Chapter 4: The Other Name
“What do you mean, her name is on Emma’s trust paperwork?””
My voice barely sounded like mine.
Claire didn’t answer immediately.
That scared me more than anything.
Behind Daniel, Christmas music was still playing softly inside the house.
Some cheerful song about coming home for the holidays.
Emma pressed against my leg.
I covered her ears with my hands.
“Claire.””
She understood.
“Let’s get Emma into the car first.””
“No.””
Daniel came down one porch step.
“Sarah, please.””
I looked at him.
“If you say please one more time instead of telling me the truth, I swear I will never speak to you again.””
He stopped.
Linda folded her arms.
“Don’t be dramatic.””
Claire turned sharply toward her.
“A four-year-old’s trust may have been compromised, Mrs. Whitmore. I strongly suggest you stop talking.””
Linda actually went silent.
I crouched beside Emma.
“Sweetheart, go sit in Ms. Claire’s car for me.””
“I want you.””
“I’m right here.””
“Are you coming?””
“Yes.””
I kissed her forehead.
“I promise.””
Claire unlocked the SUV.
Emma climbed inside, still clutching her stuffed rabbit.
When the door closed, I faced Daniel.
“Now.””
Claire held up her phone.
“Your father found an older trust document in the records Daniel’s accountant provided this afternoon.””
I frowned.
“Older?””
“The trust was amended before Emma was born.””
“I know. Dad changed the beneficiaries.””
“Yes.””
Claire’s eyes moved toward Daniel.
“But someone submitted another version of the paperwork during a financing application last year.””
My stomach tightened.
“What woman?””
Claire said the name.
“Rebecca Collins.””
I knew it immediately.
Northwestern.
The woman Linda had mentioned at dinner.
Daniel’s ex-girlfriend.
I stared at him.
“Rebecca?””
“It’s not what you think.””
Linda muttered, “Oh, for God’s sake.””
I turned toward her.
“You knew?””
She looked away.
That was enough.
“You knew.””
“Rebecca has financial experience,” Linda said.
“Daniel needed help.””
“With Emma’s trust?””
“With his business.””
I looked back at Claire.
“How is Rebecca connected to Emma’s paperwork?””
Claire spoke carefully.
“She was listed as an authorized financial consultant on a copy submitted to a lender.””
“Authorized by whom?””
“That’s what we need to determine.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“I can explain.””
“Then explain.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“Last year, when business slowed down, Rebecca helped restructure some debt.””
“Why Rebecca?””
“She works in private finance.””
“That isn’t what I asked.””
Daniel looked toward the snow-covered lawn.
I understood before he answered.
“You were seeing her.””
“No.””
“Daniel.””
“No. Not like that.””
I laughed once.
“Those words are doing a lot of work tonight.””
He lowered his voice.
“We met for coffee.””
“How many times?””
Silence.
“How many?””
“Several.””
“Five?””
“More.””
“Ten?””
He looked away.
My chest tightened.
Linda interrupted.
“Rebecca understands Daniel’s world.””
I turned slowly.
“What does that mean?””
“She understands pressure. Expectations. The kind of family Daniel comes from.””
“And I don’t?””
“You’ve always resented us.””
“No, Linda. I resented being treated like garbage.””
“You never tried to fit in.””
“I spent three years trying.””
“Sarah—” Daniel began.
I raised my hand.
He stopped.
Claire’s phone buzzed.
She read something.
Then frowned.
“What?””
She looked at Daniel.
“Your accountant sent another file.””
Daniel moved toward her.
“What file?””
Claire stepped back.
“You stay there.””
His expression changed.
“Claire.””
She opened the attachment.
I watched her eyes move across the screen.
Then stop.
“Sarah.””
That tone again.
I hated that tone.
“What now?””
“This appears to be an invoice from Rebecca.””
“For financial consulting?””
Claire hesitated.
“No.””
Daniel whispered, “Don’t.””
I stared at him.
Claire continued.
“It’s for a property acquisition.””
Linda’s face tightened.
“What property?””
Claire looked at the address.
Then at Linda.
“The condominium on East Pearson Street.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
I knew that address too.
I had driven past the building hundreds of times.
Luxury condos.
Gold Coast.
Ten minutes from our apartment.
“Who lives there?””
Nobody answered.
I stepped toward Daniel.
“Who lives there?””
He whispered, “Rebecca.””
The snow suddenly felt warmer than my skin.
“You bought your ex-girlfriend a condo?””
“No.””
Claire corrected him.
“Lake North Properties bought it.””
I looked at Linda.
Lake North Properties.
The same LLC that owned her house.
The same company Daniel had tried to fund with Emma’s money.
“How much?””
Claire checked.
“Purchase price was approximately nine hundred thousand.””
My knees almost gave out.
Daniel reached toward me.
I recoiled.
“Don’t.””
“Sarah, I didn’t buy it for her.””
“Then why does she live there?””
“She manages it.””
“What does that even mean?””
“It was supposed to be an investment.””
“And the hundred thousand Linda mentioned?””
His silence answered.
I covered my mouth.
Three years of insults.
Three years of being told I wasn’t good enough.
Three years of Daniel asking me to be patient with his mother while he secretly moved money into a company connected to both Linda and his ex-girlfriend.
Then headlights appeared at the end of the driveway.
My father’s truck.
It stopped behind Claire’s SUV.
Dad climbed out.
The moment he saw my face, something changed in his expression.
He walked straight to me.
“Emma?””
“Safe.””
“You?””
I shook my head.
He hugged me carefully.
For one second, I was eight years old again.
Then Dad looked over my shoulder.
At Daniel.
“I trusted you with my daughter.””
Daniel swallowed.
“Robert, I can explain.””
Dad released me.
“No. You can explain to your attorney.””
Linda stepped forward.
“This is a family matter.””
Dad looked at her.
“You put your hands on my daughter.””
Linda went pale.
Nobody spoke.
Dad turned back to me.
“We’re leaving.””
I nodded.
Then Daniel called out.
“Sarah, if you walk away now, you’re going to regret it.””
Dad stopped.
I did too.
Daniel’s face changed when he realized what he had said.
I turned slowly.
“Was that a threat?””
“No.””
“What was it?””
Daniel looked at Claire.
Then my father.
Finally, he looked at me.
“There’s something your father hasn’t told you.””
Dad’s body went rigid.
My stomach dropped.
I looked at him.
“Dad?””
He didn’t answer.
Daniel gave a broken laugh.
“You think I’m the only person who lied to you?””
“Daniel, shut up,” Dad said.
My heart started pounding.
“What haven’t you told me?””
Dad looked at me.
For the first time all night, the man I trusted more than anyone couldn’t meet my eyes.
May you like
And Daniel whispered the sentence that followed me all the way home.
“Ask your father who originally put Rebecca’s name in that trust.””
