Chapter 7: The Woman Daniel Had Never Stopped Loving
"Sarah, before you accuse me of stealing your house, you need to know what Daniel promised me in exchange.""
Laura Bennett's voice was calm.
Almost rehearsed.
I stood in Rachel's office, holding my phone so tightly that my fingers hurt.
"Who gave you my number?""
"Daniel.""
"Of course he did.""
"Please. Just listen to me.""
Rachel gestured for me to put the call on speaker.
I did.
Laura continued.
"I know what you've discovered about Westbrook Family Holdings. I know about the transfers, the property agreement, and the proposed sale.""
"Then you know my signature was forged.""
There was a pause.
"Yes.""
My stomach tightened.
"You're admitting that?""
"I'm admitting I saw the documents before they were submitted.""
Rachel leaned forward.
"Ms. Bennett, this is Rachel Collins, Sarah's attorney. Are you saying you knew the signature was not authorized?""
"I suspected it wasn't. Daniel told me Sarah had agreed verbally.""
"Did you verify that with Sarah?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
Laura exhaled.
"Because I knew she wouldn't agree.""
I felt something cold move through me.
"So you knew.""
"I knew Daniel was lying about something. I didn't know how far he had gone.""
Rachel interrupted.
"Why did Daniel promise you the house?""
Laura was silent for several seconds.
Then she answered.
"Because he told me he was going to divorce Sarah.""
I closed my eyes.
"When?""
"Almost two years ago.""
The room seemed to shrink.
Two years.
For two years, Daniel had apparently been planning a life with another woman while sleeping beside me, accepting my contributions to our savings, and telling me we were building a future together.
"What did he tell you about me?""
Laura hesitated.
"That your marriage was already over. That you were staying together because of financial arrangements. He said you both knew the relationship was finished.""
I laughed bitterly.
"He told you that?""
"Yes.""
"He took me to dinner on our anniversary during that same period.""
Laura said nothing.
"He bought me a bracelet. He told me I was the best thing that ever happened to him.""
"I know.""
"How could you possibly know?""
"Because he told me he was doing those things to keep you from becoming suspicious.""
I felt my knees weaken.
Rachel placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Laura, we need specifics. What was your involvement with the purchasing company?""
"I became a director of Bennett Property Solutions eighteen months ago. Daniel arranged it. He said the company would acquire properties from Westbrook and eventually expand into commercial real estate.""
"Who funded it?""
"Initially, Daniel and Patricia.""
"With money from Sarah's accounts?""
"I believe so.""
Rachel exchanged a look with Michael, who had joined us again.
"Did you receive any money personally?""
"Yes.""
"How much?""
Laura took a breath.
"Approximately $38,000.""
I stared at the phone.
"Thirty-eight thousand dollars?""
"It was described as a management fee.""
"Did you know where it came from?""
"Not at first.""
"And now?""
"Now I do.""
I gripped the edge of Rachel's desk.
"Why are you calling me?""
Laura's voice became quieter.
"Because Daniel promised me something else.""
"What?""
"He said that after the sale, he would transfer the lake house and a substantial amount of money to me. He said we'd finally be together.""
I looked at Michael.
He was already writing.
"Did you believe him?""
"I did. Until last week.""
"What happened last week?""
Laura paused.
"Daniel came to my apartment. He told me the transaction needed to happen quickly because you had started asking questions. He wanted me to sign another document.""
"What document?""
"A statement confirming that you had voluntarily agreed to sell the property.""
Rachel's eyes narrowed.
"Did you sign it?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because I found out Sarah had never been informed. I searched the company records and discovered the forged authorization.""
I swallowed.
"Then why didn't you contact me immediately?""
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of Daniel?""
"Of what he could do. He knows people. He knows how to make things difficult.""
Rachel took over.
"Ms. Bennett, would you be willing to provide copies of those documents and a formal statement?""
"Yes.""
"Would you be willing to testify if required?""
Another pause.
"Yes.""
I looked at the ceiling.
For the first time in days, I felt something resembling hope.
But then Laura said something that destroyed it.
"There's another reason I called.""
"What?""
"Daniel told me he has a second plan.""
Rachel immediately leaned closer.
"Explain.""
"He knows Sarah has found the Westbrook records. He knows Emily has spoken to her. He believes the property sale may be stopped.""
"And?""
"He told me that if the sale doesn't happen Monday, he'll use the insurance policy.""
My heart began racing.
"What insurance policy?""
Laura answered quietly.
"The life insurance policy on Sarah.""
I stared at Rachel.
"What?""
Laura continued.
"Daniel increased the coverage last year. He said it was part of a financial protection arrangement.""
I could barely breathe.
Rachel spoke firmly.
"Sarah, do you remember signing any life insurance documents?""
I shook my head.
Then I remembered.
Last spring, Daniel had placed several forms beside my breakfast plate.
"Just routine paperwork," he'd said.
"The company wants updated beneficiary information.""
I had signed two documents without reading every page.
I had trusted him.
"What did he say the policy was worth?"" I asked.
Laura answered.
"One million dollars.""
My legs nearly gave way.
Rachel immediately told Michael to contact the insurer.
Then she returned to the call.
"Laura, do you know who the beneficiary is?""
"Daniel.""
Silence filled the office.
I looked at my wedding photograph.
The man standing beside me in that picture had one hand around my waist and a smile that had once made me believe I was safe.
Now I wondered how long he had been pretending.
"Laura," I whispered, "does Daniel intend to hurt me?""
She didn't answer immediately.
Then she said:
"He told me something last night that frightened me.""
"What?""
"He said Sarah had become a liability, and liabilities sometimes had to be eliminated.""
Rachel stood.
"That's enough. We're preserving this call and contacting the appropriate authorities.""
I felt tears sliding down my cheeks.
Laura began crying too.
"I'm sorry, Sarah.""
I closed my eyes.
"I don't know whether you are. But if you're telling the truth, help us prove it.""
"I will.""
The call ended.
Rachel immediately contacted the insurer and requested a freeze on any changes to the policy.
Michael began compiling the financial evidence.
Emily, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, suddenly spoke.
"There's something I need to tell you.""
I turned.
"What now?""
She looked terrified.
"Mom knows about the life insurance policy. She helped Daniel arrange it.""
My blood ran cold.
"How?""
"She introduced him to the insurance broker. She said it was a way to protect the family.""
Rachel's expression hardened.
"Who was the broker?""
Emily swallowed.
"His name is Thomas Reed.""
Michael stopped typing.
"Thomas Reed?""
Emily nodded.
"Yes.""
Michael looked at us.
"I know that name.""
"From where?"" Rachel asked.
He opened another file.
"He's listed as a financial consultant for Westbrook Family Holdings.""
I felt the room spinning.
The same company that had received my money.
The same company that had arranged the suspicious property transfers.
The same company connected to my forged signature.
And now the insurance policy.
Rachel picked up her phone.
"I'm calling the authorities. Nobody is meeting Daniel alone.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from my husband.
*Daniel: I know you've been talking to Laura. This has gone far enough. Come home tonight. We need to settle this before Monday.*
Another message followed.
*Daniel: If you keep pushing, you'll lose more than your marriage.*
I handed the phone to Rachel.
She read it.
Then she looked at me.
"Sarah, this is no longer just a divorce case.""
I nodded.
Because I finally understood.
Daniel wasn't simply trying to leave me with nothing.
May you like
He was trying to make sure I never had the opportunity to expose what he had done.
And Monday was approaching much faster than any of us wanted.
