“Over eleven years, William Harper transferred ownership of several properties into a protected trust.”
Alyssa looked confused.
“How many properties?”
“Seven.”
“Seven?”
“Seven residential properties, two commercial buildings, his investment portfolio, and a significant portion of his liquid assets.”
Vivian’s eyes widened.
“That’s impossible.”
“It isn’t.”
“You’re saying my husband transferred everything?”
“No.”
Mr. Bennett shook his head.
“I’m saying he transferred almost everything.”
Alyssa looked at me.
Her expression changed.
“You.”
I didn’t understand.
“What?”
“You knew.”
“No.”
“You knew this was going to happen.”
“I didn’t.”
“You found something in Dad’s study.”
I froze.
She noticed.
“You did.”
Vivian turned sharply toward me.
“What did you find?”
I said nothing.
Alyssa stood.
“You knew Dad left something for you.”
“I found photographs.”
“What photographs?”
“Of me.”
Alyssa’s face twisted.
“That’s all?”
“No.”
I hesitated.
“I found a letter.”
Vivian’s breathing changed.
“What letter?”
I looked at her.
“The one he wrote to me.”
Her face went completely white.
“You read it?”
“Yes.”
“What did it say?”
I held her gaze.
“He said he was sorry.”
Vivian’s mouth tightened.
“For what?”
“For believing your lies.”
The room exploded.
“You ungrateful—”
Vivian lunged toward me.
Mr. Bennett stood immediately.
“Mrs. Harper.”
She stopped.
I had never seen Vivian look frightened before.
Not when Dad left for business trips.
Not when I moved away.
Not when I confronted her at seventeen.
But now she looked terrified.
Because she knew something.
Something I didn’t.
Mr. Bennett slowly returned to his chair.
“There is one final document.”
He placed a second envelope on the table.
“This one was delivered to my office three weeks before William’s death.”
He looked at me.
“It was addressed to Candace.”
My fingers went cold.
“Why didn’t you give it to me?”
“Because your father instructed me not to release it until after the DNA results were verified.”
I stared at the envelope.
My name was written across the front.
CANDACE HARPER
Dad’s handwriting.
I reached for it.
But before I could touch it, Vivian said:
“Don’t.”
Everyone looked at her.
She seemed to realize what she’d done.
Alyssa slowly turned toward her.
“Why?”
Vivian said nothing.
Alyssa’s voice became quieter.
“Why shouldn’t she open it?”
“I said don’t.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Vivian looked at Mr. Bennett.
“You promised me.”
He frowned.
“I promised to follow your husband’s instructions.”
“You know what he wanted.”
“I do.”
“Then you know he didn’t want this.”
Mr. Bennett leaned back.
“Actually, Mrs. Harper, I think he wanted exactly this.”
Vivian’s eyes filled with tears.
I reached for the envelope.
My hands were shaking.
