Chapter 11: The Deal Between My Mother and My Sister-in-Law
Daniel stared at Claire.
"Half of what?""
Claire looked toward Margaret.
My mother immediately shook her head.
"Don't listen to her. She's trying to save herself.""
Claire laughed bitterly.
"You're the one who promised me everything!""
"Claire, shut your mouth.""
"No!""
Her voice echoed across the private dining room.
For seven months, Claire had controlled every conversation about her supposed pregnancy. She had cried whenever Daniel questioned her, blamed Sophie whenever the truth threatened to emerge, and used my mother's authority to silence anyone who challenged her.
Now she looked like someone who had finally run out of places to hide.
Daniel approached her.
"Explain the company.""
Claire wiped her cheeks.
"Margaret created Northbridge Holdings because she wanted to move the building out of the trust.""
James interrupted.
"That's not how the law works.""
Claire nodded.
"I know that now.""
"Who signed the documents?""
Claire hesitated.
"Both of us.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why would you do that?""
She looked at me.
"Because your mother promised me the money.""
"What money?""
"Three hundred thousand dollars.""
Daniel looked stunned.
"Three hundred thousand?""
Claire nodded.
"She said the building was worth more than six hundred thousand. She told me we'd borrow against it, sell it later, and divide the profits.""
I stared at her.
"You were going to take my father's building?""
Claire looked down.
"I didn't think it was yours anymore.""
"Why?""
"Margaret told me your father had left it to the family, not to you.""
I turned toward my mother.
She didn't deny it.
Daniel looked disgusted.
"So the fake pregnancy was part of this arrangement?""
Claire shook her head.
"No. The pregnancy was separate.""
"Then why did you need the money?""
Claire hesitated.
"Because I had debts.""
"What debts?""
She glanced at my mother.
Margaret interrupted.
"That's enough.""
But James had already noticed something.
"Mrs. Claire Wilson, were you aware that the loan against the property was obtained using financial documents that identified Emily as the beneficial owner?""
Claire nodded reluctantly.
"Yes.""
Daniel took a step backward.
"You knew?""
"I was told it was temporary.""
"Temporary?""
"Margaret said Emily would never challenge it because she trusted her.""
I felt sick.
My own mother had used my trust as a financial strategy.
And Claire had helped.
James opened his folder.
"There's a more serious issue. The bank's records show that the loan application included a document purporting to contain Emily's authorization.""
I shook my head.
"I never signed anything.""
James nodded.
"That will need to be examined.""
Margaret suddenly became aggressive.
"You're making this sound criminal. This is a family matter.""
James closed his folder.
"Financial transactions don't become exempt from scrutiny because the people involved are related.""
Daniel looked at his mother.
"Did you forge Emily's signature?""
Margaret looked away.
That was enough.
He turned toward Claire.
"And you helped her?""
Claire began crying.
"I was desperate.""
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"You were desperate to have a child, so you lied about being pregnant. You were desperate for money, so you helped steal from my sister. What exactly were you desperate enough to do next?""
Claire covered her face.
"I wanted a family.""
Daniel's expression softened for half a second.
Then he looked at Noah.
"You had an opportunity to build one honestly.""
Rachel stepped closer.
"Daniel, I think there's something you should know about Claire's visits.""
Claire immediately looked up.
"Don't.""
Rachel continued.
"During my pregnancy, Claire asked me several times whether the baby had any relatives who might challenge the adoption.""
Daniel frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"She wanted to know whether my parents, siblings, or anyone else could ask for contact with Noah.""
Rachel adjusted the baby in her arms.
"I told her I had a sister, but she lived in another state and had no involvement.""
Claire looked at her.
"That's not what you told me.""
Rachel's face tightened.
"What are you talking about?""
Claire hesitated.
"You told me your sister had a child.""
Rachel went pale.
"Yes. My nephew.""
Claire looked toward Daniel.
"That's the reason I became worried.""
Rachel stepped forward.
"Why?""
Claire's voice dropped.
"Because Margaret told me the baby might have a hereditary medical condition.""
Rachel shook her head.
"My nephew is perfectly healthy.""
Claire stared at her.
"Then why did you tell me he had been hospitalized?""
"I never said that!""
Daniel looked between them.
"Claire, did you reject the adoption because you thought Noah might have a medical problem?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
Rachel looked furious.
"You kept asking me for medical records. You wanted to know everything about my family.""
Claire finally admitted that she had become frightened after Margaret told her that the birth mother's family might have health issues.
She had begun questioning whether she wanted to adopt Noah.
But instead of telling Daniel, she had continued pretending to be pregnant.
Rachel held her son closer.
"You could have asked me. I would have given you every medical record I had.""
Claire started sobbing.
"I was afraid.""
Daniel's voice was cold.
"You're always afraid when the truth is about to come out.""
Then he looked at James.
"Can we stop the loan?""
James nodded.
"We can request an immediate freeze and challenge the transfer. But I need the original documents.""
Robert spoke through the phone.
"I have them. I'll bring everything to the attorney's office tomorrow morning.""
Margaret suddenly shouted.
"You can't do this to me!""
Robert answered calmly.
"You did it to yourself.""
My mother grabbed her handbag.
Then she looked directly at me.
"Emily, if you allow this investigation to continue, you will destroy what's left of this family.""
I stared at her.
"You destroyed it when you stole from Dad's trust.""
She shook her head.
"You have no idea what your father wanted.""
"Then why did you hide his letter?""
Her expression changed.
For several seconds, she looked almost frightened.
Then she whispered:
"Because he knew about the money I borrowed before he died.""
James looked up.
"What money?""
Margaret pressed her lips together.
Daniel stared at her.
"Mom, what did you borrow?""
She didn't answer.
But Claire suddenly spoke.
"The original loan wasn't three hundred thousand.""
Everyone turned toward her.
She swallowed.
"It was closer to a million.""
James slowly stood.
"Excuse me?""
Claire nodded.
"Margaret told me the additional money was secured against another property.""
I looked at my mother.
"What other property?""
May you like
She lowered her eyes.
And then, for the first time, I realized that the building in Fort Worth might not be the only thing my father had left behind.
