«The will is almost ready. My friend Dave is good with Photoshop and found a sample of Adam’s signature online from some charity auction. It looks totally legit.»
«Bridget has always been the golden child. Time for me to get my share. She got 11 years with a great guy. The least she can do is share the wealth now that he’s gone.»
I felt physically ill reading the calculated coldness of my sister’s words. This was not just opportunism; it was premeditated fraud designed to capitalize on my grief. «There is more,» Frank said gently. «I ran a background check on Tyler Martin, the actual father. He has a history of domestic violence charges from a previous relationship and currently has a warrant out for unpaid child support for another child in New Hampshire. He is not someone you would want around your nephew.»
I sat in stunned silence, trying to process everything. My sister was not just desperate; she was willing to destroy Adam’s reputation and our marriage to solve her financial problems. And her choice in partners had put Lucas in a potentially dangerous situation.
«What do I do with all this?» I asked, looking between James and Frank. «I cannot just expose all of this publicly. Lucas is innocent in all of this. He is still my nephew.»
James removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. «You have several options, Bridget. We could file charges against Cassandra for attempted fraud and forgery. That would likely result in criminal penalties for her, possibly even jail time, given the amount of money involved.»
«Or,» he continued, seeing my distress, «we could handle this privately. Confront her with the evidence, require her to retract her claims, and potentially work out an arrangement that protects both you and the child.»
I left the meeting with a heavy heart and a folder full of evidence. That evening, I called my therapist, Dr. Laurel Chen, whom I had been seeing since Adam’s death, and scheduled an emergency session. In her calm, plant-filled office, I unloaded the entire situation.
«I am so angry I can barely see straight,» I admitted. «But Lucas is just a baby. None of this is his fault. And despite everything, Cassandra is still my sister.»
Dr. Chen listened attentively, asking occasional questions about my relationship with Cassandra throughout our lives. «It sounds like this pattern of competition and manipulation has existed since childhood,» she observed. «The current situation is an escalation, not an anomaly.»
«What would you do?» I asked desperately.
«I cannot tell you what decision to make,» she replied. «But I will say that compassion does not mean allowing yourself to be victimized. You can be kind while still establishing firm boundaries and consequences.»
After much reflection, I decided on a course of action. I would confront Cassandra privately with all the evidence, offering her a choice: face potential legal consequences for her fraud or accept a compromise that would provide for Lucas while requiring accountability from her.
With renewed determination, I called Cassandra the next morning. «We need to talk about the will,» I said when she answered. «Can you come to my house tomorrow afternoon? Just you, no Lucas.»
«I knew you would come around,» she replied, sounding smugly satisfied. «I will be there at two.»
I spent the morning preparing for Cassandra’s visit, arranging documents in a logical order and setting up recording devices on James’s advice. «Massachusetts is a two-party consent state,» he had warned me, «so you cannot record her secretly. But you can ask for her permission at the start of your conversation, framing it as a way to ensure you both have a record of any agreement reached.»
At precisely two o’clock, the doorbell rang. I took a deep breath, steadying myself before opening the door. Cassandra stood on the porch, looking polished in a new outfit, her confidence evident in her posture. «Come in,» I said, leading her to the living room, where I had set up two chairs facing each other, a coffee table between them with a recorder, water glasses, and a folder of documents.
«I hope you do not mind if we record our conversation. It seems prudent, given the legal nature of what we are discussing.»
Cassandra hesitated only briefly before nodding. «Sure, whatever makes you comfortable. Though I think this can be pretty straightforward. The will is clear.»
I turned on the recorder, stating the date and time and confirming Cassandra’s consent to be recorded. Then I sat back, studying my sister’s face. «Before we discuss the will, I would like to understand exactly what you are claiming happened between you and Adam.»
Cassandra launched into a well-rehearsed story about a supposed affair two years ago. According to her version, she and Adam had connected during a period when he and I were having problems (we were not). She claimed they met several times at a hotel downtown, that Adam had confessed his unhappiness in our marriage, and that Lucas was conceived during these encounters.
«He always meant to tell you,» she said, her eyes wide with practiced sincerity. «But then Lucas was born with the heart condition, and he did not want to add stress to the situation. He promised he would provide for his son, though.»
I listened without interrupting, noting the inconsistencies in her timeline and the details that contradicted what I knew about Adam’s schedule during that period. When she finished, I began asking questions. «Which hotel did you meet at?» I asked.
«The Mandarin Oriental,» she replied quickly.
«And what room, do you remember?»
She faltered slightly. «It was on a high floor. I do not recall the exact number.»
«What days of the week did you usually meet? Tuesdays, sometimes Thursdays, when he told you he was working late?» I continued with increasingly specific questions. «What did Adam typically order from room service? What side of the bed did he prefer? Did he shower before or after?» Details that only someone who had actually been intimate with Adam would know.
Cassandra grew increasingly flustered, her answers becoming vague or contradictory. «Why does any of this matter?» she finally snapped. «The point is that Lucas is Adam’s son, and the will proves Adam wanted to provide for him.»
«Actually,» I said, calmly opening my folder, «both of those claims are demonstrably false.» I placed the medical records on the table between us. «Two years before Lucas was conceived, Adam had a vasectomy following surgery for a varicocele. It was completely successful, confirmed by follow-up tests. It was physically impossible for him to father a child after that procedure.»
Cassandra’s face drained of color. She picked up the medical records with trembling hands, scanning the clinical language and dates. «These could be faked,» she said weakly.
«They are not,» I replied. «And Adam’s doctor is prepared to testify to their authenticity if necessary. But that is just the beginning.» Next, I produced the legitimate will, notarized and properly filed with the court. «This is Adam’s actual will, prepared by James Wilson and witnessed by two partners at his firm. As you can see, it leaves everything to me, with no mention of Lucas.»
Cassandra’s confidence was visibly crumbling, but she attempted to rally. «He must have changed it after this was drawn up. The will I have is more recent.»
«The will you have,» I said evenly, «is a forgery. A poor one, I might add. James has already identified multiple legal inconsistencies in the language, and the signature is clearly fake. Creating a fraudulent will is a felony in Massachusetts, punishable by up to five years in prison.»
I continued methodically presenting evidence: Adam’s journal documenting her inappropriate advances, the text messages between her and Jenna discussing the plan, and finally, the report from Frank’s investigation detailing her financial troubles, eviction notice, and Tyler’s abandonment. «We know everything, Cassandra,» I said as she sat in stunned silence. «The question now is what happens next.»
For a long moment, she did not speak. Then, to my surprise, she began to cry—not the theatrical tears I had seen her use to manipulate our parents, but deep, body-wracking sobs. «I did not know what else to do,» she finally said between gasps. «I am going to be homeless. Lucas and I will be out on the street in two weeks. Tyler left us with nothing. The medical bills just keep coming. I thought if I could just get some money from the house…»
«So you decided to destroy Adam’s reputation?» I asked, my voice hardening. «To tell everyone he cheated on me? To forge legal documents?»
«I was desperate!» she shouted, her sadness turning to anger. «You have everything: this big house, a successful business, everyone’s respect. What do I have? A baby with a heart condition, $75,000 in debt, and an eviction notice. You try making good decisions in that situation.»
Her outburst hung in the air between us. The raw honesty of it, stripped of the manipulation and lies, reached something in me. Not forgiveness, not yet, but perhaps understanding. «Lucas is Tyler’s son, is not he?» I asked more gently.
She nodded, wiping her eyes. «Yes. Adam never touched me, not like that. I did try with him years ago. He always shut me down immediately. He was annoyingly loyal to you.»
«And the will?»
«My friend Dave helped me create it. He does graphic design and thought it would be easy to fake a signature. I was going to use it to pressure you into giving me money. I never thought you would actually look into it so thoroughly.»
I turned off the recorder and sat back, considering my next move. Cassandra watched me nervously, clearly expecting the worst. «I could press charges,» I said finally. «What you did was illegal, not to mention cruel and calculated.»
She nodded miserably. «I know.»
«But that would hurt Lucas,» I continued. «And despite everything, he is my nephew. I love him.» I leaned forward, making sure she was looking directly at me. «So here is what is going to happen. You are going to tell everyone the truth: that you lied about the affair, that Lucas is not Adam’s son, and that you forged the will. You will apologize publicly to me and to Adam’s memory.»
«And then what?» she asked, her voice small. «We will still be evicted.»
«I am not finished,» I said. «In exchange for your full confession and a legal agreement never to attempt anything like this again, I will help you and Lucas. Not by giving you half my house, but by setting up a trust fund for Lucas’s education and medical needs and helping you find stable housing.»
Her eyes widened. «Why would you do that after what I did?»
«Not for you,» I said honestly. «For Lucas. And because Adam would want me to help his nephew, even if that nephew’s mother tried to destroy his reputation. There will be conditions,» I continued. «You will enter therapy and financial counseling. You will maintain steady employment. And you will allow me to be part of Lucas’s life to ensure he is being properly cared for. If you violate any of these conditions, the support stops immediately.»
Cassandra was quiet for a long moment, processing everything. «I do not deserve your help,» she finally said.
«No,» I agreed. «You do not. But Lucas deserves a stable home and medical care. And I deserve to have my husband’s memory untarnished. This solution gives us both what we need.»
After further discussion of the details, Cassandra agreed to my terms. We would meet with James the next day to formalize the agreement, and she would make her public confession at a family dinner the following weekend. As I showed her out, she paused at the door.
«I really am sorry, Bridget. I have been jealous of you my whole life. Everything always seemed to come so easily to you.»
«Nothing about my life has been easy,» I replied. «You just never bothered to look past the surface. Maybe it is time you started.»
The family dinner I arranged for Saturday evening was tense from the start. My parents arrived early, my mother bringing her signature lasagna as a peace offering. «I do not know what this is about,» she said as she set the dish on my counter, «but Cassandra has been calling us in tears, saying you are forcing her to come to some sort of family meeting.»
«Just wait until everyone is here,» I replied, pouring her a glass of wine. «This needs to be addressed once, with everyone present.»
By seven o’clock, we were all seated around my dining room table: my parents, Cassandra (without Lucas, who was with a babysitter), and me. James had advised me to record this conversation as well, and a small recorder sat in the center of the table. «Thank you all for coming,» I began after explaining the recording. «I have asked Cassandra to share some important information with you.»
All eyes turned to Cassandra. My sister looked pale and uncomfortable, her usual confidence nowhere to be seen. She stared down at her plate as she spoke. «I lied about Lucas being Adam’s son,» she said, her voice barely above a whisper. «Adam and I never had an affair. Lucas is Tyler’s child. And I forged the will I showed at the birthday party.»
