Chapter 7
Vanessa knew exactly how to hurt me.
She had already stolen my mother's designs.
She had tried to destroy my competition entry.
Now she was threatening the home where I grew up.
Dad read the message and sat down heavily.
For a long moment, he didn't speak.
Then he said, "She can't take the house."
Lauren looked at him.
"Are you certain?"
Dad hesitated.
The silence frightened me.
"Dad?"
He rubbed his forehead.
"Vanessa handled most of our financial paperwork."
My heart sank.
"What does that mean?"
He stood and walked to his office.
When he returned, he carried a folder containing mortgage statements, insurance documents, and bank letters.
Lauren examined them carefully.
Then she stopped.
"Daniel, did you authorize this home-equity loan?"
Dad leaned closer.
"What loan?"
My stomach dropped.
Lauren pointed to a document.
It showed a loan for ninety thousand dollars secured against our house.
The paperwork carried Dad's signature.
He shook his head.
"I never signed that."
Lauren looked at Samuel.
"We need to verify the original records immediately."
I stared at my father.
Ninety thousand dollars.
Vanessa had somehow borrowed money against our home without his knowledge.
At least, that was what it appeared.
And if the lender enforced the loan, we could face serious financial consequences.
"Can she really take our house?" I whispered.
Lauren looked at me.
"Not simply because she threatens to. We need to investigate the loan's validity and whether the signatures were forged."
But the fear remained.
I couldn't lose the house.
I couldn't lose the room where Mom used to braid my hair.
The kitchen where she taught me to make pancakes.
The garage where she helped me sew my first dress.
That house was full of her.
Vanessa knew it.
And she was using those memories against me.
Samuel arranged for a forensic document examiner to review the questioned signatures.
Meanwhile, Lauren contacted the lender, disputed the loan authorization, and asked that collection activity be suspended during the investigation.
Two days later, a preliminary report arrived.
The handwriting examiner identified significant differences between Dad's known signatures and those on the loan documents.
It wasn't a final legal ruling.
But it gave us something to fight with.
Dad cried when he read it.
"I handed her control of everything."
I sat beside him.
"You didn't give her permission to commit fraud."
He looked at me.
"But I ignored the warning signs."
I couldn't deny that.
There were years of warnings.
And years when I begged him to listen.
Still, I could see he was finally facing the damage.
That mattered.
The following morning, Samuel called with surprising news.
Police investigators wanted to interview Vanessa regarding the forged transfer documents and financial records.
She had reportedly retained an attorney.
No charges had yet been filed.
But the investigation was becoming serious.
That afternoon, Vanessa requested a meeting through her lawyer.
Lauren advised us not to meet privately.
Any discussion would take place with legal representatives present.
We gathered in a conference room at Samuel's office.
I wore my cream blouse and black skirt.
The same outfit I'd worn before the competition.
But I wasn't the same person.
Vanessa entered wearing a white designer suit.
Her hair was perfect.
Her jewelry glittered.
She looked at me with the familiar expression of superiority.
"Nia."
I didn't answer.
Her attorney sat beside her.
Vanessa folded her hands.
"I think this situation has gotten out of control."
I almost laughed.
"You destroyed my dress."
She ignored me.
"There's no reason to destroy the family over old business disagreements."
Dad leaned forward.
"Vanessa, you forged documents."
Her expression hardened.
"Those are allegations."
"And you threatened my house."
"Our house," she corrected.
Dad stared at her.
"No. The house Evelyn and I bought before we were married."
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
Lauren interrupted.
"We're here to hear your client's proposal."
Vanessa opened a folder.
She offered to withdraw the accusation that I stole Sterling's fabric.
She would also agree not to challenge my competition entry.
In exchange, I had to sign a confidentiality agreement and release any claims to my mother's design archive.
I stared at the papers.
"You want me to give up everything?"
Vanessa leaned closer.
"You'll receive twenty thousand dollars."
I laughed.
I couldn't stop myself.
"Twenty thousand?"
"That's more money than you've ever had."
I looked at her.
"You sold my mother's work for years."
Her eyes flashed.
"You can't prove that."
"Then why are you paying me to stop asking questions?"
Silence filled the room.
Her attorney shifted uncomfortably.
I pushed the folder back.
"No."
Vanessa stared at me.
"You should think carefully."
"I have."
"You could lose everything."
I leaned forward.
"You already tried to take everything from me."
My voice shook, but I continued.
"My mother. My education. My designs. My chance to succeed."
Vanessa's face tightened.
"But you failed."
I stood.
"And I'm done being afraid of you."
For a second, she looked ready to explode.
Then she smiled.
It was the smile I had learned to fear as a child.
"Your mother made that same mistake."
The room became silent.
I stared at her.
"What did you say?"
Vanessa looked away.
Lauren spoke immediately.
"Mrs. Carter, please clarify that statement."
But Vanessa rose.
"This meeting is over."
Her attorney followed her toward the door.
I watched her leave.
Then I turned to Samuel.
"She knew my mother was sick. She knew exactly how vulnerable she was."
Samuel nodded grimly.
"We need to learn everything about their business relationship."
That evening, Grace Holloway called.
Her voice trembled.
"Nia, I remembered something about the last meeting your mother attended."
My pulse raced.
"What?"
"There was another person in the room."
"Who?"
"Richard Vale. The investor's representative."
I grabbed a pen.
"Where is he now?"
Grace hesitated.
"I found his name in an old directory."
Then she said words that changed the entire direction of our investigation.
May you like
"He's the man who signed off on the first fraudulent payment to Vanessa."
And finally, we had a name connected to the money.
