Chapter 5
The following morning, I stood on the beachfront deck watching the sun rise over the Atlantic.
I hadn't slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I imagined Raymond sitting in my private office, searching through records that had nothing to do with him.
I thought about Diane kicking my suitcase.
Marcus standing silently.
The power of attorney.
The financing application.
And the possibility that my husband had unknowingly helped his mother and cousin attempt something far more serious than a cruel family argument.
I heard footsteps.
Marcus approached carrying two cups of coffee.
"Nia."
I turned.
"Morning."
He handed me one.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he whispered, "I called Olivia."
I looked up.
"You did?"
He nodded.
"I asked her to recommend an attorney who doesn't represent you."
My expression softened.
"That's a good idea."
He took a breath.
"I need to understand what I signed."
I nodded.
"And what my mother has done."
For the first time, he sounded determined.
I studied him.
Then asked, "Did you speak with Diane?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
My chest tightened.
"What happened?"
He looked toward the ocean.
"She said I'm betraying the family."
I almost laughed.
"Of course."
Marcus shook his head.
"Then I asked why she tried to use the house in Raymond's financing application."
My stomach tightened.
"And?"
He swallowed.
"She denied it."
I nodded.
"Did you ask about the company?"
"Yes."
He looked down.
"She said Raymond needed help keeping his business afloat."
I took a breath.
"Did she explain how my property became involved?"
Marcus shook his head.
"No."
For a moment, I felt sadness wash over me.
He was finally seeing the truth.
But it was painful.
Diane was his mother.
The woman who raised him.
The woman he trusted.
Now he was discovering that her version of loyalty might involve asking him to ignore serious financial misconduct.
I touched his arm.
"Marcus, you don't have to solve this alone."
His eyes filled with tears.
"I know."
Then he whispered, "I should've said that to you years ago."
My throat tightened.
We stood quietly.
Then Rachel appeared at the deck doors.
"Nia, sorry to interrupt."
I turned.
"What's wrong?"
"The security team found something."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
She handed me a tablet.
The screen displayed footage from the previous evening.
Raymond was standing near the side entrance.
He held a folder.
Diane approached.
They spoke quietly.
Then Raymond handed her several papers.
She placed them in her handbag.
I stared at the screen.
"Can you hear what they're saying?"
Rachel shook her head.
"No audio."
I nodded.
"Preserve it."
She continued.
"There's more."
She opened another clip.
This one showed Raymond entering the property office's exterior corridor.
He stopped beside a service cabinet.
Then placed something inside.
My stomach tightened.
"What was that?"
Rachel looked serious.
"We checked the cabinet."
I stared at her.
"And?"
She handed me a sealed plastic evidence sleeve.
Inside was a small USB drive.
My heart began pounding.
"Did anyone open it?"
Rachel shook her head.
"No."
I nodded.
"Good."
Then I looked at Marcus.
His face was pale.
I took a breath.
"Let's give it to the appropriate investigators."
Rachel agreed.
Later that morning, Olivia advised us to preserve the device and report the suspected financial irregularities.
I followed her instructions.
I wasn't going to secretly access files or make accusations based on something we hadn't verified.
The evidence needed proper handling.
Meanwhile, Diane and Raymond remained at the property under the existing rental arrangement while the management team addressed the access violations.
But I made one thing clear.
Any further unauthorized attempts to enter restricted areas would be documented and handled through the proper legal process.
I wasn't going to turn the vacation into a shouting match.
I wanted it resolved lawfully.
That afternoon, Patricia approached me.
She looked nervous.
"Nia, can we talk?"
I nodded.
"Of course."
We sat near the garden.
She took a breath.
"I owe you an apology."
I frowned.
"For what?"
"For staying silent yesterday."
My chest tightened.
Patricia continued.
"When Diane kicked your suitcase, I should've stopped her."
I looked down.
She shook her head.
"Instead, I stood there."
I took a breath.
"Thank you for saying that."
Her eyes filled with tears.
Then she whispered, "Diane has been treating you badly for years."
I looked up.
Patricia nodded.
"I know."
My chest tightened.
"Then why didn't anyone say anything?"
She looked ashamed.
"Because Diane makes life miserable when people disagree with her."
I stared toward the house.
For years, I'd wondered why relatives laughed nervously when Diane insulted me.
Now I understood.
They weren't necessarily agreeing.
Some were afraid of becoming her next target.
Patricia continued.
"But fear isn't an excuse."
I looked at her.
She nodded.
"I know."
For a moment, we sat quietly.
Then she said something unexpected.
"Nia, I think Raymond has been taking money from the family."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
She looked nervous.
"He's borrowed from several relatives."
I leaned forward.
"How much?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know the total."
I waited.
Then she whispered, "My husband gave him fifty thousand dollars."
My heart sank.
"For what?"
"A property deal."
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Patricia continued.
"Raymond promised a return within six months."
I looked at her.
"Did he repay it?"
She shook her head.
"No."
I took a breath.
"Have you kept the paperwork?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
I smiled gently.
"Then speak with an attorney and preserve everything."
Patricia looked relieved.
"Thank you."
I nodded.
For the first time, I realized Raymond's financial problems might extend far beyond my property.
He had been using family trust.
Family loyalty.
And family pressure.
And Diane had been helping him.
That evening, I received a call from Detective Aaron Brooks.
He had been assigned to review the suspected fraudulent financing activity.
"Ms. Bennett?"
"Yes."
"We've obtained preliminary information from the lender."
My heart jumped.
"And?"
"The application involving your beachfront property contains representations that appear inconsistent with the recorded ownership."
I nodded.
"Okay."
He continued.
"The lender had not released funds against that property."
Relief washed through me.
"Thank God."
Then he said something that made my stomach tighten.
"But the application included a document purporting to authorize Raymond's company to act on behalf of the property owner."
I froze.
"What?"
The detective paused.
"The document contains a signature resembling yours."
My hands began shaking.
I looked toward the ocean.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I whispered, "I never signed anything."
He nodded through the phone.
"That's what we'll investigate."
I closed my eyes.
Someone had attempted to use my identity.
My signature.
My property.
To obtain financing for a business I didn't control.
I took a breath.
"Detective, I'll cooperate fully."
He thanked me.
Then added something unexpected.
"Ms. Bennett, we're also reviewing other transactions connected to Coastal Legacy Partners."
My stomach tightened.
"Other transactions?"
"Yes."
I swallowed.
"How many?"
He hesitated.
"Several."
Then he continued.
"Some involve relatives who may not know their information was used."
I stared toward the house.
The Bennetts were gathered inside.
Eating.
Laughing.
Talking about the beach.
Completely unaware that their own family member might have been using their names in financial documents.
I looked toward Marcus.
He was standing near the glass doors.
His face was pale.
May you like
Then I whispered, "I think this is bigger than our marriage."
And for the first time, I understood that protecting myself might also mean protecting the very people who had spent years refusing to protect me.
