Chapter 4: The House That Was Sold Behind His Back
Marcus drove straight to the old family house.
Michael sat beside him, holding Eleanor's letter in both hands. Neither spoke for the first fifteen minutes.
The Victorian home stood at the end of a tree-lined street in a neighborhood where Marcus had learned to ride a bicycle, scraped his knees, and watched his mother plant roses along the front walk.
Now the roses were gone.
The iron gate hung open. A FOR SALE sign had been replaced with a notice identifying Reed Family Holdings as the owner. The front windows were covered from inside, and a new security camera pointed toward the driveway.
Marcus parked across the street.
"This is wrong," Michael said.
Marcus looked at the house.
"Yes.""
"I remember Grandma's kitchen. She used to make pancakes on Sundays.""
"She did.""
"She told me the house would always be ours.""
Marcus swallowed.
"She wanted it to be.""
They crossed the street.
Before Marcus could reach the front steps, a man in a work jacket came out of the side entrance.
"Can I help you?""
"I'm Marcus Reed. This was my mother's house.""
The man glanced at a clipboard.
"You're not on the access list.""
"I don't need to be on a list to ask why my family's property has been sold without my knowledge.""
The man's expression changed.
"Sir, I was hired to secure the building. You'll need to contact the registered owner.""
"Who hired you?""
"Reed Family Holdings.""
Marcus held up the deed Daniel had given him.
"Who signed this sale?""
The man shook his head.
"That's not my business.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"I'm asking you a simple question.""
"And I'm telling you I don't know.""
Michael tugged at his father's sleeve.
"Dad, look.""
A second-floor curtain had moved.
Someone was watching them from inside.
Marcus raised his voice.
"Sarah! I know you're in there!""
The curtain fell back into place.
He took out his phone and called Rebecca Collins.
She answered on the third ring.
"Mr. Reed?""
"I need you to look at a property transfer immediately. My mother's house was sold through a company registered to my stepson. The documents appear to contain forged signatures.""
Rebecca was silent for a moment.
"Do you have copies?""
"Yes.""
"Don't enter the property or confront anyone inside. Send me the documents. I'll review the chain of title and contact the appropriate authorities.""
Marcus looked toward the upstairs window.
"My wife may have sold the property to hide evidence concerning my first wife's death.""
This time, Rebecca did not respond immediately.
Then she said, "I'm coming to you. Stay where you are.""
Marcus ended the call.
The security guard had gone back inside.
Michael stood on the pavement, staring at the house.
"Do you think Mom knew?"" he asked.
Marcus looked at his son.
"Your mother?""
"Eleanor. Did she know Sarah would do this?""
"No," Marcus said firmly.
"Sarah wasn't part of our lives then.""
"But someone hurt her.""
Marcus had no answer.
He had spent six years believing Eleanor's death was a terrible accident. Now a letter in his son's hands suggested the medical records had been altered.
The thought was almost unbearable.
A car pulled into the driveway behind them.
Sarah stepped out.
She wore a cream coat and carried a leather handbag. Her face was composed, but her eyes flicked toward the house before settling on Marcus.
"What are you doing here?""
Marcus held up the deed.
"Trying to understand why you sold my mother's house.""
Sarah exhaled sharply.
"We've already discussed the estate.""
"No, we haven't. You told me the house was sold to cover maintenance costs. You didn't tell me you transferred it to a company registered to Jordan.""
"It's a legitimate business.""
"Owned by a sixteen-year-old?""
"Jordan is going to inherit it eventually. I was protecting his future.""
"What about Michael's future?""
Sarah's expression hardened.
"Don't start using Michael as a weapon.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"You took money from a trust established for him.""
"That money was used for family expenses.""
"Six hundred thousand dollars?""
Sarah glanced at the security guard's window.
"Keep your voice down.""
"Why? Afraid someone might hear the truth?""
She reached for his arm.
"Marcus, please. We need to talk privately.""
He stepped away.
"No more private conversations. No more papers you tell me not to read. No more decisions made behind my back.""
Sarah's eyes flashed.
"You have no idea what I've sacrificed for this family.""
Michael spoke before Marcus could answer.
"You made me eat dinner in the kitchen.""
Sarah turned toward him.
"Michael, that was one evening.""
"You told me I wasn't family.""
"I never said that.""
"You said tonight was for family.""
Sarah's lips parted.
For the first time, she seemed to realize that Marcus had not been the only person listening to her explanations.
Michael stepped closer.
"You said Dad would get tired of me and send me away. You said I was lucky he still wanted me here.""
Sarah's face flushed.
"You're twisting everything.""
"No," Michael said.
"I'm repeating what you said.""
Marcus placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
Sarah looked from one to the other.
Then her expression changed.
"Fine. You want to know why I did what I did? Because your son has been the center of this house since the day I moved in.
Every decision revolves around him. Every dollar is supposed to be saved for him. Even after all these years, you still look at me as if I'm a temporary visitor.""
Marcus stared at her.
"You were never a visitor. You were my wife.""
"Then why did you keep Eleanor's entire life preserved as if she might walk back through the door?""
The question hit harder than Marcus expected.
He thought of the photographs in the hallway, the books he had never moved from Eleanor's shelf, the anniversary dinners he spent quietly at home.
He had never demanded that Sarah compete with a dead woman.
But perhaps he had never understood how much she resented the life that had come before her.
"That doesn't excuse stealing from a child," he said.
Sarah laughed bitterly.
"Stealing? I kept this family running while you spent years pretending money could repair everything.""
"Where is the jewelry?""
Her eyes narrowed.
"What jewelry?""
"My mother's silver case. Eleanor's necklace. The diamond earrings.""
Sarah said nothing.
Marcus waited.
Finally, she replied, "They're safe.""
"Where?""
"Somewhere they won't be wasted.""
Michael's face crumpled.
"They were supposed to be mine.""
Sarah looked at him with startling coldness.
"They were supposed to belong to the family. Not to you alone.""
"They were left to me!""
"Your grandmother was old and sentimental. She had no idea what it took to keep a household functioning.""
Marcus felt his anger sharpen into something quieter.
"You're right about one thing, Sarah.""
She looked at him.
"I should have asked more questions a long time ago.""
A car pulled up behind Sarah's vehicle.
Rebecca Collins stepped out, carrying a briefcase.
She introduced herself, examined the deed, and asked Sarah to explain the transfer.
Sarah immediately adopted a different tone.
"The transaction was handled by counsel. All the necessary documents were signed.""
"By whom?"" Rebecca asked.
"Marcus.""
Marcus shook his head.
"I never signed anything.""
Rebecca opened the folder.
"Then we'll need to compare the original documents with authenticated samples of your signature.""
Sarah's mouth tightened.
"You're making a serious accusation.""
"I'm investigating a serious discrepancy," Rebecca replied.
She turned to Marcus.
"There's another matter. The estate's records show a separate transfer involving the family trust. It was approved under a power of attorney that appears to have been executed after your mother's death.""
Marcus looked at Sarah.
"You told me my mother had appointed you administrator.""
"She did.""
"Then why does the signature look like mine?""
Sarah's eyes darted toward Jordan's company sign.
For a moment, she appeared to be searching for an answer that would not come.
Then she straightened.
"Because your mother asked me to protect you from something you were never supposed to know.""
Marcus stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
Sarah reached into her handbag and removed a folded document.
She held it out to him.
"This is the original agreement. Read the last page.""
Marcus took it.
At the bottom, beneath the legal language, was his mother's signature.
Beside it was a second signature.
Eleanor Reed.
Marcus read the clause above them.
It stated that if Eleanor died under circumstances involving disputed medical treatment, a sealed file would be released to the family attorney.
The document was dated three weeks before Eleanor's death.
Marcus looked up.
"Why do you have this?""
Sarah's voice dropped.
"Because Eleanor gave it to me.""
Michael shook his head.
"Mom never met Sarah before she died.""
Sarah looked at him.
"She did.""
Marcus felt the blood drain from his face.
"What are you saying?""
May you like
Sarah folded her arms.
"Your first wife knew me before you ever did.""
Related Stories
