Chapter 5: The Daughter Who Signed My Betrayal
Vanessa didn't come home that night.
Eleanor told Marcus she had gone to stay with a friend.
Marcus knew better.
At 8:15 the following morning, he received a text from Vanessa.
We need to talk. Alone. Don't bring Daniel.
He showed it to his attorney.
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“Absolutely not.””
“She might know something.””
“Then she can tell us with witnesses present.””
“Daniel, she's been hiding something for three years.””
“And that's exactly why you shouldn't meet her alone.””
Marcus stared at the message.
“I raised that girl.””
Daniel softened.
“I know.””
“She was nineteen when Eleanor and I got married. Her biological father had been gone for years. I paid her tuition, helped her start her business, and treated her like my own child.””
“Marcus—”
“I want to hear her explain it.””
Daniel finally nodded.
“Fine. But we'll arrange the location, and I'll be nearby.””
They agreed to meet at a quiet restaurant downtown.
Vanessa arrived twenty minutes late.
She wore sunglasses, a cream-colored coat, and an expensive handbag Marcus had purchased for her birthday.
She looked around nervously before sitting opposite him.
“Where's Daniel?”” she asked.
“Working.””
“You promised you wouldn't bring him.””
“I didn't.””
She removed her sunglasses.
Her eyes were swollen.
Marcus studied her face.
For the first time in years, she looked less like the confident young woman who constantly demanded things and more like the frightened nineteen-year-old who had once called him crying because her car had broken down.
“Vanessa,” he began, “tell me what happened at the hospital.””
She picked up the menu.
“Can we order first?””
“I'm not hungry.””
“I'm starving.””
She ordered coffee and a pastry.
Marcus waited until the server walked away.
“Were you there the night before my accident?””
Vanessa stared at the table.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She rubbed her thumb against the edge of her handbag.
“Mom asked me to go.””
“What did she ask you to do?””
“Deliver some paperwork.””
“What paperwork?””
“I don't remember.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“Vanessa, look at me.””
She finally raised her eyes.
“You remember.””
Her lips trembled.
“I was young.””
“You were twenty-five.””
“I was confused!””
“You signed something.””
Vanessa looked toward the window.
Then she whispered, “They told me you would never be able to manage the company again.””
Marcus felt his throat tighten.
“Who told you?””
“Mom. Uncle Thomas.””
“Did you believe them?””
“I didn't know what to believe.””
“Did you know about the accident?””
She shook her head quickly.
“No. I swear I didn't know they were going to hurt you.””
Marcus held her gaze.
“Then what did you sign?””
Vanessa reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded sheet of paper.
“I kept this.””
She slid it across the table.
It was a copy of a financial authorization.
Marcus recognized the document.
It transferred temporary voting rights from his company shares to a family management trust.
His signature appeared at the bottom.
But it wasn't his handwriting.
Vanessa pointed to the second signature.
“That's mine.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Why?””
“Mom said it was temporary. She said we needed someone to manage your affairs while you recovered.””
“And Thomas?””
“He said the company was falling apart. He said employees would lose their jobs if nobody stepped in.””
Marcus shook his head.
“The company was profitable.””
“I know that now.””
“You knew it then.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I was scared.””
Marcus pushed the document back.
“You were paid.””
She flinched.
“How did you—”
“The storage records.””
Vanessa covered her face.
“Please don't.””
“How much?””
She lowered her hands.
“Seventy-five thousand.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Seventy-five thousand dollars?””
“They said it was compensation for helping with the family trust.””
“You sold your signature.””
“I didn't know it would go this far!””
“You signed a document giving strangers control over my company.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I'm sorry.””
Marcus looked at her for a long time.
Then he asked the question that mattered most.
“Did you know Eleanor was changing my medical records?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Not at first.””
“What does that mean?””
She looked toward the restaurant entrance.
“Mom told me you were getting worse. She said the doctors didn't think you would walk again. Then she asked me to bring something to the hospital.””
“What?””
“A small envelope.””
“What was inside?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus waited.
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
“It contained money.””
“How much?””
“Ten thousand dollars.””
“Who received it?””
“A nurse.””
Marcus felt his hands go cold.
“Which nurse?””
“I don't know her name.””
“Describe her.””
“Middle-aged. Short hair. She wore glasses.””
Marcus remembered the photograph.
The young nurse standing beside Vanessa.
But the woman in the photograph hadn't been middle-aged.
He turned the picture around on his phone and showed it to her.
“Is this the person?””
Vanessa stared at the image.
Then she nodded.
“Yes.””
“Who is she?””
“Her name was Rebecca. I think she worked in records administration.””
Marcus felt a knot form in his stomach.
“Why did you pay her?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Mom told me it was to make sure your paperwork was processed quickly.””
“Processed how?””
“I don't know!””
Her voice rose.
Several people turned toward them.
Vanessa lowered her voice again.
“Marcus, I know I did something wrong. But I didn't know what they were planning.””
He studied her.
“Did you know they were going to transfer my shares?””
She nodded.
“Did you know they were going to make me look mentally incapable of managing my own affairs?””
Another nod.
“Did you know they were planning to sell my properties?””
“Yes.””
Marcus leaned back.
The answer hurt more than he expected.
“You knew.””
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“I thought you would never recover. I thought the company would eventually belong to us anyway.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Us?””
“Mom and me.””
“And Thomas?””
She hesitated.
“He promised he would help us.””
Marcus gave a bitter smile.
“Of course he did.””
Vanessa reached across the table.
“Please. I can help you.””
He pulled his hand away.
“Then tell me where Thomas is.””
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie.””
“I'm not!””
She glanced toward the entrance again.
Then she leaned closer.
“He's been staying at the old family property.””
Marcus frowned.
“What property?””
“The house in Savannah. The one Dad left behind.””
Marcus felt his expression change.
Their father had owned a small house in Savannah before he died. Marcus had inherited it and allowed Thomas to use it temporarily during a difficult period.
Thomas had supposedly sold it years ago.
But apparently, he hadn't.
“Why is Thomas staying there?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“He's meeting someone.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
“Vanessa.””
She looked directly into his eyes.
“Mom.””
Marcus went still.
“Eleanor is meeting Thomas in Savannah?””
“Yes. They have been going there every few weeks.””
“For what?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“There's something in that house. Something Mom says must never be found.””
Before Marcus could ask another question, Vanessa's phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression changed immediately.
“What's wrong?”” Marcus asked.
“Nothing.””
She stood.
“Vanessa, sit down.””
“I have to go.””
“Who sent that message?””
She turned the phone toward him.
The message was from Eleanor.
Did you tell him about the hospital?
Vanessa looked terrified.
Marcus stood.
“Answer her.””
“No.””
“Vanessa.””
“She'll know.””
“Let her.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You don't understand what she's capable of.””
Marcus took a step closer.
“Then help me understand.””
Vanessa's eyes filled again.
She whispered, “Mom wasn't the person who arranged the accident.””
Marcus stopped.
“What?””
“Thomas did.””
“Then why are you protecting her?””
“Because she knows who was driving the truck.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Who?””
Vanessa looked toward the restaurant windows.
A black sedan was parked across the street.
The driver's window lowered.
A man inside raised a phone and took a photograph.
Vanessa saw him.
Her face turned white.
“That's him,” she whispered.
“Who?””
“The man who brought the envelope to the hospital.””
Marcus turned toward the street.
The sedan pulled away.
Daniel, who had been watching from a nearby table, immediately stood and followed it outside.
Marcus looked back at Vanessa.
“Who was driving that truck?””
She grabbed his wrist.
“Your company driver.””
Marcus felt the room tilt.
“My driver?””
She nodded.
“His name was Robert Ellis.””
Marcus remembered Robert.
He had worked for Reed Development Group for nearly twelve years.
He had driven Marcus to meetings, construction sites, and family events.
He had even attended Marcus's father's funeral.
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“Where is he now?””
She swallowed.
“Dead.””
May you like
Then she delivered the final blow.
“He died two days after your accident. And Mom told everyone it was a heart attack.””
