Chapter 5: The Secret Her Mother Left Behind
Olivia didn't sleep that night.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the photograph of the document Marcus had mentioned.
Her mother.
An inheritance.
Something Richard had supposedly hidden.
She had never known her mother to have much money. Denise had worked as a receptionist at a dental office and lived modestly.
There had been no expensive jewelry, no large property, no mysterious bank accounts.
At least, that was what Olivia believed.
At 8:12 the next morning, Marcus sent her an address.
Come alone. I have something your mother wanted you to have.
Olivia stared at the message.
She almost called Richard.
Instead, she put on her coat and left.
Marcus was waiting in a small office above a commercial building.
A woman sat behind a desk.
She introduced herself as Patricia Mills, an attorney.
Olivia looked around.
“Why are we here?””
Marcus pulled out a chair.
“Because it's time you understood your mother's affairs.””
Patricia opened a folder.
“Olivia, I understand you were adopted by Mr. Bennett after your mother's passing.””
“Yes.””
“Do you know whether your mother left any assets?””
“No.””
Patricia exchanged a glance with Marcus.
“Your mother had a life insurance policy and a small investment account.””
Olivia blinked.
“How much?””
Patricia looked at the paperwork.
“According to the records we have, the combined value was approximately $86,000 at the time of her death.””
Olivia stared.
“What?””
Marcus nodded solemnly.
“Your mother wanted that money to be used for your future.””
Olivia's hands began to tremble.
“Where is it?””
Patricia turned a page.
“The account was transferred into a custodial arrangement when you were a minor.””
“Who managed it?””
“Your adoptive father.””
Olivia's stomach tightened.
“Richard?””
Patricia nodded.
“That's what the records indicate.””
Olivia sat back.
“Why didn't he tell me?””
Marcus leaned forward.
“That's what I've been trying to explain.””
Patricia slid a document across the desk.
“This is a copy of the original beneficiary designation.””
Olivia looked at the page.
Her mother's signature appeared at the bottom.
Above it was a handwritten note:
For Olivia, when she becomes an adult.
Olivia felt sick.
“Does this mean Richard took the money?””
Patricia didn't answer immediately.
“The account records need to be reviewed before anyone can make that conclusion.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I don't want to accuse him, but you deserve answers.””
Olivia looked at him.
“Did you know about this?””
Marcus lowered his eyes.
“I found out recently.””
“How?””
“Someone contacted me.””
“Who?””
Marcus hesitated.
“An old family acquaintance.””
Olivia leaned forward.
“What's their name?””
“I'll get it for you.””
She looked at the document again.
Eighty-six thousand dollars.
Money her mother had left for her.
Money she had never known existed.
And Richard had controlled it for years.
At the Bennett home, Richard was making breakfast when his phone rang.
It was Olivia.
“Dad, I need you to tell me something.””
He immediately recognized the tone.
“What happened?””
“Did Mom leave me money?””
Richard stopped stirring the eggs.
“What?””
“Did Denise leave an insurance policy and an investment account?””
Richard placed the spoon down.
“Where did you hear that?””
“That's not an answer.””
He took a slow breath.
“Yes. She did.””
Olivia closed her eyes.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Richard leaned against the counter.
“Because the money was placed in a trust for you. It wasn't available until you reached adulthood.””
“Who managed it?””
“I did.””
“Did you spend it?””
“No.””
“Then where is it?””
“It's safe.””
Olivia's voice rose.
“How safe?””
“Olivia, I can show you every statement.””
“Why didn't you tell me when I turned eighteen?””
Richard closed his eyes.
“I did.””
“No, you didn't.””
“I gave you a folder when you graduated. It contained the trust information.””
Olivia froze.
She remembered the folder.
It had been among the graduation cards and gifts. She had put it in a drawer without opening it.
Richard continued.
“I didn't want to overwhelm you with financial matters while you were deciding what to do with your life.””
Olivia swallowed.
“Marcus says the money is supposed to be released to me.””
“That's correct.””
“Then I want it.””
Richard nodded.
“Of course.””
“Not controlled by you.””
“I understand.””
“Can you transfer it?””
“Yes. But I want you to review the statements first.””
Olivia laughed bitterly.
“Why? So you can explain away whatever happened?””
Richard's face fell.
“Sweetheart, I would never take your mother's money.””
She said nothing.
Then she ended the call.
Richard remained standing in the kitchen.
The eggs began to burn.
Margaret entered and turned off the stove.
“What happened?””
Richard looked at her.
“She thinks I stole Denise's money.””
Margaret's expression changed.
“Oh, Richard.””
He rubbed his eyes.
“I should have given her the statements years ago.””
“You gave her the folder.””
“I should have made sure she understood.””
Margaret took his hand.
“Someone is filling her head with lies.””
Richard stared at the counter.
“Then I need to show her the truth.””
That afternoon, Richard visited the bank.
He requested the complete trust history and every transaction since the account had been established.
The bank manager, Mr. Harris, recognized him immediately.
“Mr. Bennett. It's been a while.””
Richard handed him the authorization documents.
“I need a complete statement for Denise Reed's custodial account.””
Mr. Harris reviewed the paperwork.
“Of course.””
He spent several minutes typing.
Then he looked up.
“Would you like the current balance as well?””
“Yes.””
Mr. Harris printed the statement.
Richard glanced at the final figure.
$103,742.61.
The original $86,000 had grown through interest and investments.
Every dollar remained untouched.
Richard stared at the document.
“Can you provide a certified statement showing there have been no withdrawals?””
“Absolutely.””
“Thank you.””
Mr. Harris printed another page.
Then he hesitated.
“Mr. Bennett, there's something else.””
Richard looked up.
“What?””
“The account received an inquiry last week.””
“From whom?””
Mr. Harris checked his records.
“Marcus Reed.””
Richard went still.
“What did he want?””
“He requested information about the account and asked whether he could become an authorized representative.””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“Did you give him access?””
“No. He wasn't listed as a beneficiary or trustee.””
Richard took the paperwork.
“Thank you.””
As he walked toward the exit, his phone rang.
It was Daniel.
“Mr. Bennett, I think we have a serious problem.””
Richard stopped.
“What happened?””
“Olivia told me Marcus found some money her mother left her.””
“I know.””
“Did you tell her about it?””
“I did. But she believes I hid it.””
Daniel exhaled.
“That's not all. Marcus just called me.””
Richard tightened his grip on the folder.
“What did he want?””
“He asked me to help convince Olivia to release the money before the wedding.””
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
“He said he has a plan to invest it. He claims he can double it in six months.””
Richard closed his eyes.
“Did you tell him no?””
“Of course.””
Daniel paused.
“Then he threatened to tell Olivia that I was involved in the wedding payment scheme.””
Richard looked down at the bank statement.
The situation was becoming clearer.
Marcus didn't simply want to walk Olivia down the aisle.
He wanted control.
And he was willing to use her feelings to get it.
That evening, Olivia arrived at the Bennett home.
She carried a folder.
Richard was waiting in the living room.
“Hi, sweetheart.””
She didn't return the greeting.
“Marcus says you have the account statements.””
Richard nodded.
“I do.””
He handed her the certified documents.
Olivia examined the first page.
Then the second.
Her eyes widened.
“No withdrawals?””
“None.””
“Not even once?””
“Not one.””
She continued reading.
The current balance was printed at the bottom.
“It's over a hundred thousand dollars.””
Richard nodded.
“Your mother's money stayed invested.””
Olivia looked up.
“Why didn't you give me this when I turned eighteen?””
“I tried.””
She remembered the graduation folder again.
Her face changed.
“I thought that was just paperwork.””
Richard nodded.
“I know.””
She sat down.
For a few moments, she read in silence.
Then she noticed something.
A transaction dated three weeks earlier.
It wasn't a withdrawal.
It was an inquiry.
The request had been submitted by Marcus Reed.
Olivia looked at Richard.
“Why did he contact the bank?””
Richard didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
She looked back at the page.
“Did he try to access the money?””
“Yes.””
Olivia's lips parted.
“Why?””
Richard sat opposite her.
“That's what I've been trying to understand.””
Her phone vibrated.
A message from Marcus.
Don't believe anything Richard shows you. He's trying to protect himself.
Olivia stared at it.
For the first time, she didn't immediately believe him.
She typed:
Why did you contact my bank?
The reply came seconds later.
Because I was trying to help you.
She typed again.
Why did you ask to become an authorized representative?
This time, the answer took longer.
Finally, Marcus replied:
Your mother wanted me to have a say in your future.
Olivia looked at the document.
Then she noticed the date of the original signature.
It was dated two months before Denise died.
She turned the page over.
A handwritten note appeared on the back.
It wasn't an instruction to Marcus.
It was a sentence addressed directly to her.
If Olivia ever asks about her father, make sure she knows that love is shown by staying.
Olivia's fingers trembled.
“Dad?””
Richard looked up.
“Yes?””
“Did Mom write this?””
He examined the note.
His expression softened.
“Yes.””
Olivia swallowed.
“What did she mean?””
Richard looked at the handwriting.
Then he quietly answered.
“Your mother knew Marcus had a habit of making promises he couldn't keep.””
Olivia's eyes filled.
Richard reached for her hand.
But she pulled it back.
Not because she hated him.
Because she suddenly didn't know what to believe.
That night, Olivia called Marcus.
He answered immediately.
“Sweetheart.””
“Why did you try to access my account?””
Marcus sighed.
“Are we doing this again?””
“Just answer me.””
“I was trying to protect your inheritance.””
“From what?””
“From people who might take advantage of you.””
“Richard didn't take anything.””
Marcus was silent.
Olivia continued.
“I saw the statements. The money is all there.””
“Good. Then there's no problem.””
“Why did you want to manage it?””
Marcus's voice hardened.
“Because I'm your father.””
She closed her eyes.
“That's not an answer.””
“Olivia, listen to me. You're being manipulated.””
“By whom?””
“Richard. Daniel. That whole family.””
She pulled the phone away from her ear for a second.
Then she said, “I need some time.””
Marcus's voice changed immediately.
“Time for what?””
“To think.””
“Don't do this right before your wedding.””
“I'm not doing anything.””
“You're making a terrible mistake.””
Olivia ended the call.
For the first time since Marcus had returned, she didn't feel relieved after speaking to him.
She felt afraid.
At 11:47 p.m., Richard received an email from the wedding coordinator.
The subject line read:
URGENT — Unauthorized Request to Change Wedding Payment Instructions.
He opened it.
Attached was a document requesting that the remaining wedding service agreements be transferred to a new billing account.
The account holder was Marcus Reed.
But the signature at the bottom wasn't Marcus's.
It was Olivia Bennett's.
Richard stared at the screen.
Then he noticed the date.
May you like
The document had been submitted that afternoon.
And Olivia had told him she had never signed it.
