Chapter 6
I read the message three times.
It wasn't Marcus's idea.
It was his mother's.
My first instinct was to believe it.
After the things Patricia had said, it made sense.
But Camille had warned me about jumping to conclusions.
So I saved the messages and sent them to her.
Then I replied to the unknown number.
Who is this?
The answer came almost immediately.
Someone who worked for Seabridge Holdings.
My stomach tightened.
Do you have proof?
A pause.
Then a photograph appeared.
It showed an internal financial schedule.
Several payments were listed.
One was labeled BENNETT FAMILY FUNDS.
Another was labeled PROPERTY ACQUISITION.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
Patricia approves release after Nia authorization.
I stared at the screen.
My name.
My money.
My mother-in-law.
All on one page.
I forwarded it to Camille.
Then another message arrived.
Meet me tomorrow. I can explain.
I didn't agree.
Instead, I asked the person to contact my attorney.
They responded with a name.
Alicia Grant.
I recognized it vaguely.
She had worked as Patricia's office assistant.
I'd met her once at a family barbecue.
She'd been quiet.
Polite.
And visibly uncomfortable when Patricia ordered her around.
Now she was offering information that could change everything.
The next afternoon, Alicia met Camille and me at the attorney's office.
She was thirty-two, with short natural curls and tired eyes.
She sat across from us, clutching a folder.
"I'm nervous," she admitted.
Camille spoke gently.
"Tell us what you know, and don't guess about anything you're unsure of."
Alicia nodded.
Then she looked at me.
"Mrs. Bennett, I'm sorry."
I swallowed.
"What happened?"
She opened the folder.
"I worked for Seabridge Holdings for three years."
She explained that Patricia used the company to manage several small investments.
Some were legitimate.
Others involved questionable transfers between family accounts.
Alicia had handled basic bookkeeping.
At first, she hadn't understood the full picture.
Then Marcus began sending money.
Large amounts.
She noticed that some funds originated from an account associated with my name.
When she asked Patricia about it, Patricia told her the money was part of a family investment agreement.
Alicia believed her.
Until she saw a consent form.
"My signature?" I asked.
Alicia nodded.
"I noticed the witness name was Vanessa Carter."
I leaned forward.
"What about it?"
"Patricia said Vanessa was Marcus's business partner."
My stomach tightened.
Alicia continued.
"Then I heard Patricia talking to Marcus about keeping you calm until the purchase closed."
I felt cold.
"What exactly did she say?"
Alicia opened her notebook.
She'd written the words down after the conversation.
"She said, 'Nia doesn't need to understand the investment. She just needs to stay quiet until we finish.'"
My throat tightened.
Camille asked whether anyone else heard the conversation.
Alicia nodded.
"Another employee was nearby. I can give you her name."
Camille wrote it down.
Then Alicia showed us an email.
It was from Patricia to Marcus.
The subject line read:
FINAL TRANSFER STRATEGY.
In the message, Patricia discussed moving funds through Seabridge before the property purchase.
She also warned Marcus not to mention the transaction to me.
I stared at the words.
There was no misunderstanding.
No innocent mistake.
They had deliberately kept me in the dark.
Camille reviewed the email carefully.
"How did you obtain this?"
"It was sent to my work account because I processed the bookkeeping entries."
"Do you still have authorized access to the records?"
Alicia nodded.
"I retained copies of records I handled before I left."
Camille explained that any evidence would need to be collected and used lawfully.
Alicia agreed to cooperate.
Then she looked at me.
"There's something else."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
"Patricia wanted Marcus to convince you to stop working."
I stared at her.
"Why?"
Alicia swallowed.
"She thought you'd be easier to control if you depended on him financially."
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
I remembered Marcus encouraging me to take a longer maternity leave.
He said I deserved rest.
He said he'd provide everything.
He said there was no reason to rush back to work.
I'd believed he was being loving.
Now I wondered whether he'd been following a plan.
Alicia looked down.
"I'm sorry."
I shook my head.
"You didn't make those decisions."
She nodded.
Then added quietly, "I wish I'd spoken up sooner."
I understood that feeling.
I'd spent months ignoring warning signs because I wanted my marriage to work.
But regret couldn't change the past.
Only action could protect the future.
That evening, I told Simone everything.
She listened in silence.
Then hugged me.
"Nia, we're going to get your life back."
I wanted to believe her.
But I had no idea what my life would look like when the legal battles ended.
I had two babies.
No current income.
A marriage collapsing.
And a financial mess that seemed to grow every day.
For the first time, I admitted something aloud.
"I'm scared."
Simone held my hand.
"I know."
"What if I can't support Noah and Naomi?"
"You've supported them every day since they were born."
"That's different."
"Is it?"
I looked at her.
She continued.
"You've been doing the hardest part already. Now we build the rest."
I started crying.
She hugged me.
For the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to lean on someone.
The next morning, I contacted my former employer.
My supervisor, Mrs. Collins, sounded genuinely happy to hear from me.
"Nia! How are the twins?"
I smiled weakly.
"They're growing fast."
We talked for a few minutes.
Then I asked whether there might be an opening for part-time remote work.
She paused.
"As a matter of fact, we're expanding the billing department."
My heart quickened.
"Really?"
"Yes. And I'd love to have you back."
I almost cried.
We discussed hours.
Training.
A gradual return.
Nothing was finalized yet.
But for the first time, I could imagine supporting myself again.
That afternoon, Camille called.
She had reviewed Alicia's records.
The evidence raised serious concerns about unauthorized transfers and false documents.
She planned to pursue financial discovery and coordinate with the appropriate authorities.
I thanked her.
Then she said something that made my stomach tighten.
"Nia, there may be another issue."
"What?"
"Patricia appears to have prepared documents transferring additional assets into Seabridge."
I frowned.
"What assets?"
Camille paused.
"The family home."
I stopped breathing.
"Our house?"
"Yes."
I gripped the phone.
May you like
Because Marcus hadn't just been using my savings to buy another woman a property.
His mother may have been preparing to take the home where I planned to raise my children.
