine the transactions."
I looked at Thomas.
"Can Vanessa still find the deed?"
He smiled gently.
"The original is safe."
I exhaled.
"But there is something else," he continued.
My heart sank.
"What?"
"Someone attempted to access the storage facility yesterday."
Dad stared at him.
"Who?"
Thomas hesitated.
"The security cameras captured a woman."
He placed a photograph on the desk.
I looked down.
Vanessa.
Wearing sunglasses.
Standing near the entrance to the secure storage building.
My hands went cold.
Dad's face turned dark with anger.
"She went there yesterday?"
Thomas nodded.
"She was denied access."
I looked toward the office door.
Vanessa was somewhere inside the house.
Pretending nothing was wrong.
But she had been trying to steal something Mom left for me.
Again.
Dad turned toward Thomas.
"What happens now?"
Thomas closed the folder.
"We're preparing emergency protective measures."
Then his phone buzzed.
He looked at the message.
His expression changed.
"Marcus."
Dad frowned.
"What?"
Thomas turned the screen toward him.
I couldn't see the message.
But Dad's face went pale.
"What do you mean she already filed?"
My heart raced.
Thomas swallowed.
"Vanessa and Brooks submitted a petition yesterday."
Dad stared at him.
"For what?"
Thomas looked at me.
"For temporary control over Maya's inherited property."
My breath caught.
He continued.
"They're claiming Marcus has become financially irresponsible and is improperly influencing Maya."
Dad stood motionless.
Vanessa had spent years making me look difficult.
Now she was trying to make Dad look unfit.
I looked at Thomas.
"Can she do that?"
He nodded carefully.
"She can file a petition. That doesn't mean the court will agree."
Then his phone rang again.
He answered.
Listened.
And looked toward the office door.
His expression hardened.
"Thank you."
He ended the call.
Dad stepped forward.
"What now?"
Thomas took a deep breath.
"Vanessa has just requested an emergency hearing."
My heart pounded.
"When?"
Thomas looked directly at me.
"Tomorrow morning."
And suddenly, I understood.
May you like
Vanessa hadn't needed seven days to steal everything.
She only needed us to leave before the hearing.
