Chapter 5 - A Death Certificate Worth Millions
Emma called the number back eleven times.
Each attempt failed.
Adrian contacted Maya before her flight departed. She changed her route and began tracing Celeste’s last known location.
Meanwhile, Emma stood in the funeral home’s private viewing room beside Lily’s casket.
She rested a hand on the lid.
The idea that anyone might have viewed Lily’s death as an opportunity made her physically sick.
Why would Daniel and Vanessa need a death certificate?
The trust passed to Emma when Lily died.
At least, that was what Eleanor’s letter said.
Unless someone believed otherwise.
Adrian returned after midnight carrying several binders.
“I found a second trust summary,” he said.
“Second?”
“The first was prepared by Eleanor’s longtime attorney. This one was filed three months before her death by an outside firm.”
“Was it legal?”
“It appears valid, but one clause was altered.”
Emma read the highlighted paragraph.
If Lily died before eighteen, the trust would pass to Emma.
However, if Emma were determined to be mentally unfit, legally incapacitated, or criminally responsible for Lily’s death, temporary control would pass to Lily’s surviving parent.
Daniel.
Emma looked up.
“Criminally responsible?”
“The clause was supposedly designed to prevent a beneficiary from profiting through deliberate harm.”
“Do you think my grandmother added it?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
“We need the original signed copy.”
“Where is it?”
“Missing.”
Emma turned toward Lily’s casket.
Daniel had been absent through much of Lily’s illness.
Vanessa had repeatedly suggested Emma was unstable.
She had criticized Emma for refusing full-time nursing care, even though the doctors supported her decisions.
Daniel had begun recording arguments.
He had persuaded Emma to sign several forms without explaining them.
She remembered one conversation two weeks earlier.
Daniel had asked whether she ever wished Lily’s suffering would end.
Emma had answered honestly.
She had said she wished the pain would end, but she would give anything to keep Lily.
Daniel had focused only on the first sentence.
“Are they trying to blame me?” she asked.
Adrian did not soften the answer.
“They may be preparing to.”
Emma pressed both hands against the table.
“The hospital knows what happened.”
“The official cause of death is heart failure. But questions could be raised about medication decisions, transplant eligibility, or treatment authorization.”
“I followed every medical recommendation.”
“I believe you.”
“Will a court?”
“That depends on what evidence has been manufactured.”
The word manufactured remained in the room.
Emma remembered Vanessa’s warning.
You are not strong enough for the truth.
“What happens when the archive unlocks?”
“We find out what Eleanor knew.”
At five twelve the next morning, exactly forty-eight hours after Lily’s death, Adrian received an encrypted notification.
ACCESS CONDITION CONFIRMED.
PRIMARY BENEFICIARY DECEASED.
SUCCESSOR REVIEW INITIATED.
KEY ONE DELIVERED.
Emma’s phone vibrated.
A string of numbers appeared.
Adrian received a second string.
The screen displayed one final message.
AWAITING KEY THREE.
“Who has the third key?” Emma asked.
Adrian shook his head.
Without it, the archive remained locked.
They tried every name connected to Eleanor.
Former employees.
Old friends.
Trust officers.
Family members.
No one received anything.
At seven thirty, Daniel appeared at the funeral home.
He wore the same navy blazer.
His eyes were red, though Emma suspected exhaustion more than tears.
“We need to talk privately,” he said.
Emma remained beside Adrian.
“You can talk here.”
Daniel looked at the attorney.
“This concerns our marriage.”
“Our marriage ended in a hospital corridor.”
“Do not say that.”
“Why?”
“Because you are emotional and you don’t understand the consequences.”
Emma almost laughed.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Vanessa told me about Eleanor’s letter.”
“Of course she did.”
“You need to stop Adrian from accessing the trust.”
“Why?”
“Because the archive contains incomplete information that could destroy the company.”
“Your company?”
“Our family’s company.”
“Lily’s company.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Listen to yourself. Lily was a child.”
“She was also the reason you were waiting for a death certificate.”
The blood drained from Daniel’s face.
“Who told you that?”
Emma saw panic before he hid it.
“Celeste Ward.”
Daniel glanced at Adrian.
Then back at Emma.
“Celeste is dangerous.”
“To whom?”
“To everyone. She stole money, created false records, and tried to blackmail Vanessa.”
“Then why did Lily’s trust send nearly half a million dollars to her company?”
Daniel stepped closer.
“You need to give me your phone.”
“No.”
“She may contact you again.”
“I hope she does.”
“She will manipulate you.”
“You mean she’ll tell me something you don’t want me to know.”
Daniel’s hand closed around Emma’s wrist.
Adrian moved immediately.
“Release her.”
Daniel held on for one second longer.
Then he let go.
A red mark remained on Emma’s skin.
Daniel looked at it as though someone else had caused it.
“I’m trying to protect you,” he said.
“No. You’re trying to find out what I know.”
He leaned close enough that only Emma could hear.
“If you open that archive, you will lose more than Lily.”
Emma stared into his eyes.
“I have nothing left for you to threaten.”
Daniel’s expression became almost sad.
“You still have your freedom.”
He walked away.
Adrian waited until the front doors closed.
“That was not an empty threat.”
Emma looked toward the casket.
“No.”
She opened her phone and searched for Celeste’s last message.
A new voicemail had appeared without the phone ringing.
The audio lasted nine seconds.
May you like
Celeste whispered one sentence.
“The third key was given to Lily.”
