Chapter 8: The Signature That Could Destroy Us All
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
My father had witnessed a document transferring my mother's company shares to Vanessa.
Two days before Mom died.
I stared at the house.
Dad was still standing in the doorway.
He looked at me.
Then he looked away.
“Mr. Harrison,” I whispered, “are you sure?””
“Yes. We have received a certified copy.””
“Does that mean Vanessa owns the company?””
“Not necessarily. We need to verify the document's authenticity and examine the circumstances surrounding its execution.””
I gripped the phone.
“What does that mean?””
“It means the document could be valid, invalid, or the result of improper conduct. We cannot reach a conclusion without examining the original.””
I swallowed.
“Can I see it?””
“Tomorrow morning.””
I ended the call.
Then I walked back toward the house.
Dad looked surprised.
“What happened?””
I held up my phone.
“Did you witness a document transferring Mom's company shares to Vanessa?””
His face went blank.
“What?””
“Two days before Mom died.””
He slowly lowered his head.
“Nia…”
“Did you?””
He rubbed his hands together.
“I don't remember exactly.””
I stared at him.
“You signed something?””
“I was asked to witness a document.””
“By Vanessa?””
He nodded.
“What did you think it was?””
“A business authorization.””
“Did you read it?””
He didn't answer.
I felt my throat tighten.
“Dad, did you read it?””
He looked at me.
“No.””
I stepped back.
“You signed a document without reading it?””
“I trusted her.””
I laughed, but there was no humor in it.
“You trusted her with Mom's company. You trusted her with my inheritance. You trusted her with everything.””
He closed his eyes.
“I made mistakes.””
“Mistakes?””
My voice cracked.
“You watched her remove Mom's photograph. You told me the money was gone. You let her take my dress. You stood there while she treated me like I didn't belong in this house.””
He looked devastated.
“I never wanted you to feel that way.””
“But I did.””
For the first time, he began crying.
I had seen my father cry only once before.
At my mother's funeral.
Now he was standing in the doorway, looking at me as though he had finally realized how much he had lost.
“Please give me a chance to fix this.””
I shook my head.
“You can't fix six years in one conversation.””
I left.
The next morning, Mr. Harrison placed the disputed document on his conference table.
Mrs. Bennett sat beside me.
Robert Mills was also present.
The document was dated two days before my mother's death.
It stated that Elena Carter had voluntarily transferred thirty-five percent of her business ownership to Vanessa Carter.
My father had signed as a witness.
The notary's stamp appeared at the bottom.
I looked at the signature.
It looked like my mother's.
Almost.
Mr. Harrison pointed toward the lower corner.
“Do you notice anything unusual?””
I leaned closer.
“The date?””
“Look at the ink.””
I examined it.
The signature appeared darker than the rest of the document.
“The ink looks different.””
“Correct. The document appears to have been assembled at different times.””
Robert leaned forward.
“There's another issue.””
He placed a second document beside it.
It was a medical appointment record.
My mother's final hospital admission had begun three days before the date on the transfer.
I looked at him.
“What does that mean?””
Robert explained that the hospital had documented my mother's condition and medication schedule.
According to the records, she had been heavily sedated during the period in which the transfer supposedly took place.
Mr. Harrison folded his hands.
“Medical records alone do not establish whether she signed the document. But they raise questions about her ability to understand and approve the transaction.””
I stared at the page.
“Can we prove it wasn't her signature?””
“Possibly. We have requested a handwriting examination.””
Mrs. Bennett spoke.
“Elena never mentioned transferring any shares to Vanessa. In fact, she told me she wanted to protect the company for Nia.””
Mr. Harrison nodded.
“We also have an earlier signed instruction confirming that intention.””
He opened another folder.
There was my mother's signature.
I compared it to the disputed document.
The real signature had a distinctive loop beneath the final letter.
The disputed one lacked it.
I looked at Mrs. Bennett.
“That's not her signature.””
She nodded.
“I agree.””
Mr. Harrison closed the file.
“We need to proceed carefully. There is also the matter of your father's involvement.””
I looked down.
“Will he get into trouble?””
“That depends on what the investigation establishes.””
I nodded.
I wasn't sure what I wanted anymore.
I wanted justice.
But I didn't want my father to go to prison.
I wanted him to admit what he had done.
I wanted him to stop protecting Vanessa.
Most of all, I wanted my mother back.
That afternoon, I received a call from the principal.
“Hello, Nia. This is Mr. Collins.””
“Good afternoon.””
“We've completed our initial review of the dress competition incident.””
I held my breath.
“We've reviewed your photographs, the messages, and the original design registration provided by Mrs. Bennett.””
“And?””
“The committee has determined that Brianna cannot receive credit for the design.””
I closed my eyes.
“Thank you.””
“The competition award will be withheld pending a final review. However, we would like to recognize your work.””
I was surprised.
“Me?””
“Yes. Mrs. Bennett provided documentation showing that the original design was developed by your mother, and that you independently reconstructed and completed it.””
I smiled.
“That means a lot.””
“We'd like to invite you to display your gown at the school's senior exhibition next week.””
I looked toward the dress hanging in Mrs. Alvarez's shop.
“I'd love to.””
After the call, I felt something I hadn't felt in months.
Pride.
Not because Brianna had lost.
But because my work had finally been recognized.
That evening, Tasha came to the studio.
She found me arranging pattern folders.
“Guess what?””
“What?””
“Brianna deleted the video.””
I laughed.
“Which one?””
“All of them.””
I shook my head.
“That's probably wise.””
Tasha leaned against the table.
“People are talking about what happened.””
I looked at her.
“What are they saying?””
“That your stepmother is in trouble. That your father knew about the money. That Brianna stole your dress.””
I sighed.
“I don't want everyone discussing my family.””
“I know.””
She sat down.
“Are you okay?””
I considered the question.
“I'm getting there.””
She smiled.
“Good.””
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Brianna.
We need to talk.
I stared at it.
Another message arrived.
Please. I'm serious.
I showed Tasha.
“Do you want to answer?””
I thought about it.
Then I typed:
What do you want?
Her reply came almost immediately.
I need to tell you something about Mom.
My stomach tightened.
I called her.
She answered on the first ring.
“Nia?””
“What?””
She was crying.
“I didn't know about the money.””
I leaned against the table.
“What money?””
“The money Mom transferred. The twenty-four thousand dollars.””
I closed my eyes.
“Brianna, you received the money.””
“I know, but I thought it was from Dad.””
“Why?””
“Mom told me it was a gift.””
I waited.
Brianna sniffed.
“She said she was putting money aside for my college and that I shouldn't tell you because you'd get jealous.””
I felt a bitter laugh rise in my throat.
“Why would I be jealous?””
“I don't know.””
“What else did she tell you?””
Brianna was silent.
Then she whispered:
“She told me that the sewing studio belonged to her.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“What?””
“She said Grandma Elena had promised it to her before she died.””
I stared at the wall.
“That isn't true.””
“I know that now.””
“How?””
Brianna began crying harder.
“Because I found something in Mom's office.””
“What?””
“A folder. It has copies of the bank transfers and the company papers.””
I sat down.
“Where is it?””
“In her bedroom.””
“Can you get it?””
“I tried. She locked the office.””
I looked at Tasha.
She had gone completely still.
“Brianna, listen to me. Don't take anything. Don't confront her.””
“I'm scared.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why?””
Brianna's voice dropped.
“Because I heard her talking to someone last night.””
“Who?””
“I don't know. A man.””
“What did they say?””
“She said the lawyer had discovered the transfers. Then she said she was going to move the remaining money before anyone could stop her.””
My heart began pounding.
“How much money?””
“I don't know.””
Brianna took a shaky breath.
“Then the man said something about the original will.””
I froze.
“What original will?””
“I don't know. But Mom said if anyone found it, everything would be over.””
The call went silent.
I looked at Tasha.
Then I called Mr. Harrison.
He answered quickly.
“Nia?””
“Vanessa may be trying to move the remaining money. Brianna overheard her discussing an original will.””
There was a pause.
Then Mr. Harrison spoke.
“Where did you hear that?””
“From Brianna.””
His voice became firm.
“Listen carefully. Your mother did leave an original will. But the copy in our records contains an important limitation.””
“What limitation?””
“The trust documents and company arrangements were not supposed to become fully accessible to your father or Vanessa under any circumstances.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because your mother anticipated that someone might attempt to challenge them.””
I swallowed.
“What happens if they find the original?””
May you like
Mr. Harrison paused.
“Then we may discover why your mother was so determined to protect you.””
