Chapter 2
Vanessa started shaking her head before I finished speaking.
“Evelyn, you're confused. You've had too much excitement tonight.”
I almost laughed.
This woman had destroyed a four-thousand-dollar cake, insulted me in front of two hundred people, and fallen into the mess she created. Now she wanted everyone to believe I was losing my mind.
Marcus lowered his phone.
“Mom, what are you talking about?”
I looked at my son. His eyes were full of questions, and I hated knowing that the answers would hurt him.
“Ask your wife why she has been calling my attorney.”
Vanessa's lips parted.
Marcus turned sharply toward her.
“You called Mom's attorney?”
“I called him about a family matter!”
“What family matter?”
She glanced around the ballroom, searching for someone willing to rescue her.
Nobody moved.
I had spent seven decades learning that silence could reveal more than shouting ever would.
“Let's not discuss private business here,” Vanessa said. “Your mother is upset. We should take her home.”
“My home is exactly where I intend to stay,” I replied.
Then I reached into my clutch and removed a small envelope.
Vanessa stared at it as though I had pulled out a weapon.
Marcus noticed her reaction.
“What is that?”
“A copy of the proposal Vanessa submitted to my attorney three weeks ago.”
My son took the envelope and opened it.
His expression changed as he read the first page.
“What does this mean?”
“It means your wife wanted me declared incapable of managing my own financial affairs.”
Marcus looked up slowly.
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“That is not what happened!”
“Then explain it,” I said.
She grabbed for the papers, but Marcus moved them behind his back.
“I asked your mother to consider getting help with her finances,” Vanessa insisted. “She's getting older. Somebody has to make sure she doesn't lose everything.”
“I have managed my finances since before you met my son.”
“You forget things!”
“I forgot where I put my glasses yesterday. I did not forget that you asked me to transfer ownership of my properties into a family trust controlled by you.”
Marcus stared at her.
“What trust?”
I answered before she could.
“The one she wanted me to establish, with herself as the primary trustee.”
His face hardened.
“Vanessa, tell me she's lying.”
She looked at him with wounded indignation.
“I'm trying to protect our future!”
“By taking control of my mother's money?”
“Your mother has more money than she can ever spend!”
The words escaped her before she could stop them.
Several guests exchanged looks.
Marcus went completely still.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I felt a familiar ache settle in my chest. Money had always brought out the worst in people, but I had hoped my son's marriage would be different.
“You're right about one thing,” I said. “I have worked hard enough to provide for myself. But my money is not yours to claim.”
Vanessa's eyes filled with angry tears.
“You've never accepted me! You always wanted Marcus to yourself!”
“This has nothing to do with my love for Marcus.”
“Everything you do is about control!”
I looked at my son.
“Marcus, do you remember the investment company I established after your father died?”
He nodded slowly.
“Of course.”
“I placed several family assets under its management. The company was created to protect our properties and provide for future generations.”
I paused.
“Last month, I discovered unauthorized attempts to access its accounts.”
Marcus looked confused.
“Unauthorized by whom?”
“I don't know yet. But the requests were submitted using information that should never have left my private office.”
Vanessa took a step backward.
Marcus noticed.
“Why are you moving away from us?”
“Because this is ridiculous!”
She turned toward the guests.
“I'm leaving.”
“Not yet,” I said.
She spun around.
“You cannot order me to stay!”
“No. But you should hear what comes next.”
I removed another document from the envelope.
“Three weeks ago, my attorney discovered that someone had requested copies of the deeds to my properties. Someone also attempted to change the mailing address associated with my investment accounts.”
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She said nothing.
I continued.
“Those requests originated from a computer connected to your home office.”
My son's face became unreadable.
Vanessa finally found her voice.
“Anybody could have used that computer!”
“Exactly,” I said. “Which is why I haven't accused you of anything I cannot prove.”
I folded the document and returned it to my clutch.
“However, I invited several people here tonight for a reason. One of them has information about those transactions.”
Marcus looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Who?”
Before I could answer, the doors opened.
My attorney, Daniel Brooks, entered carrying a black leather briefcase.
Behind him walked a woman I had never met.
She wore a navy business suit and held a folder tightly against her chest.
May you like
Vanessa saw her.
And for the first time that evening, my daughter-in-law looked genuinely frightened.
