Chapter 8: My Wife's Secret Business
I looked at Vanessa.
She was sitting motionless, her hands clasped together.
"How long were you involved with this company?""
She shook her head.
"I wasn't involved.""
Robert turned the laptop toward her.
"Your name appears as a former director. The registration dates back three years.""
Vanessa stared at the screen.
Then she whispered, "Daniel said it was just temporary.""
I felt something break inside me.
"Three years, Vanessa?""
"I never managed the company!""
"Then why were you listed as a director?""
"Daniel needed someone with a clean financial history. He said it was just to help him establish credit.""
Robert interrupted.
"Mrs. Michael, did you sign any personal guarantees?""
Vanessa looked frightened.
"I don't know.""
"Did you authorize Daniel to use your identification?""
"Yes.""
Robert closed his laptop.
"That's something we'll need to investigate.""
I sat down.
Three years.
Vanessa had been married to me for four years.
That meant she'd been helping Daniel establish this business almost from the beginning of our marriage.
All while telling me that she wanted nothing more than a stable family.
I looked at her.
"Did you marry me because of the house?""
She began crying.
"No.""
"Then tell me why Daniel had you listed as a company director.""
"Michael, I loved you.""
"That isn't an answer.""
She looked toward Eleanor.
"I didn't know about the original plan until later.""
Eleanor's expression was cold.
"Which part did you know about? The rent? The forged signature? Or the attempt to remove Ethan?""
Vanessa lowered her head.
I turned away.
Robert recommended that we separate the investigation into the fraudulent loan, the property documents, and the money taken from Ethan.
He also advised us to preserve every message and avoid making direct accusations beyond what we could prove.
Then he asked Vanessa to leave the room so he could speak with me and Ethan privately.
Once she was gone, Robert leaned forward.
"Michael, I need to ask you something important. Has Daniel ever had access to your financial accounts?""
I thought about it.
"Years ago, I gave him access to help organize some investments.""
"Does he still have it?""
"I don't know.""
Robert looked concerned.
"We need to check immediately.""
I opened my banking application.
The first thing I noticed was a notification about a recent login.
It had happened the previous evening.
From a device I didn't recognize.
I checked the security settings.
There was an authorized external account manager.
Daniel's name appeared beside it.
My stomach dropped.
"He still has access.""
Robert immediately instructed me to contact the bank's security department.
I followed his advice.
After verifying my identity, the representative confirmed that Daniel had previously been granted limited financial access.
But the representative found something else.
There had been an attempt to change the mailing address on one of my accounts three days earlier.
The requested address belonged to Daniel's office.
I gripped the phone.
"Was the change approved?""
"No, sir. It was flagged for additional verification.""
I ended the call and told Robert.
He immediately wrote down the details.
"That could be important evidence.""
Ethan had been listening quietly.
"Does that mean Uncle Daniel could take Dad's money?""
Robert answered carefully.
"Not without further authorization, but it means we need to secure every account and review the activity.""
I looked at my son.
"You're never going to have to worry about that again.""
He nodded, but his expression remained troubled.
When we returned home, Vanessa was waiting in the living room.
Madison was beside her.
Both looked exhausted.
Madison stood when she saw us.
"Michael, can I talk to you?""
I stopped.
"About what?""
"About the money.""
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
"Madison, not now.""
But her daughter continued.
"I know you hate me.""
"I don't hate you.""
"You probably should.""
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small notebook.
"I didn't know where all the money was coming from. Mom told me Ethan was paying his share of the household expenses. I thought the rest was coming from her savings.""
I looked at the notebook.
"What is that?""
"Every payment Mom made for me.""
She opened it.
There were dates, amounts, and handwritten notes.
Car payment.
Credit card.
College withdrawal fee.
Laptop.
Apartment deposit.
And several cash withdrawals.
I recognized some of the dates.
They matched Ethan's rent transfers.
Madison looked at him.
"I'm sorry.""
Ethan stared at her.
"You knew I was paying rent.""
"Yes.""
"And you never asked why you didn't have to?""
Madison began crying.
"I thought it was because Mom wanted to help me.""
Ethan shook his head.
"You didn't want to know.""
She couldn't argue.
I turned to her.
"Did you receive the twenty-five thousand dollars from Daniel?""
Her face changed.
"What twenty-five thousand?""
Vanessa stood immediately.
"Madison, don't.""
I looked between them.
"What's going on?""
Madison pulled out her phone.
She opened a message conversation and handed it to me.
The sender was Daniel.
The message read:
Don't tell your mother about the additional transfer. It's part of the arrangement. Once the property closes, you'll have enough money to start over.
There was a reply from Madison.
What about Ethan?
Daniel had answered:
He won't be living there by then.
I stared at the screen.
Then I scrolled upward.
There were messages dating back months.
One from Daniel stood out.
Your mother needs to keep increasing his rent. The sooner he leaves voluntarily, the easier everything becomes.
I looked at Vanessa.
She was trembling.
"You knew this was the plan from the beginning.""
She began shaking her head.
"I didn't know he would actually try to take the house.""
"But you knew he wanted Ethan gone.""
She looked down.
Madison suddenly spoke.
"There's something else.""
She opened a photograph.
It showed a bank transfer confirmation.
The amount was $25,000.
The recipient was Daniel.
The sender was an account I didn't recognize.
Madison looked at me.
"That money didn't come from Mom.""
"Where did it come from?""
She swallowed.
"Uncle Daniel told me it was money from the property deal.""
Then she turned her phone around.
The account holder's name appeared.
It belonged to Patricia.
My wife's best friend.
The woman who had received five thousand dollars to witness a signature she never saw.
And apparently, she had given Daniel another twenty-five thousand dollars.
I felt the room tilt.
Before I could speak, Madison received a new message.
She read it.
Her face went white.
"Mom...""
Vanessa took the phone.
"What?""
Madison whispered, "Daniel says we have until tomorrow morning.""
"Until tomorrow morning for what?"" I demanded.
May you like
She looked at me.
"To leave the house.""
