Chapter 4: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
"Vanessa... what exactly did you make me sign?""
My father's voice was barely recognizable.
He stood beside the wardrobe, holding the documents in one hand and his phone in the other. Vanessa was crying now, but I noticed something strange.
She wasn't looking at Dad.
She was looking at the paperwork.
"Michael, please," she whispered.
"You're misunderstanding everything.""
"Then explain it.""
"It was a family financial arrangement. I was trying to make sure everyone was taken care of.""
"Everyone?"" Dad repeated.
"You took one hundred and eighty thousand dollars from my daughter's inheritance and transferred it to Brittany.""
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"Brittany needed help.""
I stared at her.
"With what?""
She turned toward me.
"Emily, this is between adults.""
"No," I said quietly.
"It's my money.""
Her expression hardened.
"Your mother left that money to you because she didn't understand how expensive raising a child would become.""
Dad stepped forward.
"Don't you dare blame Laura for your theft.""
Vanessa flinched.
The attorney was still on speaker.
"Michael, I need you to look at the second page of the withdrawal application. There's a notarized authorization attached.""
Dad turned the paper over.
His face went pale again.
"I recognize this.""
Vanessa stopped crying.
"What?""
Dad held up the page.
"This is my signature.""
He looked at the attorney.
"I signed something similar about six months ago. Vanessa told me it was an authorization for the insurance company.""
The attorney paused.
"Did you read the document?""
Dad closed his eyes.
"No. I trusted my wife.""
Vanessa immediately seized the opportunity.
"Exactly! You trusted me. You knew I was handling the paperwork.""
Dad stared at her.
"I trusted you to protect my daughter.""
"And I did!""
"By forging her signature?""
Vanessa's mouth opened.
Then closed.
Brittany stood near the doorway, nervously twisting the sleeve of her pajamas.
"Mom," she whispered, "you said nobody would find out.""
Everyone turned toward her.
Vanessa grabbed her arm.
"Go downstairs.""
Brittany pulled away.
"But you said the money was already ours!""
Dad looked at her.
"How much of it did you receive?""
Brittany swallowed.
"I don't know.""
"Try again.""
"Mom bought me a car.""
My stomach tightened.
Dad's eyebrows rose.
"A car?""
"A white Mercedes," Brittany answered.
"And she paid for my college deposit.""
Vanessa's voice became sharp.
"That's enough!""
Brittany began crying.
"You told me it was your money!""
Dad slowly lowered the documents.
"Emily's inheritance paid for your car?""
Brittany looked away.
I remembered the photographs Vanessa had posted online three weeks earlier. Brittany standing beside a shiny white Mercedes, holding a giant red ribbon.
The caption had read:
My baby deserves everything.
I had liked the photograph.
I hadn't known I was paying for it.
Dad turned toward the attorney.
"What happens now?""
"We need to preserve every document and prevent further transfers. I'll send you the complete transaction history. I also recommend that you contact the bank's fraud department immediately.""
"Do it.""
The attorney continued.
"There's another concern. The application to sell the house was submitted using a residential ownership declaration. Emily is listed as having permanently relocated.""
Dad looked at me.
"Has anyone asked you to move?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
"Michael, I can fix this. Give me a little time.""
Dad didn't move.
"How much time did Emily have while she was sleeping on concrete?""
Vanessa looked down.
For once, she had no answer.
Dad carefully collected the documents and placed them inside his briefcase.
Then he turned to me.
"Come on, sweetheart. We're getting you medical attention.""
As he helped me down the stairs, I heard Vanessa whisper something to Brittany.
"Get your suitcase.""
I turned around.
"Why are you packing?""
Vanessa looked directly at me.
"Because your father has made it very clear that he doesn't want us here.""
Dad stopped.
"Don't put words in my mouth. Nobody is discussing moving until the police and the attorney have reviewed everything.""
He guided me toward the front door.
But before we reached it, his phone buzzed.
A new email had arrived from the attorney.
Dad opened the attachment.
I watched his expression change.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He looked at me.
Then at Vanessa.
"The bank has just confirmed something.""
He swallowed.
"The original withdrawal wasn't one hundred and eighty thousand dollars.""
He turned the screen toward me.
*The total amount transferred from my mother's trust was $180,000—but the beneficiary account had received another $75,000 from a second transaction.*
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And the name attached to that account wasn't Brittany's.
It was Vanessa's.
