Chapter 8: The Money My Sister Wasn't Supposed to Touch
“Chloe, what did you sign?””
My sister stared at the notebook.
“Nothing.””
Olivia turned it toward her.
“Your signature is on this authorization.””
“It's fake!””
Nathan examined the page.
“The transfer was made yesterday. The bank reference number is right here.””
Chloe shook her head.
“I told you Daniel paid me. That doesn't mean I signed anything else.””
I looked at the amount.
Five hundred thousand dollars.
The exact amount Chloe had admitted receiving from Daniel.
“Where did the money come from?””
Olivia turned several pages.
“According to this ledger, it came from an account belonging to Bennett Holdings.””
Mom slowly stood.
“That account was supposed to be frozen.””
“Who had access?”” Nathan asked.
Mom looked at Chloe.
My sister immediately raised her voice.
“Don't look at me!””
“Your signature is on the document,” I said.
“Daniel gave me paperwork to sign. He said it was a temporary business loan.””
“You signed a transfer authorization without reading it?””
“I trusted him!””
I laughed bitterly.
“You trusted the man who paid you to destroy my wedding?””
Chloe's eyes filled.
“Emily, I thought I was going to lose everything.””
“You were never going to lose your inheritance.””
“That's easy for you to say!””
She grabbed the notebook and flipped through it.
“I've spent my whole life watching everyone celebrate you. Grandma called you responsible. Dad called you his little star. Mom trusted you with everything.””
I stared at her.
“Dad loved you just as much.””
“Then why did he leave you the house?””
“He left it to both of us!””
Chloe slammed the notebook onto the desk.
“Because I was always the second choice!””
Mom stepped forward.
“Chloe, your father adored you.””
“Then why did you tell me he had changed his will?””
The room went silent.
I turned toward Mom.
“What?””
Chloe looked at her mother.
“You told me Dad wanted Emily to have everything. You said Grandma had only given me half because she felt sorry for me.””
Mom's face crumpled.
“I never said that.””
“You did!””
“Chloe, I told you your father wanted us to protect the estate equally.””
“You told me Emily was going to take it all!””
Mom began shaking her head.
“I was trying to stop you from making the same mistakes I made.””
Nathan stepped between them.
“Can someone explain what happened to the money?””
Olivia examined the ledger again.
“There is a company listed here called Mercer Holdings. The transfer was made through a subsidiary.””
“Can it be reversed?”” I asked.
“Not without an investigation. But the records establish where the money went.””
I looked at Chloe.
“Did Daniel promise you anything else?””
She hesitated.
Then she reached into her handbag and removed a small folded document.
“I have this.””
Nathan took it.
It was a contract.
At the top, the title read:
*PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT.*
Beneath it were the names of Chloe Bennett and Daniel Mercer.
My sister's signature appeared beside a paragraph assigning her expected inheritance rights to Mercer Holdings.
I looked at her.
“You sold your inheritance?””
She nodded slowly.
“He said he'd give me two million dollars.””
Mom gasped.
“Chloe!””
“I needed money!””
“For what?”” I asked.
She looked away.
Nathan unfolded another page.
“Emily, there's something strange here.””
“What?””
“The agreement was signed three months ago.””
Chloe nodded.
“Daniel said it was just a preliminary arrangement.””
“But the document says you transferred your future rights to the estate.””
She grabbed the paper.
“He told me I could cancel it before the wedding!””
Olivia's expression became serious.
“Did he give you a cancellation agreement?””
Chloe shook her head.
“No.””
“Then you may have a much bigger problem.””
My sister began pacing.
“I didn't know he was going to do this!””
I studied her face.
For the first time, I saw something beneath the jealousy.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Chloe, why did you need two million dollars?””
She stopped.
Then she looked at Mom.
“Tell her.””
Mom shook her head.
“Please don't.””
“Tell her what you did!””
I stepped closer.
“What happened?””
Chloe's voice cracked.
“Daniel said he could make the debt disappear.””
“What debt?””
She pressed her hands against her face.
“I borrowed money from a private investment group. I thought I could double it through a real estate deal. I lost everything.””
“How much?””
“Eight hundred thousand dollars.””
Mom began crying again.
“I tried to help her.””
I looked at my mother.
“With what money?””
She didn't answer.
Then Chloe spoke.
“Daniel said he'd pay off the debt if I helped him get the estate.””
My stomach tightened.
“So he used your debt to control you.””
She nodded.
“But he promised I wouldn't have to hurt anyone.””
I looked at the ruined dress I'd left behind.
“You poured ink over my wedding gown.””
Chloe started sobbing.
“I know.””
“You stole my marriage license.””
“I was supposed to give it to Daniel.””
“Why?””
She looked at Nathan.
“He wanted to prove something about your marriage.””
Nathan frowned.
“What?””
Chloe wiped her cheeks.
“He said you had signed a prenuptial agreement that gave Emily control over all your business assets.””
Nathan stared at her.
“I never signed a prenuptial agreement.””
“I know that now.””
“Then what did you give him?””
Chloe looked at the desk.
“A copy of your signature.””
My heart dropped.
Nathan stepped backward.
“Where did you get that?””
“From the wedding paperwork.””
I stared at her.
“You forged his signature?””
“No! Daniel gave me a document and told me to copy the signature onto a different page.””
Nathan's face hardened.
“You committed fraud.””
“I didn't know what it was for!””
Before anyone could respond, Olivia's phone rang.
She answered, listened, and slowly turned toward us.
“Emily, Daniel is downstairs.””
My sister went pale.
“What?””
Olivia ended the call.
“He's asking to speak with the bride.””
Nathan moved toward the door.
“Tell security not to let him in.””
But Olivia shook her head.
“He's already inside the estate.””
A moment later, footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Then a familiar voice called out.
“Margaret? Chloe? I think it's time we finished our little family discussion.””
My mother grabbed my arm.
“Emily, don't let him see the notebook.””
But it was too late.
The study door opened.
Daniel Mercer stood in the doorway wearing a charcoal suit and a silver watch.
He looked at the papers scattered across the desk.
Then he smiled.
“Wonderful. You've found the original records.””
May you like
He looked directly at me.
“Now, Emily, before you make another mistake, there's something you should know about your father.””
