Chapter 8: The House Was Never Theirs
Maya stared at Ethan's message.
The photograph showed a property sale agreement.
The house.
The same house where Marcus had promised her a bedroom, a swimming pool, and a fresh start.
The buyer's name was unfamiliar.
The sale price was $465,000.
But what caught her attention was the date.
The agreement had been signed two months earlier.
Before Marcus had even told her about the property.
Before Denise had transferred the money.
Before graduation.
Maya looked up.
Marcus was still standing across the kitchen island.
“Who was that?””
She locked her phone.
“Ethan.””
Marcus's face hardened.
“What did he send you?””
“Nothing.””
“Show me.””
“No.””
For a second, Marcus looked genuinely shocked.
Then he laughed.
“Don't start behaving like Richard.””
Maya picked up her handbag.
“I need to go.””
Marcus stepped in front of her.
“Sit down.””
“I said I need to go.””
He lowered his voice.
“Maya, I have done everything for you.””
She looked at him.
“Have you?””
His jaw tightened.
“I came back into your life. I gave you opportunities. I made plans for your future.””
“You sold the house?””
Marcus went still.
Maya held up her phone.
“Ethan sent me the agreement.””
Marcus stared at her.
Then he sighed.
“It's a temporary arrangement.””
“Why did you sell it?””
“Because the business needs liquidity.””
“What does that mean?””
“It means the company needs cash.””
Maya's voice trembled.
“Did you use Mom's money to buy a house you were already planning to sell?””
Marcus rubbed his face.
“It's not that simple.””
“Did you?””
He looked away.
Maya felt something cold settle inside her.
She had spent months telling herself that Marcus had returned because he loved her.
Now she was beginning to understand that he might have returned because she was useful.
“Why did you come back?”” she whispered.
Marcus looked at her.
“Because you're my daughter.””
“Then why does everything have a price?””
He slammed his palm against the counter.
“Enough!””
Maya flinched.
Marcus immediately softened his voice.
“Sweetheart, listen. I can explain everything. We just need to get through this week.””
“What happens this week?””
“The bank transfer.””
“What bank transfer?””
Marcus stared at her.
Then his phone rang.
He answered it and turned away.
“I'm listening.””
A man's voice came through.
Maya couldn't hear every word.
But she heard Marcus say:
“No, the daughter will sign. I already have her consent.””
Maya froze.
He was talking about her.
Marcus continued.
“Once her name is on the agreement, Richard won't be able to interfere.””
Maya felt her throat tighten.
She slowly stepped backward.
Marcus turned.
“Where are you going?””
“Home.””
He shook his head.
“This is your home.””
“No,” Maya whispered.
“I don't think it ever was.””
She walked out.
Ethan was waiting in a coffee shop two streets away.
He stood when Maya entered.
“You came.””
Maya sat opposite him.
“Show me everything.””
Ethan placed a folder on the table.
Inside were copies of the property sale agreement, bank statements, and messages.
Maya read them one by one.
The first document showed that Marcus had listed the property for sale before the down payment had been completed.
The second showed a payment to Vanessa.
The third contained an email between Marcus and a private lender.
Once the Hayes family funds are consolidated, we can use the property as temporary collateral.
Maya looked up.
“What are the Hayes family funds?””
Ethan pointed to the account statement.
“Your stepfather's savings.””
She shook her head.
“Richard isn't my stepfather.””
Ethan looked at her.
“Maybe not to you.””
Maya stared at him.
He continued.
“He paid for the house you grew up in. He paid for your school. He saved money for your college.””
“I know.””
“Do you?””
Maya lowered her eyes.
Ethan leaned forward.
“My dad told me Richard was a wealthy man who wanted to control everything. He said Richard had more money than he knew what to do with.””
Maya swallowed.
“That's not true.””
“I know that now.””
Ethan turned another page.
“Look at this.””
It was a handwritten note.
Marcus's handwriting was unmistakable.
Denise will transfer the education fund. Maya will sign the consent form. Richard's signature can be handled through the old financial records. Once everything is moved, we can sell the property and settle the private debt.
Maya read it twice.
Then she covered her mouth.
“He planned this?””
Ethan nodded.
“I think so.””
“Why?””
Ethan hesitated.
“Because Dad owes people money.””
Maya looked up.
“How much?””
Ethan pushed another statement toward her.
The outstanding amount was $237,000.
Maya felt dizzy.
“Who does he owe?””
“Private lenders. Business partners. Some people my mom doesn't know.””
Maya stared at the number.
Then she looked at Ethan.
“Does your mom know about all this?””
“She knows now.””
“Why didn't she tell Denise?””
“She tried. Dad told her Denise was part of the plan.””
Maya closed the folder.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then she whispered:
“I called Richard a fake father.””
Ethan looked down.
“I know.””
“I pushed him out of my graduation picture.””
“I saw the photograph.””
Maya began crying.
“He raised me.””
Ethan nodded.
“Then you should probably tell him that.””
Richard was at Laura's office when Maya arrived.
She stood in the doorway, clutching the folder.
“Can I talk to you?””
Richard looked up.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then he closed the document in front of him.
“Come in.””
Maya sat down.
She placed the folder on the desk.
“I found something.””
Richard looked at the documents.
“Where did you get these?””
“Ethan.””
Richard opened the folder.
His expression changed as he read.
Laura leaned forward.
“Mr. Hayes, these are important.””
Richard turned to Maya.
“Did Marcus ask you to sign anything?””
She nodded.
“A loan guarantee.””
“Did you sign?””
“No.””
Richard exhaled.
“Good.””
Maya stared at her hands.
“I'm sorry.””
Richard looked at her.
She continued.
“I'm sorry about graduation. I'm sorry about what I said. I'm sorry I let him convince me that you didn't care about me.””
Richard remained silent.
Maya's eyes filled.
“I know saying sorry doesn't change what happened.””
“No,” he said quietly.
“It doesn't.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
Richard closed the folder.
Then he asked:
“Why did you come here?””
Maya looked up.
“Because I don't want to lose the only person who actually showed up for me.””
Richard looked away.
His eyes were wet.
Laura quietly gathered her papers.
“I'll give you two a moment.””
She stepped outside.
Richard sat back.
“Maya, I never wanted you to choose between me and Marcus.””
“I know.””
“I never wanted to replace him.””
“I know.””
“I just wanted to be part of your life.””
Maya began crying.
“You were.””
Richard looked at her.
“Then why did you treat me like I wasn't?””
She couldn't answer.
After a while, he stood and walked to the window.
Maya wiped her cheeks.
“Can I ask you something?””
“Go ahead.””
“Did you ever regret raising me?””
Richard turned around immediately.
“No.””
“Not even yesterday?””
He looked at her for a long time.
“Yesterday, I regretted believing that loving you meant I should accept being hurt without saying anything.””
Maya lowered her head.
Richard continued.
“But I never regretted you.””
She covered her face.
For several minutes, they sat together in silence.
Then Laura returned.
“I'm sorry to interrupt. But there's an urgent development.””
Richard turned.
“What happened?””
Laura placed her phone on the desk.
“The buyer has advanced the sale of the property. Marcus is trying to complete the transaction tomorrow.””
Maya looked up.
“Tomorrow?””
Laura nodded.
“And there's another problem. The buyer has been told that the house is free of all disputed financial interests.””
Richard stared at her.
“But it isn't.””
“Correct.””
Laura took a breath.
“Mr. Hayes, if we don't act immediately, the sale could create a much larger legal dispute.””
Richard looked at Maya.
Then at the documents.
He knew what he needed to do.
But before he could answer, his phone rang.
It was Denise.
He answered.
“Hello?””
Her voice was shaking.
“Richard, you need to come to the house.””
“What happened?””
“Marcus is here.””
Richard stood.
“Why?””
Denise began crying.
“Because he says he's taking Maya with him.””
Richard's face hardened.
“Put him on the phone.””
A moment later, Marcus spoke.
“Richard, we need to settle this like men.””
Richard looked at Laura.
Then he said:
“I'm on my way.””
When Richard arrived, Marcus was standing in the living room with two suitcases.
Denise was near the staircase.
Maya walked in behind Richard.
Marcus looked at her.
“Sweetheart, you're coming home.””
Maya shook her head.
“No.””
Marcus frowned.
“What?””
“I'm not going anywhere with you.””
His expression darkened.
“You don't understand what's happening.””
“I understand enough.””
Marcus pointed at Richard.
“This man has turned you against your own father.””
Maya stepped forward.
“No. You did that yourself.””
Marcus looked at Denise.
“You're letting this happen?””
Denise wiped her face.
“Marcus, tell me the truth. Did you ever intend to build a future with me?””
He stared at her.
“Of course.””
“Then why did you sell the house?””
Silence.
Richard watched Marcus's face.
For the first time, the confident businessman looked trapped.
Then he smiled.
A small, cold smile.
“Because the house was never the important part.””
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded document.
He placed it on the table.
“What's important is this.””
Richard looked down.
It was a signed agreement.
And beneath the signatures were the words:
May you like
*IRREVOCABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY.*
The name of the person who had granted Marcus control over the financial assets was Denise Hayes.
