Chapter 4: The Original Contract
Miranda’s office smelled like coffee and old paperwork.
The kind of place where people came to fix problems that had already gone too far.
I sat across from her desk, staring at the thick brown envelope in front of me.
My name was written across the front.
Not printed.
Handwritten.
My handwriting.
Or at least, someone had tried to make it look like mine.
“Before you open this,” Miranda said, “I need you to understand something.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“This isn’t just about your house anymore.””
My fingers tightened around the envelope.
“What do you mean?””
She leaned back.
“Your parents didn’t simply try to transfer ownership. They created a chain of documents that could have affected your financial future for years.””
I swallowed.
“They were willing to ruin me.””
Miranda didn’t answer immediately.
She didn’t need to.
The silence said enough.
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a copy of the original transfer agreement.
Then another document.
Then another.
My eyes scanned the pages.
And slowly, pieces started connecting.
“They planned this months ago.””
Miranda nodded.
“The first document was created four months before you even closed on the property.””
I looked at her.
“Four months?””
“Yes.””
My stomach twisted.
That meant this wasn’t a desperate decision.
It wasn’t my parents making a mistake because Ryan needed help.
It was planned.
Carefully.
Patiently.
I flipped another page.
There was David Collins’ signature.
The same man who had sat at my family’s dinner table.
The same man who gave me advice when I bought my first car.
The same man who told me I should be proud of building a life without anyone’s help.
“He knew.””
Miranda nodded.
“David drafted the documents.””
“Why?””
“That’s what we’re trying to find out.””
I looked at the papers again.
There was one detail that bothered me.
A section highlighted in yellow.
“What’s this?””
Miranda moved closer.
“That’s the part where your father agreed to use the property as security.””
“For his company?””
“Yes.””
I felt something inside me crack.
My father didn’t just want to give my house to Ryan.
He wanted to gamble with it.
“Did Ryan know?””
Miranda sighed.
“I don’t know yet.””
I looked out the window.
That was the worst part.
I didn’t know who I could trust anymore.
My whole life, I thought my family’s biggest flaw was that they favored Ryan.
I never imagined they would build a plan around taking something from me.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Ryan.
*Please talk to me. I’m coming over.*
I showed Miranda.
“Do you want me to tell security not to let him in?””
I thought about it.
A month ago, I would have said no.
Ryan was my brother.
I would have found some excuse for him.
I would have told myself he didn’t mean it.
But that version of me was gone.
“Let him come.””
Twenty minutes later, Ryan walked into the office.
He looked exhausted.
Not angry.
Not defensive.
Just tired.
“Jenna.””
I stayed seated.
“Why are you here?””
He glanced at Miranda.
“I need to explain.””
I almost laughed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
He lowered his eyes.
“I didn’t know everything.””
“You knew enough.””
He flinched.
“I thought they were helping us.””
“By pretending they owned my house?””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“I swear, Jenna, I didn’t know about the fake signatures.””
I studied his face.
I wanted to believe him.
That was the problem.
I always wanted to believe him.
“What did Mom tell you?””
He sat down.
“She said you didn’t need the house.””
I stared.
“She said you were thinking about selling it.””
“What?””
“She told me you wanted to move out of state.””
I shook my head slowly.
“I never said that.””
“I know.””
The answer came too quickly.
“You know?””
He looked ashamed.
“I should have asked you.””
“Yes.””
My voice became quieter.
“You should have.””
Ryan looked at the documents.
“Is Dad really that deep in debt?””
I didn’t answer.
Miranda did.
“Yes.””
His face changed.
“How bad?””
“Bad enough that losing this property would have put Jenna in serious trouble.””
Ryan ran his hands through his hair.
“My God.””
I watched him.
For years, he had always been the person everyone protected.
The favorite.
The one who got second chances.
But sitting there, seeing the truth unfold, I realized something.
Ryan wasn’t the mastermind.
But he had benefited from every lie.
My phone rang.
Miranda looked at the screen.
“Don’t answer that.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
She pointed.
“Look.””
The number wasn’t saved.
But I recognized the area code.
It was David’s office.
I answered anyway.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a familiar voice.
“Jenna.””
David.
My hand tightened around the phone.
“What do you want?””
His voice sounded calm.
Too calm.
“I think you’re making a mistake by trusting Miranda.””
I stood up.
“You forged my documents.””
“No.””
He sighed.
“I helped your family solve a problem.””
“A problem you created.””
Another pause.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
“Jenna, you don’t know the whole story about how that house was purchased.””
I looked at Miranda.
“What does that mean?””
David lowered his voice.
“Ask your father where the down payment really came from.””
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Because suddenly, one question appeared.
May you like
A question nobody had asked yet.
How did my parents know I could afford a million-dollar house in the first place?
