Chapter 5: The Woman Who Owned My Mother’s Loyalty
The man at the door introduced himself as Richard Cole.
He was a real estate developer.
And according to him, he was three days away from buying my home.
My home.
The place where my son took his first steps.
The place where Amy and I painted the nursery at two in the morning because neither of us knew what we were doing.
The place my mother claimed she had the right to sell.
I looked at Richard.
“You bought this property?””
He hesitated.
“I’m under contract.””
“Signed by who?””
He looked uncomfortable.
“Mrs. Hayes.””
I turned slowly toward my mother.
She didn’t look embarrassed.
She looked angry.
Like I was the one causing trouble.
“Connor, you’re making this worse.””
I laughed.
“Making what worse?””
“This.””
She pointed between us.
“You’re embarrassing the family.””
I stared at her.
“You brought a buyer to my house.””
Richard cleared his throat.
“Mr. Hayes, I should mention that I was told you were aware of the arrangement.””
“I wasn’t.””
His expression changed.
“Then we have a serious issue.””
My mother stepped forward.
“Richard, give us a minute.””
He nodded and walked back toward his car.
The second he left, I lowered my voice.
“How long?””
She crossed her arms.
“How long what?””
“How long have you been planning this?””
She looked away.
That tiny movement told me everything.
Months.
Maybe longer.
“You don’t understand,” she said.
“No, I understand perfectly.””
“You’re being emotional.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I’m finally paying attention.””
Her face hardened.
“You think Amy is innocent?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I knew where this was going.
She pulled out her phone.
“She has been controlling you since the beginning.””
“Stop.””
“She moved you away from your family.””
“No.””
“She convinced you to buy this house without including me.””
I stared at her.
“That was my decision.””
“And now she gets everything.””
I stepped closer.
“My wife gets a safe home for our son.””
My mother laughed.
“A safe home?””
“Yes.””
She shook her head.
“You have no idea who you married.””
I wanted to believe she was wrong.
I wanted to believe there was some explanation.
Some misunderstanding.
But then I remembered Amy’s face.
Her fear.
Her silence.
The way she apologized for being hurt.
I drove home and found Amy sitting on the porch.
She looked up.
“You saw her?””
I nodded.
“She had a buyer.””
Amy closed her eyes.
“I knew it.””
I sat beside her.
“What do you mean?””
She took a deep breath.
“Your mother once asked me to sign something.””
My body went still.
“What?””
“It was right after Frederick was born.””
“What kind of document?””
“She said it was just a family agreement.””
“Did you sign it?””
“No.””
“Why?””
Amy looked at me.
“Because it said I would have no claim to the house.””
I felt sick.
“She tried to get you to sign away your rights?””
Amy nodded.
“She told me if I really loved you, I wouldn’t care about owning anything.””
I looked at the house.
The same house where my mother had been pretending to help us.
“How long ago?””
“Eight months.””
Eight months.
The same time I started sending money.
I suddenly remembered something.
My mother had always asked questions.
Not normal questions.
Financial questions.
“How much is the house worth?””
“Who is listed on the deed?””
“What happens if something happens to you?””
At the time, I thought she was being responsible.
Now I understood.
She was collecting information.
That night, Daniel called.
“I found something.””
I sat up.
“What?””
“The company your mother created.””
“Hayes Family Holdings?””
“Yes.””
“What about it?””
“It wasn’t created just to control your house.””
My heart started racing.
“What else?””
“There are three other properties connected to it.””
I frowned.
“Three?””
“Yes.””
“Whose properties?””
A pause.
Then Daniel said:
“Family members.””
I stood up.
“What does that mean?””
“It means your mother may have done this before.””
I looked toward Amy.
She saw my face.
“Connor?””
I whispered:
“My mother may not have only targeted me.””
The next morning, I met Daniel with the full records.
The pattern became clear.
My mother had convinced relatives to put assets into “family protection” accounts.
Then she controlled everything.
But one name appeared again and again.
A woman I didn’t recognize.
Daniel pointed at the paperwork.
“This person owns fifty-one percent of the holding company.””
I looked closer.
“Who is that?””
He turned the page.
And there it was.
A name.
A name my mother had never mentioned.
“Victoria Lane.””
I frowned.
“Who is Victoria Lane?””
Daniel looked serious.
“That’s the question.””
Then he slid another document across the table.
A payment record.
From my mother.
To Victoria.
Every month.
May you like
For the exact same amount I had been sending my mother.
Three thousand dollars.
