Chapter 12 - The Man Across the Street
Ethan ran outside.
“Wait!”
Michael did not move.
Walter followed.
Vanessa stayed behind.
Michael watched them approach.
“You took your time,” he said.
Walter stopped.
His voice shook.
“Michael?”
The older man smiled sadly.
“You really did believe I was dead.”
“You disappeared.”
“I had to.”
“Why?”
Michael looked at Ethan.
“Because your father was not the enemy.”
Ethan stared.
“Then who was?”
Michael looked toward Vanessa's house.
“Your father-in-law.”
Vanessa stepped onto the porch.
Michael saw her.
His expression changed.
“You.”
Vanessa froze.
“You're alive.”
Michael nodded.
“You knew.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“I thought you were dead.”
“You saw what happened.”
“I was a child.”
“You were old enough to remember.”
Walter stepped between them.
“What happened that night?”
Michael looked at him.
“Richard planned to steal the company.”
Walter frowned.
“I knew about the missing money.”
“You knew too much.”
“Then why frame me?”
“I didn't.”
“Someone did.”
Michael looked toward Ethan.
“Your mother discovered the truth.”
Ethan whispered,
“What truth?”
Michael hesitated.
“She discovered the money was never stolen.”
“What?”
“It was transferred.”
“To where?”
Michael looked at Walter.
“Into an account controlled by someone inside your family.”
Ethan's face hardened.
“Who?”
Michael said nothing.
Ethan stepped closer.
“Who?”
Michael looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.”
Ethan stared.
“Vanessa?”
She began crying.
“I didn't know.”
Michael's expression softened.
“You didn't.”
“Then who?”
Michael handed Ethan the folder.
“I kept this because I knew one day you would need it.”
Ethan opened it.
Inside were financial records.
The account holder's name was partially blacked out.
But one detail remained.
A signature.
Ethan recognized it.
He looked at Walter.
“That is Mom's signature.”
Walter froze.
Michael nodded.
“That's what I wanted you to see.”
Ethan's face drained of color.
“My mother?”
“No,” Walter whispered.
Michael looked at him.
“Your wife signed the transfer.”
Walter's hands trembled.
“But why?”
Michael took a breath.
“Because she was trying to protect you.”
Ethan looked at the documents.
“What was she protecting me from?”
May you like
Michael's eyes moved toward the house.
“Your real inheritance.”
