Chapter 4 - Lucy's SecretLucy wouldn't come into the library.
She stood in the doorway, pale and shaking.
I held the red envelope.
“You knew about this.”
“No.”
“You just said I wasn't supposed to find it.”
She wiped her eyes.
“I meant…”
“Lucy.”
Her shoulders dropped.
“I knew there was something here.”
“What?”
“I don't know everything.”
“Then tell me what you know.”
She looked toward Steve.
He gave the slightest shake of his head.
I noticed.
“So this isn't only about you.”
Steve stepped forward.
“Jenny, this has gone too far.”
I turned to him.
“You knew too?”
He said nothing.
Lucy looked at him.
“Steve…”
He sighed.
“Not all of it.”
I laughed.
“That's becoming everyone's favorite sentence.”
Daniel stood beside me.
“Open the envelope.”
I did.
Inside was a photograph.
My father.
My mother.
Uncle Harold.
And another man.
I knew him immediately.
The previous owner of my house.
I turned the photograph over.
A date.
Thirty-two years ago.
Then another paper.
A handwritten note:
The property was placed into a family trust after the original purchase. It was intended for Jenny.
My mouth went dry.
“Why me?”
Daniel looked at me.
“I don't know.”
Another paper explained that the trust could not be transferred without my consent once I reached adulthood.
But there was a problem.
A separate document stated that a trustee could temporarily manage the property on behalf of the beneficiary.
The trustee's name was my mother.
I stared at the signature.
Then I understood.
“Mom.”
Nobody spoke.
My mother finally said through the phone:
“You don't know the whole story.”
“Then tell me.”
She cried.
“You were a child.”
“I’m not a child anymore.”
“You don't understand what your father did.”
“What did he do?”
Silence.
Then:
“He stole it.”
I froze.
“Stole what?”
“The money.”
I stared at Daniel.
Mom continued.
“Your father borrowed money from people. He made promises. He couldn't repay them.”
Daniel shook his head.
“That isn't true.”
“Your father was drowning!”
“But the house?”
She stopped.
I realized something.
“Mom, how did the house end up in my name?”
She whispered:
“Because your father wanted to protect you.”
“What was he protecting me from?”
No answer.
Then Steve's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His face changed.
He stepped into the hallway.
I followed.
“What is it?”
He covered the phone.
“Private.”
I grabbed his wrist.
“Who is calling?”
He pulled away.
The call ended.
A text appeared.
He read it.
Then looked at me.
“Someone knows you're asking questions.”
“What someone?”
He didn't answer.
I snatched the phone.
A message was visible.
THE GIRL FOUND THE TRUST.
Another arrived.
GET HER OUT OF THE HOUSE BEFORE SHE FINDS THE ORIGINAL RECORDS.
I looked at Steve.
He went completely still.
“Who sent this?”
Nothing.
Then Lucy started crying.
“Jenny…”
I turned.
“What?”
She whispered:
“It's not just the house.”
She stepped closer.
“Dad left you something else.”
“What?”
“A bank account.”
My heart pounded.
“How much?”
Lucy swallowed.
“More than the house is worth.”
Steve closed his eyes.
May you like
And that's when I realized.
My million-dollar house might have been only the surface.
