Chapter 4
I wanted to call Vanessa immediately.
I wanted to demand an explanation.
But Camille stopped me.
"Let's establish what she actually signed before we accuse her."
I nodded.
She was right.
A signature on a document didn't automatically mean Vanessa knew it was fraudulent.
Still, I couldn't ignore it.
Vanessa had watched Marcus kiss her in public.
She had looked genuinely shocked when she learned about me and the twins.
Then she'd sent evidence that could destroy him.
Why would she do that if she had been helping him?
Unless she had been part of the plan.
I didn't sleep that night.
Every time Noah cried, I got up immediately.
Every time Naomi stirred, I checked her blanket.
They were healthy.
Safe.
Unaware that their father had torn our world apart.
I envied their innocence.
The next morning, Vanessa called.
I stared at her name.
Then answered.
"Hello?"
"Nia?"
Her voice was hesitant.
"Yes."
"I know you probably don't want to hear from me."
I looked toward the babies.
"Why are you calling?"
"Because I found out something about that consent form."
My heart quickened.
"What?"
"Marcus told me you were his sister."
I closed my eyes.
"What?"
"He said the property purchase involved family money. He told me you were helping him invest."
I shook my head.
"That doesn't explain your signature."
"I know."
Vanessa took a breath.
"I signed as a witness because he said you had already approved everything."
I stared at the wall.
"Did you actually see me sign it?"
"No."
"Then why did you witness it?"
Her voice cracked.
"Because I trusted him."
I wanted to scream.
How many women had trusted Marcus?
How many lies had he told?
Vanessa continued.
"I know that was wrong. I should have asked questions."
I remained silent.
Then she said, "There's another problem."
My stomach tightened.
"What now?"
"Marcus told me the house was for us after his divorce."
I gripped the phone.
"You said he told you he was single."
"He did. At first."
I stopped breathing.
Vanessa continued quickly.
"Three months ago, he admitted he'd been married before and said the divorce paperwork was taking longer than expected."
I closed my eyes.
"So you knew he had a wife?"
"I believed he was separated."
I felt anger surge through me.
"You never asked to see proof?"
She began crying.
"I was stupid."
I shook my head.
"You were careless. And I was the one home raising his children."
"I know."
Her voice broke.
"I'm sorry."
I took a slow breath.
I didn't want to spend my energy punishing Vanessa for Marcus's lies.
But I wasn't ready to trust her either.
"Send everything to Camille," I said.
"Who's Camille?"
"My attorney."
Vanessa hesitated.
"Okay."
I gave her the contact information.
Then ended the call.
Simone entered the kitchen.
"Was that her?"
I nodded.
"She says Marcus lied to her about who I was."
Simone shook her head.
"That man has been living three different lives."
I looked down.
Maybe more.
That afternoon, Camille called with new information.
The property had been purchased through an LLC registered to Marcus.
Vanessa was listed as a secondary contact.
The down payment appeared to include money from my savings account.
But that wasn't all.
There were two additional loans connected to the purchase.
And Marcus had personally guaranteed them.
My stomach dropped.
"How much debt?"
Camille paused.
"Nearly three hundred thousand dollars."
I sat down.
"Three hundred thousand?"
She confirmed it.
I closed my eyes.
Our family wasn't just missing money.
Marcus had created a financial structure I knew nothing about.
And he'd used my name on at least one document.
Camille explained that we needed a full accounting before determining my potential exposure.
She also recommended a forensic accountant.
I agreed immediately.
That evening, Marcus sent another message.
We need to talk about the twins.
My stomach tightened.
For twenty-four hours, he'd barely mentioned them.
Now suddenly he wanted to discuss fatherhood.
I forwarded the message to Camille.
Then replied briefly.
Please send any proposed arrangements through my attorney.
Marcus called.
I didn't answer.
A voicemail arrived.
"Nia, you're making this bigger than it needs to be."
I stared at the screen.
He continued.
"I made mistakes. But you don't get to keep my children from me."
My chest tightened.
I wasn't trying to keep the twins from their father.
I was trying to protect them while everything was investigated.
He finished with a threat.
"If you keep acting like this, I'll make sure the court knows you're unstable."
I saved the voicemail.
Then I sat quietly.
For months, I'd been exhausted.
I'd cried when the babies wouldn't sleep.
I'd called my sister for help.
I'd admitted that motherhood was harder than I expected.
Now Marcus was threatening to turn those vulnerable moments against me.
I felt sick.
Simone sat beside me.
"What happened?"
I played the recording.
Her face hardened.
"He's trying to scare you."
I nodded.
"Because he knows I have evidence."
She took my hand.
"Then don't give him a reaction he can twist."
I looked toward the living room.
Noah was asleep.
Naomi was kicking her tiny feet.
My children deserved calm.
They deserved a mother who could think clearly.
I took a breath.
"You're right."
The next morning, Camille arranged a meeting with Daniel Price, a forensic accountant.
He reviewed the documents for nearly two hours.
Then he pointed to a bank statement.
"Mrs. Bennett, do you recognize this company?"
I leaned forward.
The name was printed beside several transfers.
SEABRIDGE HOLDINGS.
I shook my head.
"No."
Daniel frowned.
"Interesting."
"Why?"
"Because this company received funds from your husband's business account before the property purchase."
My stomach tightened.
"Who owns it?"
He looked at the registration records.
Then turned his laptop toward me.
A name appeared.
I stared at it.
My husband's mother.
Patricia Bennett.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Because my mother-in-law had spent months telling me to be patient with Marcus.
She'd told me his work at sea required sacrifice.
She'd told me good wives trusted their husbands.
And now her company appeared in the financial trail.
I looked at Daniel.
"Are you saying his mother knew?"
He shook his head.
"Not necessarily. We need more evidence."
But I knew one thing.
May you like
This betrayal was no longer just about Marcus and Vanessa.
My husband's family might have been involved too.
