Chapter 3 - The Locked Study
Ethan hit the hallway at full speed.
Behind him, Amanda shouted his name.
Lily screamed, "Go!"
Ethan ran upstairs, cut through the guest room, and locked himself inside Daniel's old study.
Amanda pounded on the door.
"Open this door right now!"
Ethan backed away.
The study smelled like dust and cedar. Amanda had kept it locked after the funeral, telling him there was nothing inside but paperwork.
But Dad had once shown Ethan a loose panel behind the bookshelf.
"Every house needs one good hiding place," Daniel had joked.
Ethan dropped to his knees and pulled at the molding.
Nothing.
Outside, the doorknob rattled violently.
"Ethan!"
He tried again.
The panel popped loose.
Inside was a blue envelope.
ETHAN - ONLY IF I DON'T COME HOME.
His hands shook.
He tore it open.
There was a key, a business card, and one handwritten note.
CALL MARA BENNETT. DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING AMANDA GIVES YOU.
The business card belonged to an attorney in Columbus.
Then the door behind him cracked.
Amanda had found the spare key.
Ethan shoved the envelope under his shirt.
The door opened.
Amanda stepped inside, breathing hard.
"Give me the recorder."
"No."
Her voice dropped. "You don't understand what your father did to us."
"What did he do?"
"He left everything tied up. The house. The company shares. The insurance. He made me ask permission for money that should already be mine."
Ethan stared at her.
Amanda had told him they were struggling because Daniel left debts.
Now she was saying something different.
She took one slow step forward.
"Your father created a trust in your name."
Ethan swallowed.
"What trust?"
May you like
Amanda's eyes narrowed.
"The one you were never supposed to know about until you turned eighteen."
