"I tried. But Daniel insisted that everything had been approved. He presented documents with your signature."
Edward's voice became cold.
"I never signed them."
"I know that now."
Robert removed another document.
"There is something else."
Edward looked at him.
"What?"
"Margaret discovered that someone had been creating false medical records about your health."
The room became silent.
Michael looked up.
"Medical records?"
Robert nodded.
"Several reports suggested that you were experiencing cognitive problems. They were intended to support a future legal application for control of your estate."
Edward's face became pale.
He remembered the documents Daniel had brought.
He remembered the lawyer.
He remembered the suggestion that he was too old to make his own decisions.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
But then Robert said something even more disturbing.
"Your wife confronted the person responsible. She told them that if the documents were not withdrawn, she would expose everything."
Edward's hands began trembling.
"Who was responsible?"
Robert looked toward Daniel's empty chair.
"Your son was involved. But he was not acting alone."
Edward leaned forward.
"Who else?"
Robert hesitated.
Then he placed another photograph on the table.
It showed Daniel standing beside a man outside a restaurant.
Edward recognized him.
It was Mr. Collins, the lawyer who had recently accompanied Daniel to the mansion.
Edward stared at the photograph.
"That man?"
Robert nodded.
"He was involved in the original legal arrangements."
Michael picked up the photograph.
"How long has he been working with Daniel?"
Robert answered quietly.
"At least fifteen years."
Edward felt a terrible realization coming.
The people who had been trying to take control of his estate were not simply making a recent attempt.
They had been preparing for years.
And Margaret had discovered the plan before she died.
CHAPTER 4: WHAT REALLY HAPPENED BEFORE MARGARET DIED
That afternoon, Edward asked Daniel to come to the mansion.
Daniel arrived alone.
He looked exhausted.
His expensive suit was slightly wrinkled, and his eyes were swollen from lack of sleep.
He entered the living room and stopped when he saw Robert.
"What is he doing here?"
Edward answered calmly.
"Sit down."
Daniel looked toward the table.
There were documents spread across it.
He recognized them immediately.
"Father..."
Edward raised his hand.
"I want the truth."
Daniel sat down slowly.
Robert opened the folder.
"Daniel, these transactions were authorized using your access credentials."
Daniel nodded.
"I know."
"Several payments were transferred to companies controlled by people connected to Mr. Collins."
Daniel looked down.
"Yes."
Edward's voice trembled.
"And the false medical reports?"
Daniel closed his eyes.
"I didn't create those."
"Did you know about them?"
Daniel remained silent.
"Answer me."
Finally, Daniel whispered:
"Yes."
Edward stood up.
He walked toward the window.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he turned around.
"Did your mother know?"
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"Yes."
Edward looked devastated.
"Tell me what happened."
Daniel covered his face.
"It was fifteen years ago. I was working closely with Collins. He told me that the company needed a new management structure. He said you were becoming too cautious and that I needed greater authority if we wanted to compete with other companies."
Edward listened.
"At first, I believed him. I thought he was helping me become a better businessman."
Daniel paused.
"Then he introduced me to people who promised enormous investment opportunities. I started approving transactions. Some were legitimate. Others were not."
Edward's face hardened.
"And your mother?"
"She discovered the transfers."
Daniel began crying.
"She came to my office one evening. She placed the documents on my desk and asked me whether I understood what I was doing."
Edward closed his eyes.
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her I was fixing everything."
"Was that true?"
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
He wiped his face.
"She told me to stop immediately. She said she would help me correct the mistakes before you found out."
Edward felt his chest tightening.
"And then?"
Daniel looked toward Michael.
"She discovered that Anna's son had been contacted by Collins."
Michael became still.
"What?"
Daniel nodded.
"Collins wanted to know whether Michael was willing to sign documents giving up any possible inheritance claims."
Michael stared at him.
"I never signed anything."
"I know."
Daniel looked down.
"But they were preparing documents in your name."
Michael's voice became stronger.
"Why?"
Daniel answered quietly.
"Because Collins believed that your existence could complicate the estate arrangements."
Edward's eyes widened.
"Margaret knew about this?"
Daniel nodded.
"She found out. She contacted Anna and promised to protect Michael."
Michael looked away.
His mother had never told him the full story.
Daniel continued.
"On the night Mother became seriously ill, she had an argument with Collins. She told him that she had copies of everything and would take them to the authorities."
Edward stepped forward.
"What did Collins do?"
Daniel shook his head.
"I don't know exactly what happened after that."
Edward's voice rose.
"You were there!"
Daniel looked up.
"I was outside the house."
The room fell silent.
Edward stared at his son.
"What?"
Daniel began crying.
"I had gone there to speak with Mother. I knew she had the documents. I wanted her to give them to me."
Edward could barely speak.
"And did she?"
"No."
Daniel lowered his head.
"She told me that she was disappointed in the man I had become."