Chapter 6: My Wife's Brother Came Back for the Fortune
The doorbell rang twice.
I didn't move.
Edward Collins stood outside my house as though he had never spent fifteen years avoiding it.
He was wearing an expensive charcoal coat and carrying a leather briefcase.
His hair had turned almost completely gray, but his expression was the same one I remembered from the last time we argued.
Entitlement disguised as confidence.
Chloe appeared beside me.
"Is that him?""
"Yes.""
"Should I call the police?""
"Not yet.""
I opened the door but kept the security chain fastened.
Edward smiled.
"Richard. You look terrible.""
I touched my bruised cheek.
"Your timing is excellent.""
He glanced at the chain.
"Are you really going to make me stand outside?""
"After fifteen years, I thought you might appreciate the fresh air.""
His smile disappeared.
"Still bitter, I see.""
"Still dishonest, I see.""
Edward exhaled.
"Can we talk like adults?""
"We stopped being family a long time ago.""
He looked past me.
"Is Michael here?""
"No.""
"Vanessa?""
"Also no.""
He shook his head.
"That's unfortunate. I was hoping to speak to all of you.""
I stared at him.
"Why?""
"Because I think there's been a misunderstanding about the company.""
I almost laughed.
"A misunderstanding involving six hundred thousand dollars?""
Edward's expression changed slightly.
So he knew.
"Daniel has been filling your head with nonsense.""
"Daniel has shown me the bank records.""
"Those payments were legitimate.""
"Then why were they hidden?""
Edward shifted his briefcase.
"Can I come inside?""
"No.""
His jaw tightened.
"Richard, you need to understand something. Margaret and I had an agreement long before you came into the picture.""
I stared at him.
"Margaret's letter mentioned an investment agreement.""
For the first time, Edward looked genuinely surprised.
"She left you a letter?""
"She left me several things. Including a warning about you.""
He looked away.
Then he gave a small, bitter laugh.
"Margaret always thought she could solve everything by writing letters.""
I tightened my grip on the door.
"What was the agreement?""
Edward lowered his voice.
"Your company was built partly with family money. Margaret invested in the original warehouse project. Her contribution was supposed to give her a permanent ownership interest.""
"She never told me that.""
"Because you convinced her to put everything under your name.""
"That's a lie.""
Edward leaned closer.
"You think you're the only one who remembers the past?""
I stared at him.
"Show me the contract.""
His expression hardened.
"That's what I came to discuss.""
Before he could continue, a car pulled into my driveway.
Daniel stepped out.
Two men in dark suits followed him.
Edward looked annoyed.
"Of course. The lawyer.""
Daniel approached the door.
"Mr. Collins.""
"Daniel.""
"I'd appreciate it if you stopped contacting my client directly.""
Edward laughed.
"Your client? Richard was my brother-in-law before he was your client.""
"That relationship ended fifteen years ago.""
Edward looked at me.
"You're making a mistake.""
I nodded.
"Perhaps. But I'm no longer making decisions based on your promises.""
Daniel removed a document from his briefcase.
"Richard, we found the original investment agreement.""
I turned toward him.
"Where?""
"Margaret's storage unit.""
Edward went completely still.
Daniel continued.
"It contains the original terms, the repayment schedule, and a signed release confirming that Margaret's investment was fully repaid seventeen years ago.""
I looked at Edward.
His face had lost its color.
"You knew about that document?"" I asked.
He didn't answer.
Daniel handed me a copy.
I scanned the final page.
Margaret's signature was clear.
So was Edward's.
The agreement stated that the investment had been repaid in full, with interest, and that Edward had no continuing claim against Anderson Holdings.
I looked up.
"Why have you been taking money from my company?""
Edward's expression turned ugly.
"Because you owe me.""
"According to this agreement, I owe you nothing.""
"That agreement was signed under pressure!""
"Then why did you keep the money?""
He stepped forward.
"Because Margaret promised me more!""
Daniel immediately moved between us.
"That's enough.""
Edward pointed at me.
"You think you can keep everything? You think Michael will stay on your side after he discovers what you've done?""
I frowned.
"What have I done?""
Edward smiled.
"Ask your son why he really wanted access to the company accounts.""
I looked at Daniel.
He shook his head slightly.
"Mr. Collins, we have the records. You should leave.""
Edward ignored him.
"Richard, your son has debts.""
My stomach tightened.
"What debts?""
"Substantial ones.""
I turned toward Daniel.
"Is this true?""
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"We're still investigating.""
Edward laughed.
"Of course you are.""
He leaned closer.
"Michael lost a fortune in a private investment deal last year. He borrowed money from people who don't appreciate being kept waiting.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"How much?""
Edward looked directly into my eyes.
"Nearly two million dollars.""
The room seemed to fall silent.
I thought about the strange questions Michael had been asking.
His sudden interest in the business accounts.
His desperation to gain control of the house.
His willingness to believe Vanessa's lies.
It was beginning to make sense.
"Did you lend him the money?"" I asked.
Edward smiled.
"Some of it.""
"Why?""
"Because he promised me something.""
"What?""
Edward looked toward the staircase.
"The company.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"That's enough. You need to leave.""
Edward adjusted his coat.
"Fine. But tell Michael I want my money.""
He walked toward the SUV.
Before getting inside, he turned around.
"One more thing, Richard.""
I waited.
"Margaret wasn't the only person who knew about the investment agreement. Michael found the original paperwork months ago.""
My stomach dropped.
"What?""
Edward smiled coldly.
"Your son came to see me before Vanessa ever married him.""
Then he climbed into the SUV and drove away.
I stood motionless.
Daniel closed the door.
"Richard, we need to discuss what he just said.""
I looked at him.
"Find out whether Michael has been communicating with Edward.""
Daniel nodded.
"Already requested the records.""
I walked into the living room and sat down.
The house felt unfamiliar.
Every photograph seemed to carry a different meaning now.
The boy in the family pictures.
The young man standing beside Margaret at his graduation.
The groom smiling beside Vanessa on his wedding day.
How much of it had been genuine?
My phone rang.
Michael.
I stared at his name for several seconds before answering.
"Dad?""
His voice sounded exhausted.
"What do you want, Michael?""
"I need to see you.""
"Why?""
"Because I need to tell you something before Edward does.""
I closed my eyes.
"Go ahead.""
There was a long silence.
Then he whispered:
"I knew about the investment agreement.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"How long?""
"Almost a year.""
"And you knew Edward had no legal claim?""
Another silence.
"Yes.""
I felt something inside me collapse.
"Then why did you help him?""
Michael began crying.
"Because I owed him money.""
"How much?""
"One point eight million.""
I said nothing.
Then he continued.
"Vanessa told me we could solve everything if we got control of the company. She said Edward would forgive the debt once the ownership transfer was completed.""
I stared at the photograph of Margaret on the mantelpiece.
"And the assault?""
Michael's voice broke.
"I didn't know she was going to fake it.""
"But you knew she wanted me declared incompetent.""
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
I slowly stood.
"Michael, listen carefully. I can understand financial desperation. I can understand bad decisions. But I will never excuse what you did to me.""
"Dad, please. I want to fix this.""
"You had a chance to fix it when you saw me on the floor.""
He sobbed.
"I know.""
"No. I don't think you do.""
I ended the call.
Daniel stood near the doorway.
"Richard, there's something else.""
I looked at him.
"What now?""
He held out his tablet.
"Vanessa has been located.""
"Where?""
"At a private clinic downtown.""
"Why?""
Daniel hesitated.
"She went there less than an hour ago.""
I frowned.
"What's wrong with her?""
Daniel turned the screen toward me.
A photograph showed Vanessa entering the clinic, carrying a large handbag.
Beneath it was a message from the clinic's administrator.
Mrs. Vanessa Anderson has requested access to archived medical records belonging to Margaret Anderson.
I stared at the screen.
"Why would she want my wife's medical records?""
Daniel enlarged the photograph.
In Vanessa's other hand was a small brown envelope.
On the front, written in blue ink, were five words.
*DNA RESULTS — DO NOT DISCLOSE.*
My heart began pounding.
Daniel looked at me.
"Richard, I think we've discovered why Edward has been involved in this family for so long.""
I stared at the envelope.
May you like
Then he delivered the sentence that changed everything.
"Margaret may have been hiding a secret about Michael's biological father.""
