Chapter 5: The House Was Never Hers
Vanessa tried to close the bedroom door.
I placed my hand against it.
“What's the document?””
“It's none of your business.””
“You just said Dad doesn't know about it.””
She looked toward the staircase.
“Keep your voice down.””
I almost laughed.
“Why? Are you afraid he'll hear something?””
Vanessa stepped into the hallway.
“You need to stop interfering in things you don't understand.””
“Then explain them.””
She folded her arms.
“Not everything revolves around you, Maya.””
I stared at her.
“Apparently, my inheritance does.””
Her expression tightened.
“Mom handled everything. I didn't do anything wrong.””
“Then why are you hiding a document?””
She looked at me for a long moment.
Then she smiled.
It was the same smile she had given me beside the fire pit.
“You really think Dad is going to believe you over us?””
I said nothing.
Vanessa continued.
“Mom and I have been a family for years. You're just the daughter he feels guilty about.””
That sentence hurt.
But I refused to let her see it.
“Good night, Vanessa.””
I turned away.
Behind me, she called out.
“You'll regret this.””
The following morning, Richard asked me to join him in his home office.
A stack of paperwork sat on his desk.
“I spoke with Michael,” he said.
“He's arranging an independent review of the estate records.””
I sat down.
“Did he find anything about the house?””
Richard looked at me.
“Why are you asking?””
I explained what I had overheard.
He listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he leaned back in his chair.
“Your stepsister mentioned a document?””
“Yes. She said you didn't know about it.””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“That's interesting.””
“Dad, do you own this house?””
He looked at me.
“Yes.””
“Is there any chance someone else has an ownership claim?””
“Not legitimately.””
I hesitated.
“Then what was she talking about?””
Richard opened a drawer and removed a thick folder.
“This property was purchased before I married Denise. I paid for it through my company and personal savings. The deed is in my name.””
He placed a copy in front of me.
“But after the marriage, Denise asked me to prepare estate-planning documents to make sure she and Vanessa would have somewhere to live if something happened to me.””
I looked at him.
“What did you agree to?””
“I agreed to discuss a future arrangement. Nothing was finalized.””
He opened another folder.
“Or so I thought.””
My stomach tightened.
He showed me a document dated eleven months earlier.
It was titled PROPERTY TRANSFER AUTHORIZATION.
The document listed Richard as the property owner and Denise as the intended recipient of a future interest in the property.
But the signature at the bottom looked wrong.
Richard studied it.
“This isn't my signature.””
I leaned closer.
It looked remarkably similar to the signature on the financial transfer authorization.
“Dad…”
He nodded.
“I see it.””
“Could Mom have forged this too?””
He closed the folder.
“That's something the attorney will have to investigate.””
I stared at the document.
“Why would she do that?””
Richard's expression was difficult to read.
“Because she may have believed she was about to lose access to everything.””
He stood and walked to the window.
“Six months ago, I started reviewing the company's finances. I discovered several unusual payments and questioned Denise about them.””
“Were they connected to Vanessa?””
“Some were.””
He turned around.
“I told your mother I wanted everything documented properly. I also told her that any inheritance arrangements would have to be legally reviewed.””
I understood.
“She thought you were going to stop giving her money.””
Richard nodded.
“And instead of accepting that, someone apparently decided to create documents making it look as though I had already transferred the house.””
I felt a chill.
“Does that mean they could sell it?””
“Not with a valid title. But a fraudulent document could create serious problems if it were submitted or used to secure financing.””
He looked down at the folder.
“I'm glad you told me.””
At noon, Michael arrived with another attorney named Laura Bennett.
Laura was a woman in her forties with short natural hair, a charcoal blazer, and a calm expression.
Richard introduced her.
“Laura specializes in estate litigation. She's going to represent Maya independently.””
I shook her hand.
“Thank you for coming.””
“Of course,” she replied.
“I understand you've had a difficult few days.””
She placed a notebook on the table.
“I'd like to hear what happened in your own words. Start wherever you feel comfortable.””
I described the dress.
The fire pit.
My mother's reaction.
The financial documents.
The mysterious property transfer.
Laura listened carefully.
When I finished, she looked at Richard.
“Do you have the original property deed?””
“Yes.””
“Any signed agreement giving Denise ownership?””
“No.””
“Any notarized transfer?””
“Not that I'm aware of.””
Laura nodded.
“Then we need to establish where this document came from and whether anyone has attempted to register it.””
She turned toward me.
“Maya, I also want you to understand something. You are not responsible for the financial decisions your mother made. And you don't need to protect anyone from the consequences of those decisions.””
I swallowed.
“I don't want Vanessa to go to prison.””
Laura nodded.
“Wanting accountability isn't the same as wanting revenge.””
Richard looked at me.
“Exactly.””
Then Laura opened her notebook.
“One more thing. The financial records show that some of the money from the disputed accounts was used to make payments on a luxury condominium.””
I frowned.
“Vanessa's apartment?””
“Possibly. We haven't confirmed ownership yet.””
Richard looked surprised.
“Vanessa has an apartment?””
I turned toward him.
“She told everyone it belonged to a friend.””
Laura removed a printed property record.
“The condominium was purchased eighteen months ago.””
She pointed to the owner information.
“It's registered to a company whose sole listed manager is Denise Hayes.””
Richard went completely still.
“Denise bought a condominium?””
Laura nodded.
“With funds that may have originated from Maya's trust.””
I looked at the photograph attached to the property record.
It was a beautiful apartment overlooking a waterfront district.
Vanessa had posted dozens of pictures from that building.
I recognized the white marble kitchen.
The floor-to-ceiling windows.
The expensive furniture.
She had always claimed it belonged to a wealthy friend who let her stay there whenever she wanted.
I looked at Richard.
“She told me she was staying with a friend.””
He shook his head.
“Apparently, she was staying in something your inheritance helped purchase.””
That evening, I found Denise sitting alone in the kitchen.
A cup of untouched tea sat in front of her.
She looked exhausted.
“Can we talk?”” she asked.
I stood near the doorway.
“About what?””
“Your father is making this worse than it needs to be.””
I pulled out a chair.
“Mom, I just found out you may have used my inheritance to buy a condominium.””
She lowered her eyes.
“It was an investment.””
“For whom?””
“For the family.””
I stared at her.
“Which family?””
She looked up.
“You and Vanessa.””
I shook my head.
“Vanessa lives there. I didn't even know it existed.””
“Because you were never interested in the things Vanessa enjoyed.””
I felt my anger rising.
“You mean the things you bought with my money?””
Denise's eyes filled.
“I was going to pay you back.””
“You keep saying that. When?””
She pressed her lips together.
“I didn't think it would become this serious.””
I leaned forward.
“Did you forge Dad's signature on the property transfer?””
She immediately stood.
“Lower your voice!””
“Did you?””
“You have no idea what it took to keep this family together!””
I looked at her.
“Then tell me.””
For a moment, she looked as though she might finally confess everything.
Instead, she grabbed her handbag.
“I'm done discussing this.””
She walked toward the hallway.
I followed her with my eyes.
Then she stopped.
Without turning around, she said:
“You should ask Richard why he never told you what happened to your biological father's company.””
I froze.
“My father's company?””
Denise slowly turned.
“Yes.””
“What does that have to do with anything?””
Her expression changed.
“Your father didn't leave you just money, Maya.””
She took a breath.
“He left you something else. Something Richard has been keeping from you.””
Before I could ask another question, she walked out.
I found Richard in his office.
He was reviewing papers when I entered.
“Dad, what happened to my biological father's company?””
His hands stopped moving.
He looked up.
“Denise told you?””
“She said you were keeping something from me.””
Richard closed the folder.
“Sit down.””
I sat opposite him.
He took a long breath.
“Your biological father owned a small engineering firm. It was successful, but he died before he could complete a major development project.””
“What happened to the business?””
“Your mother inherited part of the estate, but the controlling shares were placed into a trust for you.””
I stared at him.
“Another trust?””
He nodded.
“Those shares were supposed to remain protected until you reached adulthood.””
I felt a strange heaviness in my chest.
“Where are they now?””
Richard looked toward the window.
“That's what I haven't been able to establish.””
“Why?””
“Because someone transferred them out of the trust years ago.””
I couldn't speak.
“Who?””
Richard reached for a document.
“The company records list a new controlling shareholder.””
He turned the paper toward me.
I read the name.
Denise Hayes.
My mother.
I looked up.
“She owns my father's company?””
Richard shook his head.
“That's what the paperwork claims.””
Then he added something that made me forget how to breathe.
“Your mother didn't just take the shares, Maya. She sold part of the company last month.””
I gripped the edge of the desk.
“To whom?””
Richard looked directly at me.
“We don't know yet.””
His phone rang.
He checked the screen.
It was Michael.
He answered.
“Yes?””
A pause.
Then his expression changed.
“What do you mean the buyer has already filed the documents?””
Another pause.
Richard stood.
“Send me the name.””
He listened for several seconds.
Then he slowly lowered the phone.
I stared at him.
“Who bought it?””
Richard didn't answer immediately.
He looked at me with an expression I had never seen before.
Then he said:
“Your mother's business partner.””
“Who is that?””
Richard's voice dropped.
“Your biological father's brother.””
My uncle.
The man I hadn't seen since I was a child.
The man who had attended my father's funeral.
May you like
The man who had disappeared from our lives afterward.
And according to the documents, he had just purchased the company that was supposed to belong to me.
