Chapter 5: The Woman Behind the Photograph
I walked out of the private dining room without looking back.
The restaurant hallway was quiet, except for the soft clatter of dishes coming from the kitchen.
My hands shook as I called the number.
A woman answered on the second ring.
"Sarah?""
"Who is this?""
A short pause.
"Elizabeth.""
I leaned against the wall.
"You're supposed to be dead.""
"I know.""
"Daniel told me you died in a car accident.""
"I never had a car accident.""
My throat tightened.
"Then where have you been?""
"Living in Charlotte. Working. Trying to get my life back.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why are you calling me?""
"Because Daniel is lying to you, and he's lying to me.""
I almost laughed.
"That's something we finally agree on.""
"Sarah, listen carefully. Did he transfer eighty-five thousand dollars?""
I froze.
"How do you know about that?""
"Because he told me the money was coming from an investment account we shared.""
I looked through the restaurant's glass doors.
Daniel was standing inside, arguing with Robert.
"He said the money was yours?""
"No. He said it belonged to his current wife, and that you'd agreed to invest it.""
I pressed my fingers against my forehead.
"Why would you believe him?""
"Because he sent me documents.""
"What documents?""
"An authorization form with your signature. He said you were his financial partner.""
My stomach twisted.
"That signature is forged.""
"I know that now.""
There was a long silence.
Then Elizabeth spoke again.
"Sarah, can we meet?""
"Why?""
"Because I have proof that Daniel has been using both our names.""
I glanced toward the dining room.
Vanessa was standing beside Daniel, whispering into his ear.
"Where?""
"Tomorrow morning. A coffee shop near Centennial Park. I'll send you the address.""
I hesitated.
"How do I know you're not working with him?""
"You don't.""
Her answer surprised me.
"But I lost my house, my savings, and seven years of my life because of that man. I have no reason to protect him anymore.""
I swallowed.
"Fine. Tomorrow.""
When I returned to the private room, Daniel was waiting near the door.
"Who were you talking to?""
"Someone who knows the truth.""
His eyes narrowed.
"Elizabeth?""
I didn't answer.
He stepped closer.
"What did she tell you?""
"That you're lying to both of us.""
He laughed nervously.
"She's manipulating you.""
"Really? Is that why she has a photograph of you standing outside a house you supposedly bought for Vanessa?""
His expression changed.
"Sarah, I can explain the photograph.""
"I don't want another explanation.""
He reached for my hand.
"Please. Let's go home.""
I stepped back.
"I'm not going anywhere with you.""
His voice dropped.
"Don't make a scene.""
I stared at him.
"Your father just exposed financial fraud in front of twenty-two people. I think the scene has already been made.""
Robert approached.
"Sarah, my driver can take you home.""
"Thank you.""
Daniel turned toward him.
"You're taking her side?""
Robert looked exhausted.
"I'm taking the side of the truth.""
Vanessa suddenly appeared behind Daniel.
"Sarah, you're being dramatic. Elizabeth has always been unstable.""
I turned toward her.
"How long have you known she was alive?""
Vanessa looked away.
"Vanessa.""
She sighed.
"Almost a year.""
A year.
I'd spent an entire year believing my husband was a devoted man grieving his first wife.
Meanwhile, his sister knew the truth.
"You sat at my Christmas table," I whispered.
"You accepted my gifts. You watched me cry when Daniel talked about his dead wife.""
Vanessa shrugged.
"He told us not to say anything.""
"Why?""
She glanced at Daniel.
"Because he needed time to settle things.""
"What things?""
She didn't answer.
Robert stepped between us.
"That's enough.""
I left with him.
During the drive, Nashville's streetlights passed across the window like flashes of distant lightning.
Robert sat beside me in the back seat.
"Sarah, there's something I should have told you earlier.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
He took a breath.
"Daniel didn't just ask me to witness that authorization form. He asked me to help him obtain a loan against my house.""
I turned toward him.
"Your house?""
He nodded.
"He said he needed temporary collateral for a development deal. I refused. But afterward, I found a copy of a loan application with my property listed as security.""
"Did you sign it?""
"No.""
He looked down at his hands.
"But someone had written my name on the application.""
I felt a chill.
"Daniel?""
Robert nodded.
"That's when I contacted a lawyer.""
He reached into his briefcase and handed me a business card.
"Tomorrow, call this attorney. His name is Michael Reeves. He handles financial fraud cases.""
I took the card.
"Why didn't you tell me all this sooner?""
His eyes filled with regret.
"Because I was ashamed that my son had become someone capable of doing these things.""
When the car stopped outside my house, I thanked him.
Robert caught my hand before I stepped out.
"Sarah, one more thing.""
I turned.
"Be careful. Daniel has been telling people that you have memory problems.""
My heart skipped.
"What?""
"He said you sometimes forget signing financial documents.""
I stared at him.
"Why would he say that?""
Robert's face hardened.
"Because if someone discovers the forged signatures, he needs a way to make people question your credibility.""
I stepped out of the car.
For the first time in six years, I looked at my front door and wondered whether the man inside had ever loved me.
Then my phone buzzed.
It was an email notification.
*New loan application submitted.*
I opened it.
The applicant was Daniel Mitchell.
May you like
The collateral was our marital home.
And under the co-owner's signature was my name.
