Chapter 8: The Woman Behind the Fake Identity
The security officers moved toward the entrance.
Daniel remained beside the reception desk, his briefcase resting against his leg.
Richard stared at him.
"Who was that woman?""
Daniel adjusted his jacket.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
"You just told someone to destroy an original file.""
"You misheard me.""
Angela shook her head.
"No, sir. We all heard you.""
Daniel looked toward the guests.
"Is this really how you intend to handle a wedding?""
Victoria stepped forward.
"My wedding stopped being a wedding when your family started stealing identities.""
Daniel turned toward her.
"Victoria, I suggest you stay out of financial matters.""
She stared at him.
"You're my future father-in-law. You used my wedding venue to move stolen money. I think I'm already involved.""
Matthew suddenly appeared at the ballroom entrance.
He was wearing a black tuxedo, his tie slightly loosened.
He looked at his father.
Then at Richard.
Then at Victoria.
"What's happening?""
Victoria stared at him.
"You tell me.""
Matthew approached cautiously.
"Dad, why is everyone standing around you?""
Daniel picked up his briefcase.
"Nothing that concerns you.""
Victoria laughed without humor.
"That's funny. Your father just admitted that he helped someone create a fake bank account using Danielle's identity.""
Matthew stopped.
"What?""
Danielle looked at him.
"Have you seen this account before?""
Matthew shook his head.
"No.""
Daniel interrupted.
"Matthew, go back to the ballroom.""
Matthew looked at his father.
"Why?""
"Because I said so.""
For the first time, Matthew didn't obey.
He turned toward Angela.
"Can I see the account information?""
Angela looked at Richard.
Richard nodded.
She showed Matthew the tablet.
He examined the photograph attached to the account.
His eyebrows drew together.
"Wait.""
Victoria stepped closer.
"What?""
Matthew zoomed in on the photograph.
"I know this woman.""
Daniel immediately reached for the tablet.
"Give that back.""
Matthew moved away.
"Her name is Rebecca.""
Richard's expression hardened.
"Who is Rebecca?""
Matthew looked at his father.
"She worked as your personal assistant.""
Daniel's face changed.
"That was years ago.""
Matthew continued.
"She handled your appointments, your travel bookings, and some of your personal correspondence.""
Richard turned toward Angela.
"Do we have her employment records?""
"Yes, sir.""
"Find them.""
Matthew looked at Danielle.
"She used to have access to a lot of documents.""
Danielle felt a chill.
"Could she have accessed my hospital records?""
Matthew hesitated.
"I don't know.""
Daniel suddenly snapped.
"Matthew, stop talking.""
Matthew looked at him.
"Why are you so afraid of her name?""
Daniel said nothing.
Richard turned toward Marcus.
"Contact the police. Tell them we have a suspected identity theft case and a potential attempt to destroy evidence.""
Marcus nodded.
Vanessa, who had been silent for several minutes, suddenly began laughing.
Everyone looked at her.
"You really think Rebecca did all this?""
Daniel turned sharply.
"Vanessa.""
She ignored him.
"She didn't do anything without your permission.""
Daniel's face hardened.
"Be quiet.""
Vanessa looked at Richard.
"You want to know who created those accounts? Ask Daniel.""
Then she pointed toward herself.
"And ask him why he needed me to manage the money.""
Daniel stepped toward her.
"Vanessa, I said stop.""
She laughed again.
"No. You've been blaming me for months.""
Richard looked between them.
"Months?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Daniel approached me last year. He told me he could help the venue generate additional revenue through private vendor arrangements.""
Angela frowned.
"Those vendors were fake.""
"I didn't know that initially.""
Daniel interrupted.
"You signed the documents.""
"Because you told me they were legitimate!""
"Don't be ridiculous.""
Vanessa's voice cracked.
"You promised me a share of the profits.""
Richard stared.
"So you knew you were receiving money from these transactions?""
Vanessa looked away.
"Not all of it.""
James closed his eyes.
"Vanessa...""
She turned toward him.
"You knew about the first payment. Don't act innocent.""
James looked ashamed.
"I never knew about the fake accounts.""
Vanessa continued.
"Daniel told me the money would eventually be transferred into legitimate investments. He said nobody would lose anything.""
Richard shook his head.
"And you believed him?""
Vanessa's expression changed.
"I believed he had a plan.""
Daniel laughed coldly.
"She was the one who created the vendor company.""
Vanessa spun toward him.
"Because you told me to!""
Angela stepped between them.
"Both of you need to stop.""
Then Matthew spoke.
"Dad, what about Rebecca?""
Daniel looked at him.
"She has nothing to do with this.""
"Then why did you react when I recognized her?""
Daniel's silence was enough.
Matthew took a step backward.
"Did you use her identity too?""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"You're becoming very disrespectful.""
Matthew shook his head.
"No. I'm finally asking questions.""
Richard looked at Danielle.
She was holding Elijah tightly.
Her face had lost its color.
He sat beside her.
"Baby, breathe.""
Danielle nodded.
But something had begun bothering her.
"Mr. Mercer?""
Daniel turned.
"Yes?""
"Why did you tell me to ask my father about adoption papers?""
Richard looked at her.
Daniel gave a small smile.
"Because your father knows more about your past than he's telling you.""
Richard's expression changed.
"Daniel, don't.""
Danielle looked between them.
"Dad?""
Richard reached for her hand.
"Not here.""
"Why not here?""
He glanced toward the baby.
"Because I don't want you dealing with more stress than necessary.""
Danielle's eyes filled.
"Please don't protect me by hiding things.""
Richard looked down.
For a moment, he seemed unable to speak.
Then he said something that made Victoria gasp.
"Your mother and I adopted you when you were four years old.""
Danielle stopped breathing.
The foyer went silent.
"What?""
Richard swallowed.
"You were very young. Your biological mother was unable to care for you. Your father had already passed away. We went through the legal process, and your mother and I raised you as our own.""
Danielle stared at him.
"You told me I was born three months after you and Mom got married.""
Richard's eyes filled.
"That was what your mother wanted you to believe.""
Danielle shook her head.
"Why?""
Richard looked toward Daniel.
"Because there were people involved in your biological family's situation who were dangerous.""
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Now we're getting somewhere.""
Richard stood.
"Don't.""
Danielle's voice trembled.
"Who was my biological mother?""
Richard looked at his daughter.
"Her name was Evelyn Brooks.""
Danielle blinked.
"Brooks?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did you say my father had passed away?""
Richard's expression softened.
"Because he had.""
Danielle looked at the baby in her arms.
Then she whispered:
"Was he a good man?""
Richard nodded.
"He was.""
"Did you know him?""
"Yes.""
Danielle waited.
Richard continued.
"He was my younger brother.""
Her knees nearly gave way.
Victoria reached for her.
"Danielle!""
Richard steadied his daughter.
"You were my brother's child. When he died, your mother disappeared for several months. Eventually, we found you in a temporary care home. Your mother couldn't safely keep you.""
Danielle stared at him.
"You mean my father was your brother?""
Richard nodded.
"Yes.""
"And you adopted me?""
"Yes.""
Tears rolled down Danielle's cheeks.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Richard's voice broke.
"I thought I was protecting you.""
Daniel laughed.
"That is a beautiful story.""
Richard turned.
"Get out of my sight.""
Daniel looked at Danielle.
"There's something else you should know.""
He leaned closer.
"Your biological father left you something before he died.""
Richard immediately stepped forward.
"Daniel, don't.""
But Daniel continued.
"A trust fund. A very substantial one. And the documents establishing that trust were transferred into the custody of a private legal firm.""
Danielle stared.
"What trust fund?""
Daniel smiled.
"One that should have belonged to you when you turned twenty-five.""
Richard looked furious.
"That money was never yours to discuss.""
Daniel nodded.
"Perhaps not. But someone has been using it.""
Danielle looked at her father.
"Is that true?""
Richard didn't answer immediately.
Then Angela's phone rang again.
She listened.
Her expression changed dramatically.
"Mr. Brooks, the bank has confirmed the original beneficiary account.""
Richard turned.
"What did they find?""
Angela swallowed.
"The two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was transferred from an account connected to Danielle's biological father's trust.""
Danielle stared.
"How much money was in that trust?""
Angela looked at the report.
Then she answered.
"Approximately twelve million dollars.""
The room fell silent.
Danielle felt the baby move against her chest.
"Twelve million?""
Angela nodded.
"And according to the latest statement, the remaining balance is zero.""
Richard's face went completely pale.
Because he knew something Daniel didn't.
The trust fund had never been managed by his company.
It had been managed by an independent attorney.
A woman Richard had trusted for more than twenty years.
And that attorney was supposed to be retired.
But the name appearing on the latest withdrawal authorization was unmistakable.
*EVELYN BROOKS.*
Danielle's biological mother's name.
Then the ballroom doors opened again.
A woman in her late fifties walked into the foyer.
She wore a black dress, carried a cream-colored handbag, and had the same heart-shaped face as Danielle.
She looked directly at the newborn.
Then at Danielle.
And whispered:
"My granddaughter.""
Richard stepped backward.
His voice was barely audible.
"Evelyn?""
Danielle looked at the woman.
"Who are you?""
May you like
The woman began crying.
"I'm your mother.""