Chapter 8: The Money in My Daughter's Name
I found Daniel in my office.
The mansion had finally gone quiet.
The guests had left. Richard and Tyler had departed separately, and Vanella had locked herself in the master bedroom.
Brielle was upstairs.
Ava was in her room with Patricia.
Daniel had placed several bank statements across my desk.
I closed the door.
"Tell me everything.""
He pointed to the first page.
"This account was opened six months ago under Ava's name.""
I examined the information.
The account was registered to a trust.
Its mailing address was a private business office in downtown Chicago.
The listed beneficiary was Ava Carter.
But the authorized representative was Denise Bennett.
I looked up.
"Why does Denise have authority over an account in my daughter's name?""
"That's what we're investigating.""
"How much money?""
Daniel turned the page.
The deposits were listed month by month.
Ten thousand dollars.
Fifteen thousand.
Twenty-five thousand.
Another thirty thousand.
The total was $180,000.
I stared at the number.
"Where did this come from?""
"Richard Grant's development company.""
I looked at the transaction descriptions.
Some were labeled consulting fees.
Others were labeled family settlement.
One was marked estate adjustment.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Was Ava involved in any business arrangement?""
"Not that we know of.""
"Did she receive any of this money?""
Daniel shook his head.
"The account was never connected to her personal banking information. It appears to have been created using her identity, but the statements were sent to Denise's office.""
I sat down.
"Why would they put money in my daughter's name?""
Daniel opened another folder.
"Because the money may have been intended to make the property transaction look like a legitimate family settlement.""
I looked at him.
"Explain.""
He placed two documents side by side.
The first showed the proposed transfer of my commercial property.
The second showed the $180,000 account.
"Imagine someone questions why your wife and her sister are involved in a property deal. They could claim the arrangement was designed to provide financial security for Ava.""
I frowned.
"But Ava never agreed to any of this.""
"Exactly. Which is why we need to establish who authorized the account and how her information was obtained.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Could they have used this account to make it appear Ava received money?""
"Potentially. But we're not going to speculate beyond the evidence.""
I stared at the statements.
There was something else.
The account had received a deposit two days before the cancellation of the Hawaii vacation.
Then another deposit the day after.
I pointed at the transactions.
"What's this?""
Daniel leaned closer.
"That's interesting.""
The first deposit was $40,000.
The second was $25,000.
"Both came from the same company?""
"Yes.""
"Richard's company?""
Daniel nodded.
I looked at the dates.
"Why would they transfer $65,000 into an account in Ava's name right before the wedding?""
Daniel studied the statements.
"I think the account was being prepared for the final settlement.""
"Which means?""
"If the property transaction had gone through, the money might have been presented as compensation already paid to Ava.""
I stood.
"So they could claim she had already received her share.""
"That's one possibility.""
I walked toward the window.
For months, I had believed my biggest responsibility was making sure Ava had a comfortable home and enough money to build her future.
Now I was discovering that people had been using her identity to make their financial arrangement look legitimate.
I turned toward Daniel.
"Can we freeze that account?""
"We've already initiated the appropriate process. We'll also need to report the suspected identity misuse.""
"Do it.""
Daniel gathered the statements.
"There's another reason I wanted you to see this.""
He placed one final document on the desk.
It was a transfer request.
The amount was $180,000.
The destination was a private account belonging to V.B. Holdings.
The date was November 5.
Two days after the scheduled return from Hawaii.
I stared at it.
"They were going to move all the money?""
"That's what the instruction indicates.""
I looked at the signature section.
Ava's name appeared at the bottom.
But the signature didn't look like hers.
"She didn't sign this.""
Daniel nodded.
"Then we have another document to investigate.""
I sat down again.
"Daniel, how far does this go?""
He looked at me.
"I don't know yet. But I wouldn't assume Brielle was the only person who knew what was happening.""
I thought about the message.
Your daughter is not as innocent as you think.
I had initially assumed someone was trying to turn me against Ava.
But what if the message had been designed to make me question the wrong person?
"What about the sender of that message?""
"We're preserving the information. The authorities can advise on the next steps.""
I nodded.
Daniel closed his briefcase.
"Michael, you need to get some rest.""
I almost laughed.
"Rest?""
"You're no good to Ava if you collapse from exhaustion.""
He had a point.
After Daniel left, I went upstairs.
Ava was sitting on her bed, holding her mother's handbag.
Patricia had brought her a cup of tea.
I knocked.
"Can I come in?""
Ava smiled faintly.
"Of course.""
I sat beside her.
"How are you feeling?""
"Better.""
She looked at the handbag.
"Patricia found the original receipt for this. Mom bought it when I was sixteen.""
I smiled sadly.
"She was so excited about that bag.""
Ava nodded.
"She said it was the first expensive thing she ever bought herself.""
I looked at the jeweled clasp.
"She wanted you to have it.""
Ava ran her fingers over the damaged edge.
"I know.""
Then she looked at me.
"Dad, Daniel told me something about an account.""
I frowned.
"He told you?""
"He said someone opened an account in my name.""
I nodded.
"He's looking into it.""
Ava looked down.
"Was money being put into it?""
I hesitated.
"Yes.""
"How much?""
"About $180,000.""
Her eyes widened.
"That's impossible.""
"Why?""
She reached into her nightstand and pulled out an envelope.
Inside was a letter from a financial institution.
"I received this six weeks ago. It said I needed to verify some information about a trust.""
I took the letter.
It was addressed to Ava.
The trust name matched the account Daniel had found.
But there was something handwritten on the back.
A short note.
*Please don't tell your father until everything is finalized.*
I looked at Ava.
"Who gave you this?""
She shook her head.
"It was inside my mailbox.""
"Did you recognize the handwriting?""
She examined it.
Then she went completely still.
"Dad...""
"What?""
"This looks like Brielle's handwriting.""
I stared at the note.
"Are you sure?""
Ava nodded slowly.
"She writes her lowercase letters exactly like this.""
I took a photograph and sent it to Daniel.
Then I asked Ava to tell me everything she remembered about the letter.
She explained that she had initially thought it was a routine financial notice.
She hadn't opened the envelope immediately because she was busy with her internship.
When she finally read it, she became concerned.
But before she could ask me about it, Brielle had approached her.
According to Ava, Brielle said the letter was probably connected to the family trust and that there was nothing to worry about.
"Did she ask you to sign anything?"" I asked.
"No.""
"Did she ask for your identification?""
Ava hesitated.
"She borrowed my driver's license once.""
I looked at her.
"When?""
"About two months ago. She said she needed it to confirm my age for a wedding reservation.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Did she return it?""
"Yes.""
I sat quietly for a moment.
Then I asked, "Why didn't you tell me?""
Ava looked at me.
"Because I trusted her.""
That answer hurt.
Not because Ava had made a mistake.
Because she had been trying so hard to believe she could have a normal family.
I put my arm around her.
"None of this is your fault.""
She rested her head against my shoulder.
After a few minutes, she spoke.
"Dad, do you think Brielle knew everything?""
"I don't know.""
"But you think she knew something.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
Ava stared at the floor.
"I don't hate her.""
I looked at her.
"I know.""
"I just don't understand why she needed to hurt me.""
I didn't have an answer.
Later that evening, Daniel called.
He sounded more serious than before.
"Michael, we've identified the financial institution that processed the trust account.""
"And?""
"The account was opened using an identification document submitted electronically.""
"Whose identification?""
"Your daughter's.""
I closed my eyes.
"Can you identify who submitted it?""
"Yes.""
"Who?""
He hesitated.
Then he said, "The submission came from an email address registered to Brielle Bennett.""
I looked toward the staircase.
"Are you certain?""
"We have the submission records. We'll preserve them for the investigation.""
I thanked him.
Then I walked toward the master bedroom.
Vanella was sitting at her dressing table, removing her earrings.
She looked up when I entered.
"What now?""
I closed the door.
"Did you know Brielle opened an account in Ava's name?""
Vanella froze.
Only for a moment.
Then she continued removing her jewelry.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
"An account containing $180,000.""
She turned toward me.
"Why are you asking me?""
"Because Denise was listed as the authorized representative.""
Vanella stood.
"Michael, you have no right to accuse me of something without evidence.""
"I have documents.""
She laughed bitterly.
"Documents. That's all you care about now.""
I stared at her.
"Did you know?""
She looked away.
"I knew there was a family trust.""
"Did you know it was opened using Ava's identity?""
She didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"Vanella.""
She finally looked at me.
"Your daughter was supposed to benefit from it!""
I stared.
"Then why was the money going to be transferred to your sister's company?""
Her expression changed.
I continued.
"Why did Brielle submit Ava's identification?""
Vanella's voice became quieter.
"Because Denise told her it was necessary.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"So Brielle knew?""
Vanella closed her eyes.
"She didn't understand everything.""
"She's an adult.""
"She's my daughter!""
"And Ava is mine!""
Vanella suddenly began crying.
But this time, I didn't move toward her.
She wiped her cheeks.
"Richard promised everything would be legal. He said Ava would receive money, and Brielle would receive the estate. Nobody was going to leave her with nothing.""
I stared at my wife.
"Did you really believe that?""
Vanella nodded.
"He said the property would be sold eventually anyway. He said we could all start over.""
"With my money.""
"Our money.""
I shook my head.
"Not anymore.""
She grabbed my arm.
"Michael, please. We can fix this.""
I gently pulled away.
"There's nothing left to fix between us.""
Her face crumpled.
Then she whispered:
"You're making a mistake. Richard isn't going to let this go.""
I looked at her.
"Why are you so afraid of Richard?""
She didn't answer.
I turned toward the door.
But before I could leave, she spoke again.
"Because you don't know what he has on Brielle.""
I stopped.
"What does that mean?""
Vanella looked at me through the mirror.
"Tyler isn't the only reason Brielle agreed to this wedding.""
I turned slowly.
"Then what is?""
Vanella swallowed.
"Richard has something that could send her to prison.""
The room went silent.
I stared at my wife.
"What did Brielle do?""
Vanella's lips trembled.
Then she said:
"She wasn't just helping them move your money, Michael. She helped them with another transaction. One that happened before you ever married me.""
My phone buzzed.
A message from Daniel appeared.
*We found a second company connected to Tyler. Its records show a transaction involving Rebecca Carter's estate, dated nine years ago. Michael, you need to see this immediately.*
Rebecca.
Ava's mother.
I looked at Vanella.
May you like
She had gone completely pale.
And for the first time, I realized the people who had entered my life after Rebecca died might have known far more about her estate than I had ever imagined.
