Chapter 6: The Missing Page
I kept the phone pressed against my ear.
The room had gone completely silent.
Even Mitchell wasn't speaking.
He was watching me.
Waiting.
Terrified.
"Mr. Ellis," I said slowly, "are you telling me the agreement Vivian showed us was incomplete?""
"Yes.""
"And the missing page changes the meaning?""
"Completely.""
I looked at the kitchen table.
At the folder.
At the highlighted sentence that had almost convinced me my own home was never truly mine.
"What did the missing page say?""
The attorney paused.
"I can't discuss confidential details without verifying your identity and reviewing the circumstances.""
I almost laughed.
After everything that had happened, I was still being asked to prove I deserved the truth.
"I am Audrey Bennett. I am Mitchell Bennett's wife. I am the person whose house is being claimed.""
"I understand.""
"Then tell me.""
Another pause.
Then his voice softened.
"The final page stated that any future property purchased solely through Mitchell's spouse's separate assets would not be subject to his mother's claim.""
I closed my eyes.
The room tilted slightly.
"So Vivian knew.""
"I don't know what she knew.""
"But she had the page.""
"I said I prepared the original agreement. I did not provide the copy currently being used.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"Who did?""
"I can't say without reviewing my records.""
"Then review them.""
"I will.""
"When?""
"As soon as possible.""
I almost argued.
But I stopped.
Because I knew something.
The truth was finally moving toward me.
I just had to survive long enough to reach it.
"One more question," I said.
"Yes?""
"Did Mitchell know about this page?""
The silence was immediate.
Too immediate.
I looked at my husband.
His eyes dropped.
"Mr. Ellis?""
"I believe Mitchell was present when the agreement was finalized.""
My heart sank.
"Thank you.""
I ended the call.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then I looked at Mitchell.
"You knew.""
His face tightened.
"Aubrey—"
"You knew there was another page.""
"I remembered there were multiple pages.""
I stared at him.
"That's not the same thing.""
"I didn't remember the details.""
"You remembered enough to hide it.""
"I didn't hide it.""
"You hid everything.""
His expression cracked.
"I was trying to protect our marriage.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
I walked toward the table.
"You were trying to protect yourself from the consequences of your choices.""
He sat there silently.
Because he knew.
"How many secrets are there, Mitchell?""
"There aren't any more.""
I looked at him.
The sad part was that a month ago, I would have believed him.
Tonight?
I didn't know.
My phone buzzed.
I looked down.
An email notification.
From the county recorder.
The subject line made my stomach tighten.
*PROPERTY DOCUMENT REQUEST — ADDITIONAL RECORD FOUND*
I opened it.
A scanned document appeared.
Not the deed.
Something else.
A filing history.
At the bottom was a note.
*Previous submission attached.*
I clicked.
The original quitclaim deed appeared.
The one Vivian claimed gave her ownership.
Except this version was different.
The page count.
Three pages.
The one her attorney brought?
Two pages.
My eyes moved over the screen.
Page three.
The missing page.
And there it was.
A paragraph.
*"This agreement shall not grant any ownership interest, lien, or claim against property acquired independently by Mitchell Bennett's spouse without direct financial contribution from Vivian Bennett.""*
I looked up.
Mitchell was staring at me.
"What?""
I turned the phone around.
He read it.
Then his face changed.
Not surprise.
Fear.
"She knew.""
I didn't answer.
Because we both knew.
Vivian hadn't misunderstood.
She hadn't made a mistake.
She had removed the part that stopped her.
I stood up.
"I'm calling her.""
Mitchell immediately shook his head.
"Wait.""
"No.""
"Please.""
"Why?""
His eyes looked desperate.
"Because if she did this, she's not going to admit it.""
"Then what?""
"We need to think.""
I stared at him.
"You've had weeks to think.""
That hurt him.
Good.
I needed him to understand.
"I spent years trusting you.""
His voice cracked.
"I know.""
"No, you don't.""
I pointed at the screen.
"You know what I know now. You don't know what it felt like to find out.""
Mitchell looked down.
For once, he had no defense.
My phone rang.
Vivian.
I looked at the screen.
Mitchell saw it.
"Don't answer.""
I almost smiled.
"Why?""
"Because she's angry.""
"She's always angry when she doesn't get what she wants.""
He looked uncomfortable.
That sentence bothered him.
Because it was true.
I answered.
"Hello, Vivian.""
There was no greeting.
No apology.
No hesitation.
"Did Robert call you?""
I froze.
The question alone told me everything.
"You knew he would?""
A pause.
Then:
"Audrey, I think you've misunderstood the situation.""
I walked away from Mitchell.
"No. I think I understand it perfectly.""
"You don't know the history.""
"I know enough.""
"You know a document exists.""
"I know you removed a page.""
Silence.
The kind of silence that confirms guilt.
Then Vivian spoke.
"Be careful with accusations.""
I looked out the window.
At the driveway where her suitcases had been sitting hours earlier.
"You filed a document claiming part of my home.""
"I filed what I was entitled to.""
"No, you filed what you wanted.""
Her voice hardened.
"You have no idea what I sacrificed for Mitchell.""
"And you think that gives you ownership of me?""
"That's not what this is.""
"Then what is it?""
She didn't answer.
I waited.
Finally:
"My son made a promise.""
I looked at Mitchell.
He was standing across the room.
Listening.
"Your son made promises without telling his wife.""
"Because he knew you wouldn't understand.""
The words hit harder than I expected.
"Is that what you told him?""
"What?""
"That I wouldn't understand?""
Vivian became quiet.
Then she said:
"You always thought you were better than us.""
My chest tightened.
There it was.
The real issue.
Not money.
Not paperwork.
Not security.
Something deeper.
"You never liked that Mitchell chose a life away from you.""
"Don't turn this into something it isn't.""
"I didn't.""
I lowered my voice.
"You did.""
Another silence.
Then Vivian said:
"If you push this, you may lose more than you think.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Is that a threat?""
"It's advice.""
"No.""
I looked at Mitchell.
"It's a warning.""
She didn't deny it.
Then the call ended.
I lowered the phone.
Mitchell looked shaken.
"What did she say?""
I stared at him.
"She knew.""
"I figured.""
"No.""
I stepped closer.
"She knew before tonight. She knew about the missing page. She knew about the deed. She knew exactly what she was doing.""
Mitchell sat down.
"This can't be real.""
I looked at him.
"Why?""
He looked up.
"Because she's my mother.""
The sentence was quiet.
Broken.
And suddenly, I realized the hardest battle wasn't going to be against Vivian.
It was going to be against the part of Mitchell that still wanted to believe his mother could never hurt him.
My phone buzzed again.
A message.
This time from Mallory.
I opened it.
And my blood ran cold.
*You need to ask Mitchell why Mom kept the original agreement hidden for eight years.*
I looked at my husband.
"Eight years?""
His face changed.
"What?""
I held up the phone.
"She says your mother kept the original agreement hidden for eight years.""
Mitchell stared at the message.
Then whispered:
"That's impossible.""
"Why?""
His eyes slowly lifted to mine.
"Because I never gave Mom the original.""
I felt a chill move through me.
"Then who did?""
Mitchell looked toward the hallway.
Toward the office.
My office.
The room Vivian had tried to claim before she even stepped inside.
And he said the words that made my heart stop.
May you like
"Aubrey...""
"Someone has been inside this house before today.""
