Chapter 4
When Marcus admitted signing a power of attorney, I felt something inside me go numb.
I stared at him.
"Who did you appoint?"
He looked down.
"My mother."
My stomach tightened.
"For what purpose?"
He swallowed.
"Financial matters."
I closed my eyes.
Then opened them again.
"Marcus, did you read the document?"
He hesitated.
My heart sank.
"Marcus."
His voice cracked.
"Not carefully."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I looked toward Diane.
She stood beside Raymond with her arms folded.
Her expression had changed.
The fear was gone.
Now she looked almost triumphant.
I took a breath.
"Diane, show me the document."
She smiled coldly.
"It's private."
I stared at her.
"Then Marcus can provide it to his own attorney."
Raymond stepped forward.
"There's no need to involve lawyers."
I almost laughed.
"You're discussing a legal document."
He looked irritated.
I continued.
"Of course lawyers are involved."
Diane rolled her eyes.
"Nia, you're overreacting."
I shook my head.
"No."
I looked at Marcus.
"You need independent legal advice before anyone uses that document."
He nodded quickly.
"Okay."
Then I turned toward Rachel.
"Please ask the security supervisor to remain nearby."
She nodded.
Raymond's expression tightened.
I could see he didn't like losing control of the conversation.
Good.
For years, men like Raymond had relied on confusion.
They spoke confidently.
Used complicated words.
And expected other people to feel embarrassed asking questions.
I wasn't embarrassed.
I wanted facts.
I looked toward the relatives.
Several were watching quietly.
Patricia stepped forward.
"Nia, should we go inside?"
I nodded.
"Please. Everyone can settle in while this is addressed."
Diane immediately snapped.
"Nobody is going anywhere!"
I turned toward her.
"Why?"
She pointed toward me.
"Because you're trying to take over our vacation."
I stared at her.
"No, Diane."
I took a breath.
"I'm trying to prevent further misuse of my property."
She scoffed.
I continued.
"And I'm not discussing private financial matters as entertainment for the family."
Patricia nodded.
"She's right."
Several relatives began moving inside.
Diane looked furious.
Marcus stood beside me.
For the first time, he didn't follow his mother.
That small change didn't repair anything.
But I noticed.
After the deck emptied, Rachel joined us.
She had contacted Olivia Grant, my attorney.
Olivia was already reviewing the situation.
I explained what Marcus had signed.
Then asked whether the power of attorney could affect my business.
Olivia answered carefully.
"That depends on its scope and on what Marcus actually has authority over."
I nodded.
"He doesn't own my company."
"Then a document authorizing someone to act for Marcus doesn't automatically give them control over your separately owned business."
Relief washed through me.
But Olivia wasn't finished.
"However, we should review any jointly held assets and transactions."
My stomach tightened.
"Why?"
"Because the document might authorize action concerning Marcus's own interests."
I looked toward my husband.
He looked devastated.
Then Olivia asked him to obtain a copy of the signed document.
Marcus immediately called Diane.
She refused.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
Finally, he turned toward Raymond.
"Give me the paperwork."
Raymond laughed.
"Marcus, calm down."
My husband stepped closer.
"I'm serious."
For the first time, I heard real firmness in his voice.
Raymond's smile weakened.
He looked toward Diane.
She hesitated.
Then pulled a folded document from her handbag.
Marcus took it.
His hands shook as he unfolded the pages.
I watched him read.
Then his face went pale.
"What?"
I stepped closer.
He turned the document toward me.
The authorization was broad.
It appeared to give Diane power to conduct certain financial transactions for Marcus.
But near the bottom, another page referenced a proposed investment arrangement.
An entity called Coastal Legacy Partners LLC.
I frowned.
"What's that?"
Raymond looked uncomfortable.
Diane snapped.
"That's none of your business."
I stared at her.
"Then why is it attached to a document you wanted Marcus to sign?"
She didn't answer.
Marcus looked toward Raymond.
"What is Coastal Legacy Partners?"
Raymond hesitated.
"A property investment company."
My stomach tightened.
"Who owns it?"
He shrugged.
"Several people."
I took a breath.
"Names."
He looked irritated.
"That's confidential."
I nodded.
"Then my attorney can request the relevant records through proper channels."
Raymond's expression changed.
For the first time, he seemed genuinely worried.
Later that evening, Olivia reviewed the document.
She confirmed that Marcus should immediately seek advice about revoking or limiting the power of attorney.
She also recommended preserving records and checking for any transactions already initiated.
Marcus agreed.
We sat together in the upstairs sitting room.
For a long time, neither spoke.
Then he whispered, "Nia, I'm sorry."
I looked at him.
"For what?"
He swallowed.
"For not listening to you."
I stayed quiet.
He continued.
"For letting Mom treat you badly."
My chest tightened.
He looked down.
"And for signing something without telling you."
I took a breath.
"Marcus, I can't keep being surprised by decisions that affect our marriage."
He nodded.
"I know."
I continued.
"You don't have to ask my permission for every financial decision."
He looked up.
"But if someone is trying to use your finances to pressure me, we need to communicate."
He nodded.
"You're right."
For a moment, I saw the man I married.
Not the silent husband on the deck.
But the man who once believed we were partners.
I felt tears filling my eyes.
"Marcus, I love you."
His expression softened.
"I love you too."
I swallowed.
"But love isn't enough if I can't trust you to stand beside me."
He began crying.
"I know."
We sat quietly.
Then my phone rang.
Olivia.
I answered.
"Nia, we've identified Coastal Legacy Partners."
My stomach tightened.
"What is it?"
"A limited liability company registered in Georgia."
I nodded.
"Who owns it?"
Olivia paused.
"Raymond Bennett."
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Then she continued.
"Diane also appears on the organizational documents."
My heart tightened.
"What are they trying to do?"
"We're still investigating."
I took a breath.
Then Olivia said something unexpected.
"Nia, the company recently applied for financing."
I frowned.
"Against what?"
She hesitated.
"Several proposed property assets."
My stomach tightened.
"Which assets?"
Olivia took a breath.
"One application references your beachfront property."
I froze.
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Then I whispered, "That's impossible."
Olivia answered calmly.
"The application doesn't establish any ownership rights. But it suggests someone attempted to use the property in a financing proposal."
I stared toward the ocean.
The waves moved quietly beyond the deck.
Inside, relatives were preparing dinner.
Everything looked peaceful.
But someone had been trying to use my property to obtain money.
I took a breath.
"Olivia, preserve the records."
"Already done."
"And notify the lender that the property isn't authorized collateral."
"We're handling it."
I closed my eyes.
Then looked at Marcus.
He was staring at me.
"What happened?"
I swallowed.
"Your mother and Raymond may have tried to use this house to secure financing."
His face went white.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Marcus whispered, "Nia, I think I know why."
I stared at him.
"What?"
He looked down.
"Raymond owes money."
My stomach tightened.
"How much?"
Marcus hesitated.
Then whispered, "More than a million dollars."
I couldn't breathe.
Suddenly, Diane's insistence that I leave the vacation house wasn't only about power.
May you like
She may have been trying to remove the person most likely to stop their financial scheme.
And I realized the next few days could determine whether Marcus and I had any marriage left to save.
