Chapter 5: The House That Was Never Hers
I unfolded the document.
My hands were trembling.
At the top was the name of a property management company I had never heard of.
Below it was the address of our house.
I read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
The document appeared to be a preliminary agreement involving the transfer of a portion of the property's ownership.
Vanessa's name was listed as the proposed recipient.
I looked at her.
“You told me this house was safe.””
She folded her arms.
“It is.””
“Then why is your name on a transfer agreement?””
“Because we're married.””
“That's not an answer.””
Vanessa sighed.
“Mark, you need to calm down.””
I placed the document on the island.
“Did you forge my signature?””
Her eyes widened.
“No!””
“Then why is there a signature on the second page?””
She glanced down.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she replied, “You signed those papers months ago.””
I looked at the signature.
It resembled mine.
But something was wrong.
The final stroke of the letter C was too long.
I knew because I had signed hundreds of business contracts over the years.
“That isn't my signature.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Of course it is.””
“No, it isn't.””
“You signed it at the office.””
I stared at her.
“I never signed anything transferring this house.””
She looked toward Claire.
Claire slowly shook her head.
“Vanessa, you told me the house transfer had already been approved.””
Vanessa snapped.
“It was!””
Claire opened her handbag again.
“Then why did you ask me to prepare a replacement document last week?””
Vanessa said nothing.
I picked up my phone.
I wanted to call my attorney, but before I could, my mother entered the kitchen.
“Mark, the children are asking for you.””
I looked toward the living room.
“Are they okay?””
“They're together. Lily is sitting beside Ethan.””
My mother glanced at the documents.
“What else have you found?””
I handed her the property agreement.
She read the first page.
Then she looked at me.
“Is this Rachel's house?””
I nodded.
My mother closed her eyes.
“Mark, don't let her sign anything else.””
Vanessa laughed.
“Oh, please. Patricia, this is a private financial matter.””
My mother looked directly at her.
“No. It's about two children who lost their mother and now have to watch someone try to take away the only home they've ever known.””
Vanessa's face tightened.
“Rachel has been dead for four years. Maybe it's time everyone stopped treating this house like a shrine to her.””
The words struck harder than I expected.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Don't ever speak about their mother like that again.””
She shrugged.
“It's true. Everything here still belongs to Rachel. Her pictures.
Her furniture. Her children. Even the way you look at me.””
I stared at her.
“You were never competing with Rachel.””
Vanessa laughed.
“That's exactly what you say because you don't understand.””
“I loved her. I still miss her. But I gave you a place in our lives.””
“And it was never enough.””
“Apparently not.””
My mother took the property document and placed it in her handbag.
“I'm keeping this safe.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Give it back.””
“No.””
“It's my property!””
“Then explain why the father's signature appears to be forged.””
Vanessa went silent.
I picked up my phone and called my attorney, James.
He answered after the third ring.
“Mark? Everything okay?””
“No. I need you to come over.””
“What happened?””
“My wife may have forged my signature on a property document. There are also unexplained withdrawals from the children's savings accounts.””
There was a pause.
Then James said, “Don't sign anything. Don't hand over any original documents. I'll come over immediately.””
I thanked him and ended the call.
Vanessa was pacing now.
“You're making this into something it isn't.””
I didn't answer.
She walked closer.
“Mark, think about what you're doing. If you involve lawyers, this becomes public.””
“I don't care.””
“Your business associates will hear about it.””
“I don't care.””
“Your family will hear about it.””
“They already know.””
She stopped.
Then she lowered her voice.
“You think Claire is innocent? She's been taking money from me too.””
I turned toward Claire.
“Is that true?””
Claire shook her head.
“She paid me for consulting work. I have invoices for everything.””
Vanessa laughed.
“Of course you do.””
Claire removed a folder.
“Here are the invoices, the emails, and the documents you asked me to prepare. I also have copies of the messages where you instructed me to describe Lily as unstable.””
I stared at her.
“Why are you helping us now?””
Claire looked uncomfortable.
“Because I believed Vanessa was telling the truth. I thought she was dealing with a difficult family situation.””
“And now?””
She glanced toward the staircase.
“Now I've seen the children.””
My mother nodded slowly.
“Thank you for telling the truth.””
Claire lowered her eyes.
“I should have questioned things earlier.””
I didn't have time to respond.
A small voice came from the doorway.
“Daddy?””
Lily was standing there.
She held a birthday card in both hands.
“Can I give you something?””
I crouched immediately.
“Of course, sweetheart.””
She walked toward me and handed me the card.
The front was covered in purple hearts.
Inside was a drawing of our family.
There were three people.
Me.
Ethan.
Lily.
And a fourth figure standing behind us.
A woman with brown hair.
I recognized her immediately.
Rachel.
Underneath the drawing, Lily had written:
I wish Mommy could come to my birthday. But I think she would be happy if Daddy smiled again.
My eyes burned.
I pulled Lily into my arms.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
She rested her head against my chest.
“I made it for you.””
“It's beautiful.””
“Do you like it?””
I kissed her forehead.
“I love it.””
She looked over my shoulder.
Then she noticed Vanessa.
Her smile disappeared.
“Is she coming to my party next year?””
The question broke something inside me.
I looked at Vanessa.
She was standing near the kitchen island, staring at the little card.
I looked back at Lily.
“No, sweetheart. You don't have to worry about that.””
Lily studied my face.
“Promise?””
“Promise.””
She hugged me tightly.
Then Ethan appeared.
He was holding something small.
“Dad, I found this in the envelope too.””
He handed me a folded photograph.
It showed Vanessa standing outside a bank with the same man who had called her earlier.
The man was tall, with dark hair and a navy suit.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten note.
After the transfer, everything is ours.
I turned the photograph over again.
“Ethan, where did you find this?””
“In the folder upstairs.””
Vanessa rushed forward.
“Give me that!””
Ethan stepped backward.
I held up my hand.
“Stay where you are.””
She stopped.
I examined the photograph.
Then I recognized the man.
Not personally.
But I recognized his face from somewhere.
I had seen him at a business event three months earlier.
His name was Richard Hale.
He owned a small property investment firm.
And he had approached me about purchasing several commercial buildings.
I remembered telling him I wasn't interested.
Now he was standing beside my wife in a photograph discussing our family home.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Are you involved with Richard Hale?””
She didn't answer.
“Vanessa?””
She grabbed her handbag.
“I don't have to answer that.””
I stepped aside, allowing her to leave the kitchen.
But she didn't go toward the front door.
She went upstairs.
“Where are you going?”” I called.
“To get my things.””
I followed her to the bottom of the stairs.
“Don't take any documents.””
She turned.
“Don't tell me what to do.””
Then she disappeared into our bedroom.
I heard drawers opening.
A suitcase being dragged from the closet.
And then a loud crash.
I hurried upstairs.
Vanessa was standing beside the wardrobe.
A wooden jewelry box lay broken on the floor.
Rachel's old wedding ring was inside.
I froze.
“Why are you touching that?””
Vanessa looked down.
“I was packing.””
“That's Rachel's.””
“So?””
I picked up the ring.
It was one of the few things Rachel had left behind.
I had kept it in the jewelry box because I wanted the children to have it when they were older.
Vanessa watched me carefully.
“You still love her.””
I slipped the ring into my pocket.
“That isn't your concern anymore.””
She zipped her suitcase.
“You'll regret choosing them over me.””
I looked at her.
“I regret not seeing what was happening sooner.””
She walked toward the door.
But before she left, she turned around.
“You should ask your son what he knows about the man in that photograph.””
I frowned.
“What does Ethan know?””
Vanessa smiled faintly.
“More than you think.””
Then she walked downstairs.
I stood there, holding Rachel's wedding ring.
A moment later, Ethan appeared beside me.
“Dad?””
I looked at him.
“Did Vanessa tell you something about Richard Hale?””
He nodded slowly.
“What?””
Ethan glanced toward the stairs.
Then he whispered:
“Dad, Richard came to our house before. He gave Vanessa a key.””
My stomach tightened.
“What key?””
Ethan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver key attached to a red tag.
I stared at it.
“What does this open?””
Ethan swallowed.
“The room behind the garage.””
I looked toward the window.
The detached garage stood at the back of the property.
I had barely used the small storage room behind it.
“What's inside?””
May you like
Ethan's eyes filled with tears.
“Dad, I think that's where Vanessa keeps the things she takes from us.””
