Chapter 5
I refused to meet Vanessa alone.
That was the first decision I made without hesitation.
I had spent too many years trusting people who used my kindness against me.
When I told Daniel about Vanessa's call, he immediately advised that any meeting should happen in a safe, public setting and that I should avoid making promises or exchanging money.
Claire agreed.
“Let her speak,” she said. “But don't give her control over the situation.”
The next afternoon, we met in a private conference room at Daniel's office.
Vanessa arrived ten minutes late.
She wore black pants, a white blouse, and an expensive watch I recognized.
I had bought that watch for Marcus two Christmases earlier.
Seeing it on her wrist made something twist inside me.
Vanessa noticed my expression.
She quickly pulled her sleeve down.
I almost laughed.
She had kissed my husband in front of me.
Now she was embarrassed about a watch.
Daniel invited her to sit.
Vanessa placed a large envelope on the table.
“I want immunity,” she said.
Daniel remained calm.
“I can't offer you immunity. I'm not a prosecutor.”
Her expression tightened.
“Then I want protection.”
“From what?”
“Marcus.”
I studied her face.
For the first time, Vanessa looked frightened.
Not uncomfortable.
Not defensive.
Frightened.
She opened the envelope.
Inside were copies of property documents, business contracts, and a small notebook.
Daniel examined them carefully.
“Are these originals?”
“Some are. The others are copies.”
“Where did you get them?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“Marcus kept them at the apartment.”
I leaned forward.
“Why are you bringing them to me?”
She looked at me.
“Because he promised me we were building a future together.”
My chest tightened.
“He told you that?”
“Yes.”
“And you believed him?”
Her eyes flashed.
“You believed him for eleven years.”
The words struck harder than I expected.
Daniel interrupted.
“Let's stay focused.”
Vanessa looked down.
“Marcus told me your marriage was over. He said you were only staying together for appearances.”
I laughed bitterly.
“He slept beside me every night.”
“I didn't know that at first.”
“At first?”
She said nothing.
I stared at her.
“Then you found out.”
She nodded.
“And you stayed.”
“Yes.”
The honesty was brutal.
But at least she wasn't pretending anymore.
Vanessa continued.
“Marcus said the money was part of your business arrangement. He told me you had agreed to support the fitness company.”
I looked at Daniel.
He remained silent.
“Then why did you practice my signature?” I asked.
Vanessa's face went pale.
She stared at me.
“How do you know about that?”
“Patricia saw you.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
For a moment, I thought she might leave.
Then she whispered, “He told me you had already authorized the documents.”
I felt anger rise.
“So you copied my name because he said it was fine?”
“I know how that sounds.”
“It sounds like fraud.”
She began crying.
“I didn't understand everything.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“Vanessa, you should consider obtaining your own legal counsel before making further statements.”
She nodded shakily.
Then she pushed the notebook toward him.
“Everything is in there.”
He opened it.
The pages contained dates, amounts, and notes about property transfers.
Marcus's handwriting appeared beside several entries.
One line was underlined.
“Final authorization before loan approval.”
Beside it was a figure.
Four hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
My mouth went dry.
“That was the amount?”
Vanessa nodded.
“Marcus wanted to borrow against the properties to fund the business.”
I stared at the number.
The house my mother left me.
The rental properties I had spent decades building.
All of it had become a source of money for a man who claimed to love me.
Then Daniel turned another page.
His expression changed.
“What is this?”
Vanessa hesitated.
“A draft agreement.”
He read silently.
I watched his face.
Then he handed it to me.
The document described a proposed transfer of ownership interests in the fitness company.
Most of the interests would belong to Marcus.
A smaller portion would belong to Vanessa.
My name appeared only as the source of financing.
I laughed.
The sound was hollow.
“So I was supposed to provide the money, and they were supposed to own the business.”
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“I didn't know he planned to take everything.”
I looked at her.
“You knew enough.”
She didn't argue.
For the first time, she lowered her eyes.
Then she said, “There's something else.”
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What?”
“Marcus has been telling people you're mentally unstable.”
The room went silent.
I stared at her.
“He says you've been forgetting things. That you make emotional decisions. That you're becoming unable to manage the company.”
My blood ran cold.
I remembered the way Marcus had gently corrected me at dinner parties.
The way he sometimes laughed when I forgot a name.
The way he told friends I was under too much stress.
I had thought he was being protective.
Now those moments looked different.
“Has he told anyone specific?” Daniel asked.
Vanessa nodded.
“A lender. And a business associate.”
“Did he provide any medical information?”
“No. He just made comments.”
I felt sick.
Marcus wasn't merely trying to take money.
He was attempting to make people doubt my judgment.
Vanessa continued.
“He wanted to convince the lender that he should manage the finances because you were unreliable.”
I looked at Daniel.
He was already writing notes.
“Can we stop him?” I asked.
“We can challenge false statements and disputed authorizations through the appropriate legal process. We also need to notify the relevant institutions.”
I nodded.
Vanessa reached into her bag.
“There is one more thing.”
She placed a small flash drive on the table.
“What's on it?” Daniel asked.
“Recordings.”
My heart began pounding.
“What recordings?”
“Marcus talking about the plan.”
I stared at her.
“Why did you record him?”
She looked toward the window.
“Because he started threatening me too.”
I felt no satisfaction.
Only exhaustion.
Vanessa had participated in hurting me.
Now she feared the man she had helped.
Daniel carefully placed the drive aside.
He explained that its contents would need to be preserved and reviewed lawfully before anyone could rely on them.
Vanessa nodded.
Then she looked at me.
“Evelyn, I'm sorry.”
I stared at her.
The words came too late.
I wanted to ask whether she was sorry for kissing my husband or sorry because the plan had fallen apart.
Instead, I said, “You need to tell the truth to the people investigating this.”
She nodded.
“I will.”
When she left, I remained seated.
Claire placed a hand on my shoulder.
“You did well.”
I shook my head.
“I don't feel strong.”
“You don't have to feel strong every moment.”
I looked at the folder.
Then at the flash drive.
“What happens next?”
Daniel took a breath.
“We review the evidence, report what needs to be reported, and protect your legal interests.”
I nodded.
Then Claire's phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Her expression changed.
“It's the title company.”
My heart began pounding.
She answered.
After a brief conversation, she looked at Daniel.
“Someone submitted an additional document this morning.”
Daniel stood.
“What document?”
Claire swallowed.
“A request connected to the pending property transaction.”
I gripped the table.
“Who submitted it?”
She looked directly at me.
“Marcus.”
My mouth went dry.
May you like
Then she said the words I had been dreading.
“He's trying to complete the deal before we can stop it.”
