Chapter 3: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
Nobody spoke.
The document lay in the center of the marble table.
My father's finger rested beside the signature.
"Nia," he said quietly, "is this your handwriting?""
I leaned closer.
My name appeared at the bottom of the page.
Nia Hayes.
The letters were carefully formed, even the little curve beneath the H.
But it wasn't mine.
"No.""
Marcus immediately stepped forward.
"Let me see that.""
My father moved the paper out of his reach.
"Don't touch it.""
Arthur adjusted his glasses.
"This is a preliminary authorization.""
"For what?"" I asked.
Arthur cleared his throat.
"A financial review.""
"Of my trust?""
"Only a routine review.""
My father tapped the page.
"Then explain why it requests full access to the account, including authority to transfer funds.""
Evelyn looked at Marcus.
"What's he talking about?""
Marcus rubbed the back of his neck.
"Dad probably asked the financial adviser to prepare something.""
I stared at him.
"Without asking me?""
He shrugged.
"We're married. It's normal.""
"Did you sign my name?""
His eyes widened.
"Of course not.""
"Then who did?""
He looked at his father.
Arthur's expression remained fixed.
My father removed another paper from the folder.
"This request was submitted at 7:42 this morning. It was received by the bank at 8:03.""
I looked at the clock.
It was barely nine.
"How did you get this?""
"The bank called me because I helped establish the trust. They couldn't process the request without additional verification.""
Arthur stood.
"That's a serious accusation.""
"Yes," my father replied.
"It is.""
Evelyn stepped between them.
"Daniel, you're making a terrible mistake. We would never steal from Nia.""
I looked at her.
"Then why did you want my bank card?""
She went quiet.
Marcus moved closer to me.
"Nia, listen. Nobody is stealing anything. Dad was trying to make sure we had a proper financial plan.""
"Then why did he forge my signature?""
"I didn't forge anything!"" Arthur shouted.
My father didn't raise his voice.
"Then you should have no objection to a formal investigation.""
Arthur's mouth tightened.
For a moment, I saw something behind his eyes.
Fear.
Not embarrassment.
Fear.
He glanced at Marcus.
It was brief, but I noticed.
So did my father.
"Mrs. Collins," Arthur suddenly called.
The housekeeper appeared from the kitchen.
"Yes, sir?""
"Would you please give us some privacy?""
My father turned toward her.
"Mrs. Collins, could you wait a moment?""
She looked between them.
"Of course, Mr. Hayes.""
Arthur frowned.
"This is my employee.""
"She's also a witness to what happened this morning.""
Marcus scoffed.
"Witness to what? A stupid argument?""
Mrs. Collins lowered her eyes.
My father looked at her gently.
"Did you see my daughter being struck with that cloth?""
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Yes, sir.""
Evelyn's face hardened.
"Margaret, be careful what you say.""
The housekeeper's hands trembled.
"I saw it, Mrs. Sterling.""
"You're being paid to work here, not interfere in family matters.""
Mrs. Collins looked down.
I felt something twist in my chest.
There was a woman who had spent years working in that house, probably swallowing insults and threats because she needed her salary.
I stepped toward her.
"You don't have to worry. Nobody is asking you to lie.""
Her eyes filled.
"Thank you, miss.""
My father returned his attention to Arthur.
"Now, let's talk about the money.""
Arthur crossed his arms.
"What money?""
"The $450,000 cashier's check you presented yesterday.""
"That was a wedding gift.""
"Then you won't object to returning it.""
Arthur's expression changed.
"Returning it?""
My father nodded.
"Nia will not accept gifts from a family that believes it has purchased ownership of her.""
Marcus laughed.
"You can't be serious.""
"I am.""
"That money was for our future.""
My father looked directly at him.
"Then you should have thought about that before you started treating my daughter like hired help.""
Marcus turned toward me.
"Nia, tell him to stop.""
I didn't move.
"Why?""
"Because this is getting ridiculous.""
"What's ridiculous is that you think I owe you something.""
He stepped closer.
"You took our wedding gift!""
I looked at him.
"My father transferred the money into my trust. I didn't ask for it, and I didn't spend it.""
Arthur's face darkened.
"That money was intended to help establish the Sterling family.""
I almost smiled.
"Then perhaps you should have given it to a Sterling.""
My father closed the folder.
"We're leaving.""
Marcus grabbed my arm.
"You're not walking out like this.""
My father moved between us.
"Release her.""
Marcus let go.
But he wasn't finished.
"You think your money makes you untouchable?"" he snapped.
"You think because your father has a business, you can walk into this house and humiliate us?""
I looked at him.
"No. I think your behavior did that.""
My father picked up my suitcase.
Mrs. Collins opened the front door.
As I walked toward it, Evelyn called after me.
"Don't forget, Nia! You are still legally married to my son!""
I stopped.
Turned.
And looked at her.
"Thank you for reminding me.""
Her smile returned.
"Good. At least you understand.""
I took out my phone.
"I'll be contacting a divorce attorney today.""
Her smile vanished.
Marcus stepped forward.
"You're not divorcing me.""
I looked at the man I had married less than a day earlier.
"Watch me.""
My father and I walked out.
The morning air felt colder than I expected.
A black sedan waited near the driveway.
My father's driver opened the door.
Before I got in, I looked back at the Sterling mansion.
Marcus stood behind the glass.
He wasn't shouting anymore.
He was watching me.
And his phone was pressed against his ear.
My own phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
*You should ask your father what happened to the last woman who married into the Sterling family.*
I read the message twice.
Then another message arrived.
*Your husband has done this before.*
I looked at my father.
"Daddy?""
He glanced over.
"What's wrong?""
I showed him the screen.
His face changed.
"Don't answer it.""
"Who is this?""
He stared through the windshield.
"I don't know.""
But his voice told me something else.
He knew exactly what the message meant.
"Daddy, who was the last woman?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he told the driver to take us to his office.
Then he said something that made my stomach turn.
"Her name was Rebecca Sterling.""
"Who was she?""
May you like
My father looked at me.
"Marcus's first wife.""
