Chapter 6: They Had Chosen My Daughter as Their Weapon
I looked at the photograph of Emily.
It had been taken outside her university campus two weeks earlier.
She was walking toward her car, carrying a backpack and talking on her phone.
Someone had circled her face in red ink.
“What is this?”” I asked.
Brianna gripped the folder.
“It's nothing.””
“Then give it to me.””
She stepped back.
Vanessa moved between us.
“Marcus, don't scare her.””
I stared at my wife.
“Why is our daughter being photographed?””
“She's not your only daughter, Marcus. Stop acting like everything revolves around Emily.””
“Then explain the photograph.””
Vanessa snatched the folder from Brianna.
“It's a family matter.””
I took a step forward.
“Give it to me.””
Daniel reached for Vanessa's arm.
“Vanessa, stop. He needs to see it.””
She jerked away.
“You've already done enough damage!””
I looked at Daniel.
“What is happening?””
He took a breath.
“Richard wanted leverage.””
“Leverage over Emily?””
Daniel nodded.
“He knew Emily was the person you trusted most. He believed that if he could create a situation where she appeared financially connected to the company transfers, you would be forced to cooperate.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“What situation?””
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
She remained silent.
Then Brianna spoke.
“They wanted Emily's name on the account.””
I turned toward her.
“What account?””
“The account where the money was going.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Tell me she's lying.””
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“It's complicated.””
“No. It's actually very simple. Someone is trying to put my daughter's name on fraudulent transactions.””
“Emily is eighteen. She's old enough to understand business.””
“She's a student!””
“And Brianna deserves the same opportunities!””
I stared at my wife.
“What does that have to do with Emily?””
Vanessa's voice rose.
“Everything you give Emily makes Brianna feel like she doesn't matter.””
I looked at the folder in her hand.
“So your solution was to drag Emily into a financial crime?””
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
“Don't use dramatic words.””
Daniel finally interrupted.
“Vanessa, tell him about the second application.””
She glared at him.
“Shut up.””
“Tell him.””
I turned toward Daniel.
“What second application?””
He removed his phone and opened an email.
“Richard prepared a business credit application using Emily's personal information. The idea was to make it look as though she had agreed to become a guarantor on a company loan.””
My blood ran cold.
“Did Emily sign it?””
“No.””
“Did she know?””
“I don't think so.””
I immediately called Emily.
She answered after two rings.
“Hey, Dad. Everything okay?””
“Where are you?””
“I'm at the library. Why?””
“Listen carefully. Has anyone asked you to sign business documents or provide your Social Security number recently?””
A pause.
“Actually, Brianna asked me for a photograph of my driver's license last month.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why?””
“She said Mom needed it for some insurance paperwork. I sent her a picture.””
I looked at Brianna.
She lowered her head.
“Emily, did you send anything else?””
“My Social Security card too. Why?””
“Don't worry. I just need you to come home tonight. And don't send anyone any more personal information.””
“Dad, what's going on?””
“I'll explain when I see you.””
After hanging up, I turned toward Vanessa.
“You used Emily's documents?””
Vanessa shrugged.
“She was helping her sister.””
“She didn't know what she was helping with!””
“Marcus, you're making this sound criminal.””
I placed both hands on the kitchen counter.
“Because it is.””
Vanessa suddenly started crying.
It wasn't the quiet crying I'd seen when her mother died.
It was loud, angry, almost theatrical.
“You've never loved Brianna the way you love Emily,” she said.
“You always make her feel second best.””
I stared at her.
“Did you ever consider that Brianna might have felt loved if you hadn't taught her to measure love by the price of a car?””
Her crying stopped.
For a moment, her face looked almost unfamiliar.
Then she spoke quietly.
“You want to know the truth, Marcus?””
I waited.
“I was tired of asking you for permission.””
“Permission for what?””
“To have the life I wanted.””
“You had a home. You had security. You had a family.””
“I had to watch you give Emily everything while Brianna had to wait for leftovers.””
I glanced toward the staircase.
“The Highlander cost forty-five thousand dollars.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“That's not the point.””
“Then what is the point?””
She looked straight at me.
“I wanted Brianna to have the Mercedes because I knew you would never give her one willingly.””
I laughed in disbelief.
“So you planned to take Emily's car?””
“Emily could have had another one.””
“With whose money?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
I looked at Daniel.
“And the Range Rover?””
He swallowed.
“Richard was supposed to sell it after the financing cleared. The proceeds would help cover the apartment and the first few months of expenses.””
“Expenses for whom?””
Daniel glanced at Vanessa.
She said nothing.
Then Brianna interrupted.
“Richard said we were going to live together.””
I turned toward her.
“We?””
“Me, Mom, and Richard.””
“And what about me?””
She looked uncomfortable.
“You weren't part of the plan.””
The words landed harder than I expected.
I had known she wasn't my biological daughter.
But I'd never imagined she would say it so casually.
I looked at Vanessa.
“You were planning to leave with Brianna?””
Vanessa lifted her chin.
“Yes.””
“And Daniel?””
“He was helping us.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Not anymore.””
Vanessa laughed.
“You think you can just walk away? You're involved in this too.””
Daniel looked down.
I knew he was.
He had helped prepare the paperwork. He had allowed his position in my company to be used. His confession didn't erase his responsibility.
But something else caught my attention.
“Where is Richard now?”” I asked.
Vanessa looked at her phone.
“None of your business.””
I reached for my own phone.
“I've already spoken to my attorney. The bank has been notified, and every document in that folder is being preserved.””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“You did what?””
“I'm protecting my company.””
She grabbed her handbag.
“You can't do this to me!””
“I didn't create this situation.””
She started toward the door.
Then Brianna spoke.
“Mom, what about the envelope?””
Vanessa stopped.
“What envelope?””
Brianna looked terrified.
“The one Richard gave you. The one you said Marcus had to sign before Friday.””
I stared at my wife.
“What envelope?””
Vanessa turned toward Brianna.
“Go upstairs. Now.””
But Brianna didn't move.
Instead, she reached into her folder and pulled out a sealed white envelope.
She placed it on the kitchen counter.
“I found it in Mom's car,” she whispered.
“I didn't know what it meant.””
I opened it.
Inside was a document titled Voluntary Executive Transfer and Personal Guarantee Agreement.
The first page contained my name.
The second page contained my business registration details.
But the third page made my heart stop.
It was an authorization allowing Richard Lawson to assume temporary control of my company's financial accounts in the event that I became medically incapacitated or legally declared unable to manage my affairs.
There was a handwritten note attached.
*Get Marcus to sign before the medical appointment. If he refuses, we proceed with the alternative.*
I looked up.
“What medical appointment?””
Vanessa said nothing.
Brianna began trembling.
Then my phone rang.
The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
A man's voice came through.
“Mr. Williams? My name is Dr.
Harris. I'm calling from Northside Medical Center. We received a request to schedule an assessment under your name.””
I frowned.
“What kind of assessment?””
“An evaluation concerning your recent memory problems and possible cognitive impairment.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She had gone completely still.
The doctor continued.
“Your wife informed us that you've been experiencing episodes of confusion, financial irresponsibility, and difficulty recognizing familiar people.””
I couldn't breathe.
I had never visited that hospital.
I had never requested an assessment.
And I had never told anyone I was losing my memory.
“Doctor,” I said carefully, “who submitted that request?””
He checked his records.
“Your wife, Mrs. Vanessa Williams.””
I looked directly at her.
Then the doctor added one final detail.
“There's something else, Mr. Williams. The request includes a signed statement from your daughter, Brianna, confirming several of these incidents.””
I turned toward the seventeen-year-old girl standing beside the staircase.
She began crying.
May you like
And then she whispered five words.
“Mom said you'd be better off dead.””
