Chapter 7 - THE THIRD DAUGHTER
The third beneficiary was listed only as:
L.P.
Female.
Born 2004.
Erin did the math.
Two years younger than her.
Older than Madison by months.
Susan refused to discuss it.
Thomas Vale provided the original schedule.
David had allocated five percent of Parker Legacy to L.P. until paternity was confirmed.
Then the provision disappeared after his death.
No test.
No amendment signed by David.
Just Susan’s managerial resolution declaring the claim “invalid and abandoned.”
Rachel stared.
“You removed a beneficiary unilaterally?”
Susan answered:
“She was never his daughter.”
“How do you know?”
“The mother disappeared.”
“That isn’t proof.”
Susan snapped:
“I had two children to raise and a dead husband. I was not giving family assets to some stranger because he had one guilty thought.”
Erin felt sick.
Was David unfaithful?
Maybe.
Or maybe not.
But Susan had hidden the possibility.
Then Thomas added another detail.
The five-percent reserve that would have belonged to L.P. was redistributed.
Half to Parker Legacy operating capital.
Half to the girls’ education accounts.
Erin looked at Susan.
“So some of our education money may have come from her share.”
Susan stood.
“Enough.”
Then Madison entered.
She had heard everything.
“You said Dad never cheated.”
Susan turned.
“He didn’t.”
“Then who is L.P.?”
“I don’t know.”
Madison looked at Erin.
For once, no rivalry.
Just confusion.
Then Rachel asked Thomas for the old contact record.
One address remained.
Milwaukee.
The mother’s name:
Lauren Pierce.
Erin stared at the initials.
L.P. could be Lauren.
But the beneficiary was a child.
Then Thomas clarified.
The child’s first name was Lily.
Lily Pierce.
Erin felt cold.
Twenty-two now.
Same age range.
Potential half-sister.
Rachel searched public records.
One Lily Pierce existed in Milwaukee.
Age twenty-two.
Student-loan debt.
Community college transfer.
Working at a physical therapy clinic.
No Lamborghini.
No family trust.
Then Erin’s phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I heard you’re looking for me.
She stared.
Another message.
Ask Susan why she paid my mother $80,000 after your dad died.
May you like
Erin looked up.
Susan had gone completely pale.
