Chapter 2: Thirty Years of Secrets
The safe required both the brass key and a six-digit combination.
Benjamin smiled slightly.
"Your father's birthday."
The lock released.
Inside were dozens of organized folders.
Every file carried a handwritten label.
PAIGE
JUDITH
BUSINESS
MARA
Benjamin slowly opened the first folder.
"I think we should begin here."
It contained bank transfers stretching back nearly twelve years.
Luxury apartment payments.
Sports cars.
Private university tuition.
Credit-card debt.
Vacation homes.
Every expense had one thing in common.
Thomas had quietly paid for all of it.
More than two million dollars.
Mara stared in disbelief.
"My father supported Paige this entire time?"
Benjamin nodded.
"He hoped she'd eventually become independent."
Instead...
The spending only grew larger.
Another folder revealed something worse.
After Thomas entered hospice care, Judith and Paige had repeatedly attempted to convince him to sign revised ownership papers.
Each request had been rejected.
Thomas had written notes beside every attempt.
"Under pressure."
"Refused again."
"Witness present."
Mara closed her eyes.
"They were trying to take everything while he was dying."
Benjamin answered softly.
"Yes."
Near the bottom of the safe rested a small video camera.
A memory card remained inside.
Benjamin connected it to his laptop.
Thomas appeared on the screen.
He looked thinner than Mara remembered.
But his eyes were steady.
"If you're watching this," he said,
"I'm gone."
Mara covered her mouth.
"I know Judith will tell you I loved Paige more."
A sad smile crossed his face.
"That was never true."
"I treated your sister differently because I was trying to rescue her from the consequences of her choices."
"I treated you differently because I believed you were already strong."
"I realize now...
...that wasn't fair to either of my daughters."
May you like
Tears rolled silently down Mara's face.
"I'm sorry."
