Chapter 4: The House With Two Names
Richard didn't immediately understand what Maya had said.
He looked at Denise.
Then at the business registration form.
Then back at Maya.
“What do you mean, the house I think is mine?””
Maya sighed.
“Don't make me explain everything.””
“Try.””
She folded her arms.
“Dad bought a house. Mom helped him. They're planning to move there after the wedding.””
Richard went still.
“The wedding?””
Maya looked uncomfortable for the first time.
Denise quickly stepped forward.
“Maya, not now.””
Richard turned toward his wife.
“What wedding?””
Denise's lips trembled.
“Richard, please sit down.””
He didn't move.
“What wedding, Denise?””
Maya rolled her eyes.
“Mom and Marcus are getting married.””
The room became silent.
Richard looked at Denise.
His wife of twenty years.
The woman he had met at a friend's barbecue when they were both in their twenties.
The woman whose hand he had held during her mother's funeral.
The woman he had helped raise another man's child.
“Is that true?”” he asked.
Denise began crying.
“Richard, it isn't what you think.””
He nodded slowly.
“Then tell me what it is.””
Denise wiped her cheeks.
“Marcus and I have been talking.””
“For how long?””
She hesitated.
“About a year.””
Richard looked down.
A year.
Twelve months of conversations, plans, and promises.
While he had been working overtime.
While he had been saving for Maya's college.
While he had been sitting beside his wife at dinner, believing they were still building the same life.
Maya interrupted.
“Honestly, I don't understand why you're so shocked.””
Richard looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because Mom deserves to be happy.””
“And I don't?””
Maya shrugged.
“You've never seemed unhappy.””
Richard let out a slow breath.
“That's because I trusted your mother.””
Denise covered her mouth.
Maya picked up her phone.
“Can we please stop? Marcus is waiting for us.””
Richard looked at her.
“Where are you going?””
“To see the house.””
“You're leaving now?””
“It's my future.””
Richard glanced at Denise.
“Is this why you transferred the money?””
Denise nodded weakly.
“Marcus needed help with the down payment.””
Richard stared at her.
“You used Maya's education savings to help buy a house for yourself and Marcus?””
“It's not like that.””
“Then what is it like?””
Denise began crying harder.
“Marcus promised he would put the house in Maya's name eventually.””
Richard looked at the business registration form.
“Eventually?””
Maya interrupted.
“Dad said it's a family investment.””
Richard turned toward her.
“Your biological father has been absent for sixteen years. He comes back, asks your mother for money, puts your education savings into his company, and now you're moving into his house?””
Maya's cheeks flushed.
“You make everything sound terrible.””
“I'm repeating what happened.””
“You're just jealous because he can give me things.””
Richard looked at her.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
Then he asked quietly:
“What exactly has he given you?””
Maya opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
She looked toward Denise.
Richard nodded.
“That's what I thought.””
He picked up the business registration form.
“Denise, I want to know when you intend to leave.””
Denise stared at him.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
“Richard, this is my home too.””
“Yes.””
He looked around the living room.
The photographs.
The furniture.
The family calendar hanging beside the kitchen.
Everything they had built together.
“It's your home too,” he repeated.
“But I need to know whether you're still interested in being married to me.””
Denise lowered her head.
“I don't know.””
Richard nodded.
“Then perhaps you should find out.””
That evening, Maya returned from Marcus's house with a smile Richard hadn't seen in years.
She came downstairs holding a set of keys.
“Look.””
Richard was sitting in the living room.
He glanced at the keys.
“What are those?””
“House keys.””
She held them up proudly.
“Dad gave me my own set.””
Richard returned his attention to the television.
“Congratulations.””
Maya frowned.
“Can you at least pretend to be happy?””
He switched off the television.
“Are you happy?””
“Yes.””
“Good.””
She sat on the sofa.
“The house is amazing. Four bedrooms, a big kitchen, a backyard, and a swimming pool.””
Richard nodded.
“Sounds nice.””
“Dad says I can have the upstairs bedroom.””
“That's generous.””
“And Mom's going to decorate it.””
Richard looked at her.
“Have you asked where the money came from?””
Maya's expression changed.
“Here we go again.””
“I'm asking a simple question.””
“Dad has investments.””
“Your mother gave him twelve thousand dollars.””
“He'll pay her back.””
“And he tried to take control of the education account.””
Maya stood.
“Because he wants to help me!””
Richard looked up at her.
“Why does helping you require forging my signature?””
Maya's face went pale.
Then she looked away.
“Dad said you would never understand.””
Richard slowly stood.
“Did he tell you that signing your name on a document you didn't understand could have consequences?””
Maya's jaw tightened.
“I'm eighteen. I can make my own decisions.””
“Yes, you can.””
“Then stop treating me like a child.””
Richard nodded.
“All right.””
He walked toward the staircase.
But Maya followed him.
“Wait. I still need the rest of the graduation money.””
Richard stopped.
“Which money?””
“The money you promised.””
“I promised to help with college expenses. I never promised to finance a luxury trip.””
Maya's face turned red.
“You're changing the agreement!””
“No. I'm reviewing my finances after discovering that money intended for your education was transferred without my permission.””
She stared at him.
“So you're punishing me?””
“I'm protecting what I saved.””
Maya threw her hands up.
“You're unbelievable!””
Richard continued upstairs.
Behind him, she shouted:
“Marcus is my father! At least he wants me!””
Richard stopped at the top of the staircase.
He didn't turn around.
Then he said something Maya would remember long after the argument ended.
“Wanting you is easy, sweetheart. Showing up for you is the hard part.””
He walked into his bedroom.
Later that night, Richard sat at his desk.
He opened the bottom drawer and removed a thick folder.
It contained documents he hadn't looked at in years.
His marriage certificate.
Maya's adoption paperwork.
A collection of medical bills.
And an old letter from Marcus.
Richard had kept it because he had never known what else to do with it.
The letter had arrived shortly after Maya's second birthday.
Marcus had written that he wasn't ready to be a father.
He had asked Denise not to contact him again unless there was an emergency.
Richard remembered reading it.
He remembered Denise crying.
He remembered promising her that Maya would never grow up feeling unwanted.
He had meant every word.
Now he placed the letter beside the business registration papers.
He opened his laptop and began searching for the company.
Harrison Family Holdings had been registered six months earlier.
Its mailing address was a commercial office building.
Its directors were Marcus Harrison and Denise Hayes.
But something else caught Richard's attention.
A recent property filing.
The house Maya had visited was registered under the company's name.
Richard clicked the document.
The property had been purchased for $410,000.
A mortgage had been recorded.
The down payment was listed as $46,000.
Richard stared at the amount.
Forty-six thousand dollars.
Exactly what had been in Maya's education account.
He printed the document.
Then he checked the purchase date.
Three weeks earlier.
Before Maya's graduation.
Before the photograph.
Before Marcus had stood in the courtyard pretending to be the father who had always been there.
Richard leaned back.
He was beginning to understand.
The graduation humiliation hadn't been an isolated incident.
It had been part of something much larger.
And he had been the only person in the house who didn't know.
His phone buzzed.
An unknown number.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A woman's voice came through.
“Mr. Hayes? My name is Laura Bennett. I'm a property attorney.””
Richard frowned.
“Yes?””
“I represent the previous owner of the house purchased by Harrison Family Holdings.””
Richard sat upright.
“What does this have to do with me?””
There was a pause.
“Your name appears in some of the financial records.””
Richard felt his pulse quicken.
“What records?””
“The seller has raised concerns about the source of the down payment.””
Richard looked at the bank documents scattered across his desk.
Laura continued.
“Mr. Hayes, I think you need to see something before your wife and Marcus complete their next transaction.””
Richard gripped the phone.
“What transaction?””
“A second property purchase.””
May you like
Then she said:
“And according to the paperwork, your signature has already been submitted.””
