Chapter 8: The Truth Behind Vanessa's Marriage
Richard Ellison entered our house as if he owned it.
He didn't ask permission.
He simply walked past Dad, placed his briefcase on the coffee table, and looked around.
"Nice place, Marcus.""
Dad closed the front door.
"What do you want?""
Richard smiled.
"To prevent a misunderstanding from becoming an expensive legal dispute.""
Margaret stepped forward.
"You have no reason to be here.""
Richard glanced at her.
"Still protecting the family, I see.""
"Someone has to.""
Vanessa remained near the doorway.
She looked uncomfortable.
Dad noticed.
"Why did you bring him here?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Because you refuse to listen to me.""
Richard opened his briefcase.
"Let's keep this professional.""
Daniel stood.
"Before you present anything, I need to know whether you're representing Vanessa or Ellison Property Group.""
Richard smiled.
"Both, in a manner of speaking.""
"Then you should probably speak to me before making any claims.""
Richard ignored him.
He removed a document.
"Your late wife's family had several outstanding property arrangements. My company handled some of the administrative work.""
Dad frowned.
"That was years ago.""
"Correct.""
"So why are you here now?""
Richard placed the document on the table.
"Because a substantial property interest was transferred into a trust that your daughter now controls.""
Dad's voice hardened.
"She doesn't control it yet.""
"Which is precisely why we need to discuss the arrangement.""
Daniel picked up the paper.
His expression changed.
"This document has no legal standing.""
Richard shrugged.
"That's your opinion.""
"It's a preliminary inquiry, not a claim of ownership.""
Richard leaned back.
"Then perhaps you'll explain why Margaret has been keeping certain records from everyone.""
Margaret's face tightened.
"Because they were confidential.""
Richard smiled.
"Convenient.""
I was standing beside the staircase.
Dad noticed me.
"Go upstairs, Maya.""
But Margaret shook her head.
"Let her stay.""
Dad looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because everyone in this room keeps discussing her future as if she isn't the person whose life we're talking about.""
Dad looked at me.
Then he nodded.
"Fine.""
Richard glanced at me.
"So you're Maya.""
I didn't answer.
He smiled.
"Your mother was a very determined woman.""
I held my father's hand.
Richard continued.
"She was also involved in some complicated business arrangements.""
Dad stepped forward.
"Don't talk about her like that.""
Richard raised both hands.
"I'm simply stating facts.""
Margaret interrupted.
"You're leaving out the most important fact.""
Richard's smile faded.
"Which is?""
"Your company was investigated after my sister discovered discrepancies in the property accounts.""
The room became silent.
Dad turned.
"What?""
Margaret opened her handbag and removed a small folder.
"Your wife discovered that maintenance payments had been recorded for properties where no work had been completed.""
Richard shook his head.
"That was resolved.""
"Not all of it.""
Margaret placed the folder on the table.
"She also found evidence that some ownership records had been altered.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Do you have copies?""
Margaret nodded.
"Everything.""
Richard's expression changed.
Vanessa stepped closer to him.
"Richard, I thought you said this was handled.""
He looked at her sharply.
"Not now.""
Dad turned toward Vanessa.
"What does he mean?""
She looked away.
Richard closed his briefcase.
"This conversation is going nowhere.""
Daniel stood in front of the door.
"Not until we clarify why you brought a disputed document into my client's home.""
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"Be careful.""
Daniel didn't move.
"I'm being careful.""
Margaret placed another paper on the table.
"There's one more thing.""
Richard stared at her.
"What now?""
She pointed toward the signature at the bottom.
"This authorization was submitted three months ago.""
Dad looked down.
His face changed.
It was his signature.
Or something designed to look like it.
Daniel examined it.
"This is the same signature used in the bank request.""
Margaret nodded.
"Yes.""
Dad looked at Vanessa.
"Did you give him my signature?""
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"I didn't know what he was doing.""
Richard laughed.
"That's an interesting statement.""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Don't.""
Dad looked between them.
"How long have you known each other?""
Neither answered.
Then Margaret said, "I can answer that.""
She opened another folder.
"Richard and Vanessa have known each other for at least eight years.""
Dad stared at his wife.
"Eight years?""
Vanessa looked down.
Richard's smile disappeared.
Margaret continued.
"She worked for his company before she met you. And according to the records I recovered, she was still communicating with him during your engagement.""
Dad took a step backward.
"Vanessa?""
She shook her head.
"Marcus, it wasn't what you think.""
"Then tell me what it was.""
She began crying.
"Richard said there was a way to resolve the property issue.""
Dad looked at the documents.
"By marrying me?""
"No!""
"By getting access to my daughter's inheritance?""
"That's not true!""
Richard closed his briefcase again.
"Vanessa, I suggest you stop talking.""
Dad looked at him.
"Get out of my house.""
Richard ignored him.
He turned toward Daniel.
"Your client should consider the consequences of making accusations without evidence.""
Daniel held up the papers.
"We have the evidence.""
Richard's jaw tightened.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"Come on.""
She didn't move.
"Richard?""
He stared at her.
"You said you wanted this finished.""
Dad's expression changed.
"Finished?""
Richard looked toward the door.
But Vanessa suddenly spoke.
"Tell him.""
Richard froze.
"Vanessa, don't.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Tell him what you promised me.""
Dad stared at her.
"What did he promise you?""
Vanessa looked directly at Dad.
"He promised that if I helped him gain access to the property records, I would receive a percentage of the money.""
Dad's face went completely still.
"How much?""
She whispered something.
Dad didn't hear.
"Say it.""
"Twenty percent.""
Silence filled the room.
Daniel slowly lowered his papers.
Margaret closed her eyes.
Dad looked at Vanessa as if he no longer recognized her.
"You married me for money?""
Vanessa shook her head desperately.
"Not at first.""
Dad didn't move.
"Not at first?""
She began crying harder.
"Richard told me the property was worth millions. He said your daughter would eventually inherit everything, and that there were ways to challenge the arrangement.""
Dad stepped toward her.
"You knew about Maya's inheritance before we met.""
Vanessa covered her face.
"I was supposed to get married, become part of the family, and help manage the property.""
Dad stared at her.
"And when that didn't happen?""
She lowered her hands.
"I tried to change the arrangement.""
I felt my father's hand tighten around mine.
Richard suddenly opened the front door.
"This is over.""
Daniel stepped aside.
"You're welcome to leave.""
Richard walked out.
But Vanessa remained.
She looked at Dad.
"Marcus, please.""
Dad's voice was almost a whisper.
"You stood in front of my daughter and told her she didn't belong in her own home.""
Vanessa began shaking her head.
"I was angry.""
"You threw away her drawing.""
"I didn't—"
"You stepped on her mother's photograph.""
She looked at the floor.
Dad continued.
"And you tried to take money that was supposed to protect her future.""
He paused.
"There's nothing left to discuss.""
Vanessa looked at me.
For a moment, her face softened.
"Maya...""
I stepped closer to Dad.
She stopped.
Then Dad opened the front door wider.
"Take your things. Daniel will arrange the legal details.""
Vanessa walked toward the door.
But just before she crossed the threshold, she turned around.
"Marcus, you still don't know the worst part.""
Dad looked exhausted.
"What now?""
She swallowed.
"Richard didn't come here because of the property.""
She looked at me.
"He came because he knows what your mother put in that final letter.""
Margaret stood abruptly.
"Vanessa, stop.""
Vanessa's voice trembled.
"There's another beneficiary.""
Dad frowned.
"What?""
She looked at him.
May you like
"Your daughter isn't the only person your wife protected.""
And then she left.
