The Second Will
Chapter 09 - The Second Will
The will in Margaret’s handbag named Daniel’s younger sister, Rebecca, as the sole heir.
Rebecca Mercer had died at nineteen in a boating accident.
The document was dated five years after her death.
Forensic examination found that Edward’s signature had been copied from an old tax filing. The witnesses were employees of a shell company controlled by Margaret.
The discovery transformed a custody case into a criminal investigation.
Margaret was taken to a separate room for questioning, but she left the courtroom with her chin high, as though officers were merely escorting her to another charity luncheon.
Before passing Claire, she stopped.
“You think this makes you a Mercer?”
Claire held her gaze.
“No. It proves my sons never needed to be.”
Margaret smiled without warmth.
“You have no idea what Daniel has done.”
That sentence followed Claire home.
For the first time in months, there were no photographers outside her apartment. A patrol car remained on the street, and Rachel arranged for new locks.
The twins should have felt safe.
Instead, they grew quieter.
Eli woke from a nightmare asking whether police would take Claire away. Noah refused to remove his suit jacket until she promised court was over for the day.
Claire sat with them on the kitchen floor and made grilled cheese sandwiches because the table felt too formal.
“We are still us,” she told them.
“What if Dad goes to jail?” Eli asked.
Claire did not know how to answer.
Noah did.
“Then he should not have lied.”
His voice was hard, but his hands shook.
That night, Daniel called.
Claire almost ignored it.
“I need to tell you what my mother meant,” he said. “There is another child.”
Claire gripped the phone.
“What child?”
“My sister did not die in that accident.”
Daniel explained that Rebecca had survived but suffered a brain injury. Margaret moved her to a private care facility under another name to prevent scandal and preserve control of her trust.
Edward had spent years trying to find her.
Daniel had known for six months.
“And you said nothing?” Claire asked.
“I was trying to locate her.”
“No. You were waiting to see which truth would cost you less.”
Daniel did not argue.
Then he gave Claire an address.
May you like
The facility was two hours away.
And according to its records, Rebecca had signed away the twins’ inheritance the previous morning.
