Chapter 7: The First Wife
"First wife?""
The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them.
I looked at Daniel.
Then at Patricia.
Neither moved.
Richard Whitmore remained standing beside the conference table, one hand resting on the old photograph of my father and my husband.
"Emily," he said carefully, "your husband was married before he met you.""
I frowned.
"Daniel told me he'd never been married.""
"He was.""
I turned toward Daniel.
"Who was she?""
He rubbed his face.
"Richard is twisting things.""
Richard opened his briefcase again.
"Her name was Laura Bennett. They married when Daniel was twenty-seven. The marriage lasted less than two years.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Daniel looked down.
"It was a difficult period in my life.""
"That isn't an answer.""
Patricia suddenly interrupted.
"Emily, everyone has a past. You're making this sound like some terrible crime.""
I turned toward her.
"You knew?""
She lifted her chin.
"Of course I knew.""
"And you let me marry him without telling me?""
"Laura wasn't relevant to your marriage.""
Richard gave a humorless laugh.
"That's not entirely true, Patricia.""
He removed another document.
It was a copy of a court filing.
I recognized Daniel's signature immediately.
"What's this?""
"Daniel's first divorce petition," Richard explained.
"The divorce was never finalized.""
I blinked.
"What?""
Daniel stepped forward.
"That's an old administrative issue.""
Richard shook his head.
"No, Mr. Carter. It's a legal issue.""
I looked at the document again.
The filing showed that Daniel and Laura had separated, but there was no final divorce decree attached.
"Daniel," I whispered, "are you still married to her?""
He swallowed.
"No.""
"Then where is the divorce certificate?""
He didn't answer.
Richard placed another page beside the first.
"This is a copy of a court record obtained through the appropriate legal channels. The marriage remained legally active for several years after the separation. It was eventually dissolved, but not until after Daniel had begun pursuing Emily.""
My stomach tightened.
"After?""
Richard nodded.
"Your husband filed for divorce again shortly after he learned about your father's estate.""
The room seemed to shrink.
I turned toward Daniel.
"When did you know about my inheritance?""
He looked at Patricia.
"Daniel," I repeated.
"Your father told me about the properties.""
"Before you proposed?""
He didn't answer.
Richard opened the old partnership agreement.
"Your father introduced Daniel to the property business because he believed he was ambitious. At first, he thought Daniel might become a useful business partner.""
"Useful?""
"Daniel was looking for investors. Your father considered financing one of his projects.""
Richard paused.
"Then he discovered Daniel had been using his previous marriage to obtain access to another woman's financial resources.""
I felt my skin go cold.
"Laura?""
Richard nodded.
"Laura came to your father after Daniel left her with significant debts. She claimed he'd used her credit and persuaded her to sign documents she didn't understand.""
I stared at Daniel.
He shook his head.
"That's not what happened.""
Richard continued.
"Your father investigated. He discovered that Daniel had used similar tactics before. He also discovered that Patricia had helped arrange some of the financial transactions.""
Patricia slammed her palm onto the table.
"That's enough!""
Richard looked at her.
"Would you like me to continue?""
She said nothing.
I turned toward Vanessa.
She had been sitting quietly near the window.
"Did you know about Laura?""
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
"I found out two months ago.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Daniel said Laura was unstable. He told me she'd tried to ruin him.""
I stared at her.
"And you believed him?""
Vanessa lowered her head.
"I wanted to.""
Daniel suddenly grabbed his folder.
"This meeting is over.""
Richard stepped between him and the door.
"Not until Emily receives the documents she came here for.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Move.""
"No.""
For several seconds, the two men stared at each other.
Then Daniel turned to me.
"Emily, let's go home. We'll discuss everything privately.""
I almost laughed.
"You've had six years to discuss things privately. Apparently, you've been too busy planning my financial funeral.""
His expression hardened.
"You don't understand the situation.""
"Then explain it.""
He glanced at Patricia.
She shook her head almost imperceptibly.
I noticed.
And suddenly, I understood that even now, they were still protecting something from me.
Richard slid a document across the table.
"Emily, your father left a separate instruction with the trustees. If any attempt was made to transfer the properties without your consent, they were to notify you and suspend all related activity.""
"Has that happened?""
"Yes. The attempted transfer was flagged last week.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Last week?""
He said nothing.
Richard continued.
"The proposed buyer was a company registered under Vanessa's name. The transaction was valued at approximately $4.2 million.""
I gripped the table.
"Four million?""
"Yes.""
"Who would have received the money?""
Richard looked at Vanessa.
She began crying.
"I was told the money would be distributed between several investors.""
"Who?""
She shook her head.
"Daniel and Patricia.""
Patricia stood so abruptly that her chair fell backward.
"That's a lie!""
Vanessa flinched.
"You told me the debts would disappear once the sale went through!""
Patricia pointed at her.
"Shut your mouth!""
I stared at the two women.
For the first time, Patricia wasn't controlling the room.
She was losing control.
Richard opened another file.
"There's one more issue. The proposed sale included a declaration that Emily had voluntarily agreed to the transaction.""
I felt sick.
"With my forged signature?""
"Yes.""
Daniel finally spoke.
"Emily, I can explain the financial arrangement.""
I looked at him.
"Can you explain why you pretended to be divorced when we met?""
He looked away.
"Can you explain why you lied about my father's trust?""
Silence.
"Can you explain why you stole $47,000 from my credit card?""
His voice dropped.
"I was going to pay it back.""
I shook my head.
"With the four million dollars you planned to steal?""
He didn't answer.
Then Vanessa stood.
"Emily, I have something you need to see.""
She pulled her phone from her handbag.
Daniel immediately moved toward her.
"Vanessa, don't.""
She stepped back.
"I'm done protecting you.""
She opened a recording.
A man's voice filled the conference room.
Daniel's voice.
Once Emily signs the documents, the bank won't ask questions. She'll think it's a normal refinancing arrangement.
Then Patricia's voice.
And if she refuses?
Daniel answered.
She won't. She still thinks I'm the man she married.
I felt my throat tighten.
The recording continued.
What about Vanessa?
Daniel laughed.
Vanessa gets what I promised her. The business, the apartment, whatever she wants. Once the property transfer is complete, Emily won't have enough money to fight anyone.
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
I looked at my husband.
"Is that what you think of me?""
He stared at the floor.
Then he said something that hurt more than all the lies combined.
"Emily, you were never supposed to find out.""
I slowly stood.
"You're right about that.""
I picked up my handbag.
"But you made one mistake, Daniel.""
He looked up.
"What?""
I held up my phone.
"Your father-in-law wasn't the only person who kept records.""
I turned toward the door.
And as I walked out, my phone vibrated.
A message had arrived from an unknown number.
It contained one photograph.
A woman standing outside a courthouse.
May you like
Underneath it were four words.
I'm Laura. We need to talk.
