Chapter 10 - Grace’s DNA Wasn’t the Only TestEthan disappeared.
Police found his abandoned car near the highway.
No sign of him.
Richard wanted to call federal investigators immediately.
Bennett advised patience.
Grace hated that word.
Patience had apparently kept the Caldwell family wealthy for generations.
Patience also let secrets rot.
The DNA appointment happened the next morning at a private medical facility Bennett trusted.
Grace arrived wearing a knit cap.
She hated it.
Mrs. Harris said she didn’t need to cover her hair.
Grace knew.
She still did.
Richard accompanied her.
Vanessa was told not to come.
She came.
Security stopped her outside.
Grace saw her through the glass doors.
Vanessa stared back.
No apology.
No shame.
Only anger.
The technician collected Grace’s sample.
Then Richard’s.
Bennett provided Arthur Caldwell’s archived genetic profile.
“Results could take several days.”
Grace sighed.
“Of course.”
Richard looked at her.
“You okay?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“Fair.”
Grace almost smiled.
Then Bennett received a call.
His face changed.
He stepped outside.
Grace’s stomach tightened.
Richard said:
“I’m starting to hate that expression.”
Bennett returned.
“What?”
“There’s an issue with Arthur’s archived DNA sample.”
Grace stood.
“What issue?”
“It was tested once before.”
Richard frowned.
“When?”
“Four years ago.”
Grace stopped.
The same year Eleanor attempted to access Locker 314.
“Who requested it?” Grace asked.
Bennett looked at her.
“Eleanor Miller.”
Grace’s heart pounded.
“My mother had a DNA test?”
“Yes.”
“With Arthur?”
“Apparently.”
“Result?”
Bennett hesitated.
Richard said:
“Just tell her.”
“The report concluded Eleanor was Arthur Caldwell’s biological daughter.”
Grace closed her eyes.
Proof.
Already existing.
Her mother had proven who she was.
“Then why didn’t she claim the estate?”
Nobody answered.
Grace opened her eyes.
“If she had DNA proof, why stay poor?”
Bennett looked troubled.
“There is another document attached.”
“What?”
“A waiver.”
Grace’s stomach dropped.
“Renouncing her claim?”
“Yes.”
Richard swore softly.
Vanessa, still outside behind the glass, was watching.
Grace stared at her.
“Was the waiver valid?”
Bennett said:
“That’s what concerns me.”
“Why?”
“The signature appears notarized.”
“So?”
“The notary was Victor Lane.”
Grace looked sharply toward Vanessa.
“Her brother?”
Bennett nodded.
Richard’s face hardened.
“Four years ago?”
“Yes.”
Grace felt cold.
Vanessa and Victor were involved before Grace ever came to the mansion.
Before Charles died.
Before Grace knew anything.
“Did Vanessa know my mother?”
Bennett looked toward the entrance.
“I think we need to ask.”
Richard walked outside.
Grace followed.
Security stepped aside.
Vanessa looked at them.
Richard held up his phone.
“You knew Eleanor.”
Vanessa blinked.
“What?”
“Four years ago.”
Grace stepped forward.
“My mother took a DNA test proving she was Arthur Caldwell’s daughter.”
Vanessa’s face shifted.
Grace continued.
“Then she signed a waiver.”
Vanessa looked toward Bennett.
“And?”
“Victor notarized it.”
Silence.
Richard’s voice dropped.
“Tell the truth.”
Vanessa laughed weakly.
“I never met Eleanor.”
Grace watched her.
“Your brother did.”
“I can’t control Victor.”
“You benefited.”
“From what?”
“Keeping Eleanor away.”
Vanessa looked at Grace.
“I wasn’t married to Richard four years ago.”
Richard went still.
That was true.
Grace hadn’t known.
“How long have you been married?” Grace asked.
“Three years,” Richard said.
Grace stared at Vanessa.
“So before marrying Richard, your brother was already involved with my mother.”
Vanessa said nothing.
Richard’s expression changed.
“Vanessa.”
She looked away.
“How long did you know me before we met?”
Vanessa turned.
“What kind of question is that?”
“Answer.”
“We met at the Maritime Foundation dinner.”
“Three and a half years ago.”
“Yes.”
“Did Victor know the Caldwell family before that?”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“He knew everyone.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Grace suddenly understood.
“What did my mother give Victor?”
Vanessa looked at her.
“Nothing.”
“People don’t notarize secret inheritance waivers for strangers.”
“She hired him.”
“As what?”
Vanessa remained silent.
Bennett said:
“Financial consultant.”
Everyone turned.
He held up a newly retrieved document.
“Victor was listed as Eleanor Miller’s adviser.”
Grace felt physically sick.
“My mother trusted him.”
“Yes.”
“And he notarized her giving up an estate.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Bennett’s expression darkened.
“There is a payment record.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred fifty thousand dollars.”
Grace frowned.
“To my mother?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“To Lane Advisory.”
Victor’s company.
Richard stared at Vanessa.
“Charles paid your brother.”
Vanessa whispered:
“I didn’t know.”
Grace believed she was lying.
Richard did too.
Bennett continued.
“The payment was made six days before Eleanor signed the waiver.”
Grace’s voice broke.
“Charles paid Victor to get my mother to surrender her claim.”
“It appears possible.”
Vanessa stepped back.
Richard looked at her.
“Did you marry me because of this family?”
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
“Victor was already doing business with my father. You knew Eleanor existed. You knew there was a hidden inheritance issue.”
“You think I married you for a house?”
Richard stared.
“I don’t know what to think.”
Vanessa’s face cracked with real emotion.
“I loved you.”
“Did you?”
“Yes!”
“Then why never tell me your brother worked for my father?”
Vanessa said nothing.
Grace felt suddenly like an intruder in someone else’s marriage.
Then Bennett looked back at the report.
“There’s one more thing.”
Grace nearly laughed.
“What?”
“Eleanor did not sign only a waiver.”
He pulled up another scan.
“She also requested a second DNA test.”
Grace frowned.
“For who?”
Bennett looked toward Richard.
Not Grace.
Richard slowly stopped moving.
“What?”
Bennett answered.
“For Charles Caldwell.”
Richard stared.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“Why would Eleanor test Charles?”
Bennett looked at the report.
“Not against herself.”
Grace felt a chill.
“Then against who?”
Bennett swallowed.
“You.”
Richard’s face went white.
Grace stared at him.
May you like
The Caldwell inheritance dispute had just become bigger.
Because Eleanor apparently suspected Richard Caldwell was not Charles Caldwell’s biological son.
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