Chapter 8: Daniel's Real Reason
Marcus didn't move.
Neither did I.
The original deed lay inside the cabinet between us, its embossed seal catching the afternoon light. Evelyn's letter trembled in my hand.
Marcus glanced at it.
"Lauren, give me that.""
"No.""
He stepped into the library and shut the door behind him.
"Whatever you think you've found, you don't understand the situation.""
I backed toward the desk.
"That's what you said about the forged loan application.""
"Because you keep making accusations without understanding the facts.""
"Then explain the facts.""
He looked toward the cabinet again.
"That document belongs to the estate.""
"Evelyn left it here.""
"She was confused toward the end.""
I felt a chill run through me.
"You told me you barely knew her.""
"I didn't.""
"Then how do you know what condition she was in?""
His mouth tightened.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he tried a different approach.
"Lauren, I know you're angry about Brianna. I deserve that. But this is bigger than our relationship, and you could destroy everything by handing documents to people who don't understand what they're looking at.""
"Everything?""
"My company. My employees. Our financial future.""
I stared at him.
"You mean your future.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Don't be cruel.""
I almost laughed.
He had brought another woman into our pool, married her behind my back, forged my signature, and arranged to sell my home.
Yet somehow, I was the cruel one.
"How did you know Evelyn?"" I asked.
Marcus looked at the floor.
"Through business.""
"What business?""
"Property acquisitions.""
"Did you know she intended to leave me this house?""
His eyes lifted.
That was all the answer I needed.
I felt the room grow cold.
"You knew.""
"Not at first.""
"When?""
He exhaled.
"Before we bought the house.""
I gripped the desk.
"Before we bought the house?""
"Lauren, listen—"
"How did you find out?""
He took a step toward me.
"I had access to certain records through a business associate. Evelyn's estate plans weren't public, but there were indications she intended to make a significant transfer.""
"To me.""
"Yes.""
"And you started dating me because of it?""
"No.""
The answer came too quickly.
"Then why did you?""
He looked at me with an expression I once would have mistaken for heartbreak.
"Because I loved you.""
I held up Evelyn's letter.
"She says Daniel knows why you came into my life.""
Marcus froze.
The change in his face was immediate.
He wasn't simply surprised.
He was terrified.
"Where did you get that?""
"From the envelope beneath the deed.""
"Give it to me.""
"No.""
He lunged.
I stepped sideways, and his hand struck the desk. The impact sent a pen rolling onto the floor.
"Marcus!""
"Do you have any idea what you're holding?""
"Yes. Evidence.""
He stared at me, breathing hard.
Then his expression softened.
"Lauren, please. I made mistakes. Terrible mistakes. But you have to understand that I was under pressure.""
"From whom?""
He glanced toward the door.
"Daniel.""
I shook my head.
"Daniel told me he discovered the irregularities three weeks ago.""
"That's what he wants you to believe.""
"Why would he lie?""
Marcus gave a bitter laugh.
"Because Daniel Hayes isn't the innocent businessman he pretends to be.""
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
Rebecca's name appeared on the screen.
I answered without taking my eyes off Marcus.
"Rebecca, I found the original deed, and Marcus is here.""
"Don't let him remove anything. I'm on my way with a colleague.""
Marcus reached for the document case.
I stepped between him and the cabinet.
"Don't touch it.""
He stared at me.
"You have no idea what you're doing.""
"Then tell me.""
For a moment, I thought he might finally confess.
Instead, he took out his phone and dialed a number.
"Daniel," he said when the call connected.
"We have a problem.""
He listened for several seconds.
Then his face hardened.
"No. She found the original.""
I felt my blood turn cold.
Marcus looked directly at me.
"Yes, the original deed.""
He listened again.
Then he said something that made me understand Evelyn's warning in an entirely new way.
"She found the letter too.""
He ended the call.
I stared at him.
"You called Daniel?""
Marcus slipped his phone into his pocket.
"You should leave this alone, Lauren.""
"Why?""
"Because the person you're trusting is the person who put you in danger.""
He walked past me and left the library.
I heard the front door slam.
For several seconds, I stood frozen beside the cabinet.
Then Rebecca arrived with another attorney and a document specialist. They photographed the original deed, documented its location, and arranged for the materials to be secured while the ownership dispute was investigated.
When I showed Rebecca Evelyn's letter, she read it twice.
"We need to speak with Daniel," she said.
"I don't know if I can trust him.""
"You don't have to trust him. You need to establish what he knows.""
That evening, I met Daniel at a quiet restaurant near his office. Rebecca joined us, bringing copies of the documents we had recovered.
Daniel looked exhausted.
When I placed Evelyn's letter on the table, he stared at it for a long time.
"She wrote that?"" he asked.
"Yes.""
He rubbed his jaw.
"Then I owe you the truth.""
Rebecca folded her hands.
"Start at the beginning.""
Daniel took a slow breath.
"Six years ago, my company was approached by a property investment group. They wanted financing for several acquisitions around Atlanta. Marcus was involved in the negotiations, though he wasn't the principal investor.""
"Who was?"" I asked.
Daniel hesitated.
"A company controlled by my father.""
I frowned.
"Your father?""
"Arthur Hayes. He built the original investment firm before I took over its operations.""
Daniel explained that the company had explored acquiring several older properties, including Evelyn's mansion. But when Evelyn rejected the proposal, the deal was abandoned.
Or so Daniel had believed.
"Years later," he continued, "I discovered that Marcus had maintained contact with one of the original brokers. That broker had been attempting to acquire the property through a series of private transactions.""
"Gregory Shaw," I said.
Daniel's eyes widened.
"You've seen his name?""
"Patricia Cole showed me his business card.""
Daniel leaned back.
"Then Evelyn was right to be concerned.""
Rebecca tapped the table.
"What does any of this have to do with Lauren?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Marcus met you shortly after my father received information suggesting that Evelyn had selected a potential beneficiary.""
My throat tightened.
"Me.""
"Yes.""
"Did you know?""
"No. I didn't learn about your connection to Evelyn until I began investigating the forged loan documents.""
"Then why did Evelyn write that you knew why Marcus came into my life?""
Daniel looked away.
"Because my father may have told Marcus about you before you ever met him.""
The restaurant noise seemed to fade around us.
I stared at Daniel.
"Your father knew about me?""
"He knew your name and your work. He had been following the dispute surrounding that redevelopment project you worked on. Marcus was involved with one of the companies that had tried to buy those properties.""
I remembered the angry letters, the aggressive offers, and the homeowners who had been pressured to sell.
My stomach twisted.
"Marcus knew I had helped those homeowners.""
"Yes.""
"And then he approached me at the charity gala.""
Daniel nodded slowly.
Rebecca's expression hardened.
"We need evidence that establishes motive, not just coincidence.""
Daniel reached into his briefcase.
"I have something that may help.""
He placed a photocopy of an old email on the table.
The sender was Gregory Shaw.
The recipient was Marcus Reed.
The date was five years and two months earlier.
I read the subject line.
*Whitmore Estate—Potential Beneficiary.*
Then I read the first sentence.
I've confirmed that Lauren Mitchell is the woman Evelyn intends to favor. Get close to her before the estate documents become final.
My hands began to shake.
I looked at Daniel.
"Is this authentic?""
"My company recovered it from archived correspondence. My attorneys are verifying the chain of custody.""
I stared at Marcus's name on the screen.
Five years.
Every birthday. Every anniversary. Every promise.
The email suggested that before Marcus ever kissed me, he had already been instructed to get close to me.
But the final paragraph contained something worse.
Do not let her learn about the previous transfer. If Evelyn discovers what happened, the entire arrangement collapses.
I looked up.
"What previous transfer?""
Daniel's expression was grim.
"That's what we're trying to find out.""
My phone vibrated.
An email had arrived from an unfamiliar address.
There was no greeting, no explanation, only an attachment and a short message.
*If you want to know what happened to Evelyn, ask who signed her final medical authorization.*
I opened the attachment.
It was a hospital record.
May you like
The date was four years earlier.
And the name listed as the person authorizing Evelyn Whitmore's final transfer was Marcus Reed.
