Chapter 4
I didn't open the door.
Daniel rang again.
"Nia, stop behaving like this."
I stood behind the locked entrance with Lily sleeping upstairs under Renee's watchful eye.
My heart pounded so hard it hurt.
"Take Lily where?" I asked through the intercom.
Daniel sighed.
"Don't make this worse."
"Worse than what?"
Evelyn moved into the camera's view.
"Just open the door, Nia."
I ignored her.
"Daniel, answer my question."
He looked irritated.
"Mom has agreed to care for Lily while you get some help."
I gripped the phone.
"Help for what?"
"Your emotional problems."
I nearly dropped the device.
"My emotional problems?"
"Everyone knows you've been struggling."
"Everyone?"
"Don't twist my words."
I stared at his face on the screen.
I knew every detail of that face.
I knew the small scar near his eyebrow.
The way he clenched his jaw when frustrated.
The way he used to smile when Jordan called him Dad.
Now I barely recognized the man standing outside.
"You filed a report against me?"
Daniel looked away.
"We were concerned."
"We?"
Evelyn stepped forward.
"Your behavior today proved our concerns were justified."
I felt rage rise through my exhaustion.
"You tried to take my baby."
"I was helping."
"You threatened to throw me out."
"You were being unreasonable."
I took a breath.
"Then explain the forged document."
Silence.
Vanessa's eyes darted toward Daniel.
He moved closer to the doorbell camera.
"What document?"
"The financial power of attorney. The one carrying my forged signature."
His expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
Then he said, "You're confused."
My stomach turned.
"I'm looking at the paperwork."
"You signed several documents while pregnant."
"Not that one."
"You were exhausted. Maybe you forgot."
I looked toward the stairs.
I had given this man my trust.
My heart.
A place in my children's lives.
And he was trying to convince me I couldn't remember my own decisions.
"No, Daniel."
He closed his eyes.
"Nia, please."
"Did you forge my signature?"
He didn't answer.
I repeated the question.
This time his voice hardened.
"I did what I had to do."
There it was.
Not an apology.
Not an explanation.
A confession disguised as justification.
Renee joined me downstairs.
She heard the last words.
Her expression became cold.
"Ask him how much debt he owes."
Daniel saw her through the narrow sidelight beside the door.
"Renee, stay out of my marriage."
She pressed the intercom button.
"Then stop committing fraud against my sister."
Vanessa shouted, "Nobody committed fraud!"
Renee stared at the screen.
"Then why are you afraid of an investigation?"
Daniel raised his briefcase.
"Nia, the situation is serious. If you don't cooperate, you could lose everything."
I felt an unexpected calm settle over me.
"Everything?"
"The house. The business. Maybe even custody."
My knees weakened.
I steadied myself against the wall.
"You are threatening to take my baby because I won't give you my house."
He looked down.
I suddenly understood.
The money.
The property.
The accusations about my mental health.
The papers.
It was all connected.
"What did you borrow money for?"
Daniel's silence stretched.
Finally, Vanessa blurted, "He was trying to save the company!"
Evelyn turned sharply.
"Vanessa!"
But it was too late.
I stared at Daniel.
"What company?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"My construction business."
"You told me you were working for a regional contractor."
"I was."
"Was?"
He looked defeated.
"I bought into a development partnership six months ago."
I felt as if the floor had shifted.
Six months.
During my pregnancy.
While I believed we were building a secure future.
He had risked everything.
"How much did you lose?"
He hesitated.
"Two hundred and eighty thousand."
Vanessa whispered, "It's more now."
Daniel glared at her.
I heard Renee inhale sharply.
"More?"
"With penalties and interest," Daniel admitted, "it's close to three hundred and forty thousand."
I closed my eyes.
"Where did the money go?"
"Into a housing development."
"Which development?"
No answer.
"Daniel."
He finally said, "Westbrook Gardens."
I recognized the name.
The project had appeared in local news after construction stopped because of financing problems.
Several investors were suing its managing partners.
I had never imagined my husband was one of them.
"You invested in that disaster?"
He struck the door with his palm.
"Don't speak to me like I'm stupid!"
Lily's cries came from upstairs.
I flinched.
"Lower your voice."
He looked immediately ashamed.
But Evelyn stepped forward again.
"Enough. Sign the temporary guardianship papers."
My blood turned cold.
"What?"
Vanessa raised the documents toward the camera.
They had prepared forms asking for temporary guardianship of Lily.
And another document authorizing Daniel to manage certain financial matters while I supposedly recovered.
I stared at the papers.
"You wanted me to sign away control of my child and property?"
"Temporarily," Evelyn insisted.
"Until you're stable."
Renee grabbed my arm.
"Nia, stop talking to them."
Daniel suddenly softened his voice.
"Baby, please. We can fix this."
I remembered him holding Lily in the hospital.
I remembered believing his tears were proof that he would never hurt us.
"By lying about me?"
He looked miserable.
"I panicked."
"You planned."
He said nothing.
I stepped closer to the intercom.
"You need to leave."
"Nia—"
"Now."
Evelyn's face twisted.
"You can't keep our granddaughter from us forever."
I replied quietly.
"I can protect her from anyone who threatens her."
Daniel stood motionless.
Then he slowly turned away.
Evelyn followed, furious.
Vanessa lingered.
She looked back toward the camera.
For a moment, I thought she was going to insult me again.
Instead, she whispered something barely audible.
"Check what Daniel put in the second account."
Then she hurried after them.
I stared at the screen.
Second account?
Renee looked at me.
"What account?"
I didn't know.
May you like
But I was beginning to understand that Daniel's debt wasn't the entire story.
And someone in his family was hiding where the missing money had really gone.
