Chapter 8: The Man Inside My House
I drove home with Vanessa beside me and Daniel following in his SUV.
My hands were shaking so badly that I had to grip the steering wheel with both hands.
When we turned onto my street, I noticed something strange.
Trevor's black Mercedes was parked outside.
His mother's white SUV was behind it.
And the front door of my house was wide open.
I stopped the car.
“Stay here,” Vanessa said.
“No.””
“Corinne, we don't know who's inside.””
“June is inside.””
I got out before she could stop me.
“Mrs. Parker!””
My voice echoed through the hallway.
A moment later, Mrs. Parker appeared at the top of the stairs holding June.
“Corinne!””
I rushed toward them.
“Are you both okay?””
She nodded, but her face was pale.
“Trevor came home about twenty minutes ago. He said he needed to take June to see his mother.””
I took my daughter into my arms.
“Did you let him?””
“No. You told me not to.””
I kissed June's forehead.
“Thank you.””
Trevor appeared from the kitchen.
His expression hardened when he saw Vanessa.
“I specifically told you not to bring her here.””
I turned.
“Why are you trying to take June out of the country?””
He stared at me.
“What?””
“Don't pretend you don't understand.””
Darlene walked out behind him.
“Corinne, this is becoming ridiculous. Trevor is her father. He has every right to take his daughter wherever he wants.””
“Not without my permission.””
Trevor stepped closer.
“You've been filling your head with lies.””
“Then explain the travel arrangements.””
He said nothing.
Vanessa held up the printed email.
“Would you like to explain this too?””
Trevor snatched the paper.
His eyes moved across the page.
For the first time, he looked genuinely frightened.
Darlene immediately stepped between us.
“Give that to me.””
Vanessa pulled it away.
“No.””
Darlene's voice rose.
“You ungrateful little liar! After everything we've done for this family!””
I stared at her.
“What exactly have you done for my family?””
She pointed at June.
“I helped bring that child into this world!””
“You weren't in the delivery room.””
“I paid for the hospital!””
“My father paid for the hospital.””
Her mouth snapped shut.
Trevor grabbed my wrist.
“That's enough. We need to talk privately.””
I pulled away.
“Don't touch me.””
He looked around, noticing Mrs. Parker standing on the stairs.
“Everyone out. This is my house.””
I almost laughed.
“Your house?””
He pointed toward the front door.
“Get out, Vanessa.””
Daniel stepped inside.
“Actually, Mr. Bascombe, this property is held by a trust.””
Trevor froze.
Daniel continued.
“The deed is registered under Bascombe Family Holdings. You have no independent ownership interest.””
Darlene looked at Trevor.
“You told me you owned this house!””
Trevor ignored her.
He turned toward me.
“Corinne, we can fix this. Whatever Ellis told you, we can work it out.””
I stared at him.
“Work out what? The stolen money? The fake signature?
The six-million-dollar loan? Or the fact that you planned to take our daughter?””
His voice softened.
“I was angry. I made mistakes.””
“You froze my cards.””
“I was trying to teach you responsibility.””
“You refused to pay for your daughter's formula.””
“That's not what happened.””
I held June closer.
“You told me to figure it out myself.””
Trevor looked toward the ceiling, as if searching for patience.
Then he lowered his voice.
“Listen carefully. The company is in trouble. If those loans are called in, hundreds of families will suffer. You don't want that on your conscience.””
I looked at him.
“Then tell the truth.””
His expression changed.
“You don't understand what you're asking.””
“Try me.””
He stepped closer.
“Your father wasn't the innocent businessman you think he was.””
Vanessa went still.
“What did you say?””
Trevor laughed bitterly.
“Ask your sister why Dad needed her to disappear. Ask her what she was doing with the company accounts before she supposedly died.””
Vanessa's face turned white.
I looked at her.
“Is there something you're not telling me?””
She didn't answer.
Trevor smiled.
“There it is. You think you're the only person with secrets, Corinne? Your sister has been lying to you since the day she came back.””
Then he pulled a folded document from his jacket.
It was a temporary guardianship petition.
My name appeared at the top.
June's name appeared beneath it.
And the signature at the bottom looked exactly like mine.
I stared at the page.
“What is this?””
Trevor's smile returned.
“Something your sister should have warned you about.””
Daniel took the document from him.
His expression changed as he read the final paragraph.
“Mr. Bascombe,” he said quietly, “where did you obtain this?””
Trevor shrugged.
“From the family attorney.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Corinne, this petition claims you've voluntarily surrendered temporary custody of June.””
My legs felt weak.
“I never signed that.””
Trevor leaned closer.
“Maybe you should ask your sister whose signature that really is.””
Vanessa suddenly whispered, “Samuel.””
I turned.
“What?””
She looked at the document again.
“That's not just my father's handwriting. That's Samuel Reed's witness certification.””
And then my phone rang.
The caller was Ellis.
“Mrs. Bascombe,” he said urgently, “we've located the original will.””
I closed my eyes.
“Finally.””
May you like
His next words made my blood run cold.
“There's a clause concerning June. And according to that clause, your husband may already have a legal claim against the inheritance.””
