Chapter 4: The Land Beneath Our Wedding
I stared at Vanessa.
“What land?””
She looked toward the reception hall.
“Not here, Daniel.””
“Stop saying that. Tell me what you mean.””
Marcus was watching her carefully.
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Your mother owns a property outside town. It's an agricultural estate. My father has been negotiating to develop it.””
I looked down at the photograph.
The red barn.
The little girl.
My mother.
“That's the property?””
“Yes.””
“What are you building?””
“A luxury residential community.””
I felt my stomach turn.
“And my mother gave Richard money?””
“She invested.””
“Then why is she writing that he promised to repay her?””
Vanessa looked away.
“Because the project ran into complications.””
“What complications?””
“Financial ones.””
I laughed bitterly.
“So my mother gave your father $180,000, and he hasn't paid it back?””
“He'll repay her.””
“When?””
“I don't know.””
“Does my mother know?””
Vanessa's face hardened.
“Of course she knows.””
I looked at the notebook again.
The entries went back months.
There were payments for veterinary bills, barn repairs, property taxes, and construction assessments.
It wasn't just a piece of land.
My mother had been maintaining it.
“What exactly is on that property?””
Vanessa looked irritated.
“Old barns. A farmhouse. Some animals. It's a waste of valuable land.””
I stared at her.
“Those animals live there?””
“Some of them.””
“Where are they supposed to go?””
“Daniel, they're animals. They can be relocated.””
I thought about Mom talking about Daisy.
The frightened mare.
The one who had finally eaten from her hand.
I looked at Vanessa.
“You knew she spent her mornings there.””
“Everyone knew.””
“And you still humiliated her for smelling like manure?””
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“Don't start again.””
“Again?””
“Yes. This entire night has been about your mother.””
I couldn't believe it.
“My mother gave your father money. She has been helping animals. And you think the problem is that I'm talking about her?””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Listen to me carefully. My father has investors. People who matter. If this development goes through, it will change our lives.””
“Our lives?””
“Yes.””
I shook my head.
“Did you marry me because of my mother's property?””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“Don't be ridiculous.””
“Then answer the question.””
She looked away.
“My father believed the estate would be part of the agreement.””
“What agreement?””
She hesitated.
Then she said, “The marriage.””
The words seemed to hang in the air.
I stared at her.
“What?””
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
“Dad thought it would make things easier. Your mother trusts you. If we were married, the families would become connected.””
I felt sick.
“You're telling me your father wanted you to marry me because of my mother?””
“That's not what happened.””
“Then what happened?””
She raised her voice.
“I fell in love with you!””
“Did you?””
Her face flushed.
“Of course I did.””
“Then why does your father think our marriage is part of a property deal?””
She looked toward the ballroom.
“Because he misunderstood.””
“Did he?””
Before she could answer, Richard appeared.
His expression was tight.
“Vanessa. We need to leave.””
She shook her head.
“Dad, not now.””
Richard looked at the notebook in my hand.
“Daniel, I think you should put that away.””
I stepped toward him.
“Did you receive $180,000 from my mother?””
He didn't answer.
“Did you promise to repay her?””
Richard sighed.
“Your mother agreed to invest in the project.””
“Then why is there a repayment promise?””
“Because investments have terms.””
“That's not what you told me.””
Richard looked annoyed.
“Son, business is complicated.””
“Stop calling me son.””
Vanessa gasped.
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“Watch your tone.””
I almost laughed.
This man had just watched his daughter humiliate the woman who had raised me, and he still believed he had the right to lecture me.
“Did you tell Vanessa to marry me?””
Richard glanced at his daughter.
That glance told me more than any answer could.
Vanessa spoke quickly.
“Dad, tell him.””
Richard straightened his jacket.
“I wanted our families to have a relationship. That's all.””
“Through marriage?””
“Through a shared future.””
I stared at him.
“And the land?””
Richard's voice became colder.
“The development requires clear ownership. Your mother has been difficult.””
“Difficult?””
“She keeps changing her mind.””
“About selling her property?””
Richard rubbed his jaw.
“She agreed to the project.””
“Did she sign anything?””
He hesitated.
Then he said, “That's between us.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She wouldn't meet my eyes.
I suddenly remembered something from six months earlier.
Vanessa had asked me whether my mother had ever discussed changing her will.
At the time, I'd thought it was a strange question.
Now it felt like a warning I had ignored.
“Vanessa,” I said slowly, “what exactly did you expect my mother to sign?””
She shook her head.
“Nothing. You're making this sound sinister.””
Richard interrupted.
“The paperwork is straightforward. We simply need her consent.””
“Consent to what?””
He opened his briefcase and removed a thick folder.
“Your mother needs to sign the final transfer documents.””
I looked at the first page.
At the top was the name of the estate.
Underneath were several paragraphs about ownership and development rights.
Then I saw the signature line.
It wasn't my mother's name.
It was mine.
I stared at Richard.
“Why is my name here?””
He closed the folder.
“Because your mother has indicated that she intends to transfer the estate to you.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She finally met my eyes.
May you like
And then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Daniel, you were supposed to sign it tonight.””
