“A lawyer called me this morning,” Robert continued, speaking rapidly like he needed to get all the words out before he lost his nerve. “I almost didn’t answer because I thought it was spam. But something made me pick up.”
“And?”
“And he knew Mom’s full name. Knew about her illness. Knew the exact date she died. He had details that a scammer couldn’t possibly have.”
My mouth went dry. “What did he want?”
“He said Mom asked him to contact me when Dad remarried. Specifically—specifically, Claire—when Dad married Laura.”
I felt something cold crawl down my spine, like ice water being poured over my head.
“That doesn’t make sense. Why would she care who Dad married after she was gone? Why would she—”
“Because she found out,” Robert interrupted, his voice cracking slightly.
“Found out what?”
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached inside his jacket and pulled out an envelope. Thick cream-colored paper. Sealed with red wax. My mother’s initials pressed into the seal.
“She wrote this when she already knew she was dying. She gave it to her lawyer with very specific instructions. He was supposed to keep it sealed and deliver it only when Dad married Laura.”
My eyes locked onto that envelope like it was a bomb.
“What’s in it?”
Robert’s jaw tightened. “The truth about Dad. About Laura. About everything.”
I let out a shaky, disbelieving laugh. “That’s insane. Dad stayed with her until the end. He took care of her. He was there every single day, Robert. I saw him. We both saw him.”
“That’s what she thought too,” my brother said quietly. “Until she didn’t.”
Someone called my name from inside the reception hall.
“Claire! They’re about to cut the cake!”
I didn’t move. I couldn’t. My feet felt rooted to the floor.
“What did Mom find out?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
