Chapter 5
I stared at the proposed ownership transfer for almost ten minutes.
The document listed our address.
Our property description.
And Danielle Bennett as the recipient of a twenty-five-percent interest.
My stomach turned.
"Why would Marcus give his sister part of our house?"
Renee looked concerned.
"That is exactly what we need to establish."
I looked at the signature section.
My name appeared again.
Nia Carter Bennett.
But I hadn't signed anything.
I hadn't discussed transferring property.
And I certainly hadn't agreed to give Danielle a stake in the home I bought before marriage.
I felt sick.
"She's been trying to take my house."
Renee took a breath.
"We have evidence of a proposed transfer. We still need to understand whether anything was recorded or completed."
I nodded.
I was grateful she kept reminding me to separate fear from facts.
But the fear was real.
That house contained every memory my daughters treasured.
Maya's first science fair trophy.
Lily's height marks on the kitchen doorway.
Photographs of my late first husband, Andre, carefully preserved in Maya's bedroom.
I had bought the house after years of rebuilding my life.
Now I was discovering that the man I trusted had nearly signed it away.
The following morning, Denise Carter met us at her office.
She specialized in family and property disputes.
Her expression grew serious as she reviewed the documents.
"First, we need to confirm the title history."
I nodded.
"Has the transfer happened?"
She shook her head.
"Based on the preliminary search, no completed transfer to Danielle appears in the records."
Relief washed through me.
"But the proposed documents are concerning."
I swallowed.
"What can we do?"
She explained that the disputed signatures needed formal review.
The lender and title company should preserve their files.
And the appropriate authorities could examine whether any fraud had occurred.
I listened carefully.
Then she asked:
"Did Marcus have access to your personal identification documents?"
I nodded.
"Of course."
"Tax records?"
"Yes."
"Your original deed?"
I felt cold.
"Yes."
She made a note.
Then asked:
"Did Danielle ever have access to your home office?"
I hesitated.
She had visited several times.
Once, she'd helped Marcus organize paperwork while I was working late.
I remembered returning home and finding her at my desk.
She said she was looking for a printer.
I hadn't questioned it.
Now that memory made my stomach tighten.
"Yes," I whispered.
Denise nodded.
"We'll include that in our timeline."
Then she asked whether Marcus had any other business debts.
I shook my head.
"Not that I know of."
She looked toward Renee.
"We should request a complete picture of his financial obligations through the proper process."
I agreed.
I didn't want surprises.
Not anymore.
After the meeting, I drove home feeling exhausted.
Maya was waiting in the kitchen.
She had a stack of notebook pages spread across the island.
"Mom, I found something."
I stopped.
"What?"
She looked nervous.
"I've been reviewing Silver Star's old recordings."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"Because the video files are organized by date."
She pointed toward her laptop.
"Some were recorded automatically when the motion sensor detected movement."
I leaned closer.
She opened a file from three weeks earlier.
The garage appeared.
Danielle stood beside Marcus.
They were looking at documents.
I felt cold.
Maya pressed PLAY.
Danielle's voice filled the kitchen.
"The lender won't accept the paperwork unless Nia's consent is verified."
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"Then we wait."
Danielle snapped:
"We can't wait."
He looked toward the house.
"She'll notice."
Danielle leaned closer.
"Not if we get the transfer finished first."
My heart pounded.
Then she said something that made my hands go numb.
"Once I have an interest in the property, Nia won't be able to push us out so easily."
I stared at the screen.
Marcus shook his head.
"She's my wife."
Danielle laughed.
"Then act like her husband and get her to cooperate."
I paused the video.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Maya looked at me.
"Mom?"
I took a breath.
"Where did you find this?"
"It was in a backup folder."
I nodded.
"Good work."
She looked worried.
"Are you mad?"
My heart broke.
"No, sweetheart."
I hugged her.
"I'm proud of you for being careful."
Then I took the laptop to Renee.
She helped preserve the files and arranged to provide copies to the appropriate professionals.
I didn't want Maya carrying the investigation.
She was sixteen.
She needed to focus on school.
Her friends.
And helping Lily rebuild Silver Star.
But I also knew her curiosity had uncovered something important.
That evening, I called Marcus.
He answered immediately.
"Nia?"
I took a breath.
"Why did Danielle want part of our house?"
Silence.
I waited.
Then he whispered:
"She said it was necessary for the loan."
I closed my eyes.
"Did you believe her?"
He hesitated.
"At first."
My stomach tightened.
"And later?"
He began crying.
"I realized she wanted control."
I stared toward the window.
"Then why didn't you stop her?"
His voice broke.
"Because I was already too deep."
I felt anger rise.
"Marcus, you always had a choice."
He went silent.
I continued.
"You could've told me the business was failing."
He swallowed.
"You could've asked for help."
I looked toward the stairs.
"You could've protected the girls."
Tears filled my eyes.
"But instead, you tried to destroy Lily's robot."
He began sobbing.
"I'm sorry."
I took a breath.
"Apologies don't repair forged documents."
He went quiet.
Then he whispered:
"I know."
I ended the call.
For several minutes, I stood alone in the kitchen.
Then Lily appeared.
She held a small screwdriver.
"Mommy?"
I turned.
"Yes, baby?"
"Can you help me?"
I smiled weakly.
"Of course."
She held up Silver Star's broken arm.
"I think we can fix this part."
My eyes filled.
I knelt beside her.
"Then let's try."
We worked together for nearly an hour.
Maya joined us.
For a little while, the house felt peaceful.
Three women.
A broken robot.
And the determination to build something better.
Then my phone rang.
Denise.
I answered.
Her voice sounded serious.
"Nia, the title company has completed its preliminary review."
My stomach tightened.
"And?"
"The proposed transfer to Danielle was not recorded."
Relief washed through me.
Then Denise continued.
"But investigators have discovered another document."
I swallowed.
"What?"
"A separate agreement involving Marcus's business."
I felt cold.
She paused.
"It appears Danielle may have been planning to take control of his company too."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I looked toward the garage.
The place where Silver Star had recorded the truth.
May you like
And I realized Marcus might have been hiding more than his own wrongdoing.
He might also have been trapped in a scheme his sister designed.
