Chapter 4: The Man Who Claimed## Chapter 4: The Man Who Claimed My Father's House
For several seconds after Vanessa hung up, nobody moved.
Dad stood beside My Father's House
For several seconds after Vanessa hung up, nobody moved.
Dad stood beside his desk, staring at his phone as though he could his desk, staring at his phone as though he could somehow force her to call back and explain what she'd just said.
somehow force her to call back and explain what she'd just said.
Michael was the first to speak.
"David, do you know anyone named Richard Lawson?""
Dad shook his head.
"Not personally. I've heard the name before, but I can't place it.""
Michael opened his laptop againMichael was the first to speak.
"David, do you know anyone named Richard Lawson?""
Dad shook his head.
"Not personally. I've heard the name before, but I can't place it.""
Michael opened his laptop again.
"There's something you should know. The account receiving those transfers isn't registered to a random individual. It's connected to a property investment company.""
Dad.
"There's something you should know. The account receiving those transfers isn't registered to a random individual. It's connected to a property investment company.""
Dad frowned.
"What company?""
"Lawson Property Holdings.""
I looked at the notebook.
"Is Richard the owner?""
Michael nodded.
"According to the corporate records, yes frowned.
"What company?""
"Lawson Property Holdings.""
I looked at the notebook.
"Is Richard the owner?""
Michael nodded.
"According to the corporate records, yes.""
Dad walked toward the window.
"Vanessa said he owns half my house.""
Michael took off his glasses.
"Legally, that shouldn't.""
Dad walked toward the window.
"Vanessa said he owns half my house.""
Michael took off his glasses.
"Legally, that shouldn't be possible. Your property was purchased before your marriage, and I have never seen a transfer of ownership.""
"Then how could be possible. Your property was purchased before your marriage, and I have never seen a transfer of ownership.""
"Then how could he claim it he claim it?""
"That's what we need to investigate.""
Dad turned around.
"Call the attorney.""
Michael immediately made another phone call.
While he spoke, I noticed Dad rubbing the wedding ring on his finger.
He had never taken it off.
Not once.
Even after Vanessa humiliated me, even after the recording, even after discovering?""
"That's what we need to investigate.""
Dad turned around.
"Call the attorney.""
Michael immediately made another phone call.
While he spoke, I noticed Dad rubbing the wedding ring on his finger.
He had never taken it off.
Not once.
Even after Vanessa humiliated me, even after the recording, even after discovering the missing money, some part of him still seemed desperate to find an explanation that didn't involve his wife deliberately betraying him.
I understood that.
He had lost the missing money, some part of him still seemed desperate to find an explanation that didn't involve his wife deliberately betraying him.
I understood that.
He had lost my mother. He had spent years trying to build another happy family.
Accepting that Vanessa had married him for something other than love my mother. He had spent years trying to build another happy family.
Accepting that Vanessa had married him for something other than love meant accepting that he had been fooled.
And nobody wants to believe that about the person sleeping beside them.
At noon, Michael meant accepting that he had been fooled.
And nobody wants to believe that about the person sleeping beside them.
At noon, Michael left with copies of the financial records.
Dad and I remained in the office.
"Emily," he said, "I need you to tell me something honestly left with copies of the financial records.
Dad and I remained in the office.
"Emily," he said, "I need you to tell me something honestly.""
"What?""
"Has Vanessa ever asked you to sign anything?""
I thought back.
Then I remembered something from six months earlier.
"She.""
"What?""
"Has Vanessa ever asked you to sign anything?""
I thought back.
Then I remembered something from six months earlier.
"She asked me to asked me to sign a document when you were away on your business trip.""
Dad looked up sharply.
"What document?""
"She said it was an emergency contact form for the insurance company. She brought it into my sign a document when you were away on your business trip.""
Dad looked up sharply.
"What document?""
"She said it was an emergency contact form for the insurance company. She brought it into my room and told me you needed it.""
"Did you read it?""
"No. I was getting ready for work. I signed where she pointed.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Did you keep a copy?""
"No.""
He walked to his desk and opened the top drawer.
"Emily, I think that may have been the document Michael found.""
My stomach dropped.
"She used my signature?""
"We don't know yet.""
room and told me you needed it.""
"Did you read it?""
"No. I was getting ready for work. I signed where she pointed.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Did you keep a copy?""
"No.""
He walked to his desk and opened the top drawer.
"Emily, I think that may have been the document Michael found.""
My stomach dropped.
"She used my signature?""
"We don't know yet.""
A car door slammed outside.
We both turned toward the window.
Vanessa had returned.
And she wasn't alone.
A tall man in a navy suit stepped out of the passengerA car door slammed outside.
We both turned toward the window.
Vanessa had returned.
And she wasn't alone.
A tall man in a navy suit stepped out of the passenger seat.
He was probably in his early fifties, with carefully styled gray hair and an expensive watch.
He carried a black seat.
He was probably in his early fifties, with carefully styled gray hair and an expensive watch.
He carried a black leather briefcase.
Vanessa walked beside him, smiling.
"That's Richard," Dad said.
I watched them approach the front door.
"Should we let them in leather briefcase.
Vanessa walked beside him, smiling.
"That's Richard," Dad said.
I watched them approach the front door.
"Should we let them in?""
Dad straightened his shoulders.
"Absolutely.""
A moment later, the doorbell rang.
Dad opened it.
Vanessa entered first.
"Darling! You're both?""
Dad straightened his shoulders.
"Absolutely.""
A moment later, the doorbell rang.
Dad opened it.
Vanessa entered first.
"Darling! You're both here.""
Richard followed her inside.
"David Carter," he said, extending his hand.
"Finally, we meet.""
Dad didn't shake it.
"Who here.""
Richard followed her inside.
"David Carter," he said, extending his hand.
"Finally, we meet.""
Dad didn't shake it.
"Who are you?""
Richard's smile barely moved.
"Richard Lawson. I believe Vanessa has mentioned me.""
"She mentioned that you own half my house are you?""
Richard's smile barely moved.
"Richard Lawson. I believe Vanessa has mentioned me.""
"She mentioned that you own half my house.""
Richard chuckled.
"Well, that's a complicated way of putting it.""
"Then simplify it.""
Vanessa stepped between them.
"David, please. Richard is here to help us resolve.""
Richard chuckled.
"Well, that's a complicated way of putting it.""
"Then simplify it.""
Vanessa stepped between them.
"David, please. Richard is here to help us resolve a a business arrangement.""
Dad looked at her.
"What business arrangement?""
Richard placed his briefcase on the dining table.
"Vanessa and I have been working together on an investment opportunity. Your property business arrangement.""
Dad looked at her.
"What business arrangement?""
Richard placed his briefcase on the dining table.
"Vanessa and I have been working together on an investment opportunity. Your property was going to be part of the arrangement.""
Dad's voice sharpened.
"My property?""
Richard opened the briefcase and removed a thick folder.
"There's an agreement.""
He placed several documents on the table.
Dad didn't touch them.
"I never signed anything.""
Richard looked toward Vanessa.
She gave him a small nod.
"Perhaps you don't remember," Richard said.
Dad laughed once.
"I remember buying this was going to be part of the arrangement.""
Dad's voice sharpened.
"My property?""
Richard opened the briefcase and removed a thick folder.
"There's an agreement.""
He placed several documents on the table.
Dad didn't touch them.
"I never signed anything.""
Richard looked toward Vanessa.
She gave him a small nod.
"Perhaps you don't remember," Richard said.
Dad laughed once.
"I remember buying this house. I remember paying the mortgage. I remember every renovation.
I remember signing the deed. And I remember that I never agreed to give it to you.""
Richard house. I remember paying the mortgage. I remember every renovation.
I remember signing the deed. And I remember that I never agreed to give it to you.""
Richard's smile disappeared.
"David, I don't think you understand the situation.""
"Then explain it.""
Richard opened the folder.
"Van's smile disappeared.
"David, I don't think you understand the situation.""
"Then explain it.""
Richard opened the folder.
"Vanessa invested approximately $186,000 into the property.""
I stepped forward.
"That's not true. That money was transferred out of Dad's accounts.""
Vanessa turned towardessa invested approximately $186,000 into the property.""
I stepped forward.
"That's not true. That money was transferred out of Dad's accounts.""
Vanessa turned toward me.
"Stay out of this.""
Dad raised his voice.
"Don't speak to my daughter like that.""
Richard glanced at me.
"Who is this?""
"His daughter," Vanessa answered me.
"Stay out of this.""
Dad raised his voice.
"Don't speak to my daughter like that.""
Richard glanced at me.
"Who is this?""
"His daughter," Vanessa answered coldly.
Richard looked me over.
"Oh. The daughter.""
Something about the way he said those two words made my coldly.
Richard looked me over.
"Oh. The daughter.""
Something about the way he said those two words made my skin crawl.
He slid another document toward Dad.
"According to our agreement, Vanessa was entitled to an equity interest in the property in exchange for her financial contributions.""
skin crawl.
He slid another document toward Dad.
"According to our agreement, Vanessa was entitled to an equity interest in the property in exchange for her financial contributions.""
Dad scanned the first page.
Then the second.
Then he stopped.
"This signature is fake.""
Richard shrugged.
"That's a serious accusationDad scanned the first page.
Then the second.
Then he stopped.
"This signature is fake.""
Richard shrugged.
"That's a serious accusation.""
"It's my signature. I know what it looks like.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"David, don't embarrass yourself.""
.""
"It's my signature. I know what it looks like.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"David, don't embarrass yourself.""
Dad looked up.
"You're the one who should be embarrassed.""
Richard closed the folder.
"Perhaps we should discuss this privately.""
"No," Dad replied.
"Dad looked up.
"You're the one who should be embarrassed.""
Richard closed the folder.
"Perhaps we should discuss this privately.""
"No," Dad replied.
"Everything can be discussed in front of my daughter.""
Richard's expression hardened.
"Fine. Then let me be direct. If the agreement isn't honored, I intendEverything can be discussed in front of my daughter.""
Richard's expression hardened.
"Fine. Then let me be direct. If the agreement isn't honored, I intend to pursue legal action.""
Dad stepped closer.
"Go ahead.""
Vanessa grabbed Richard's arm.
"Wait.""
She looked at Dad to pursue legal action.""
Dad stepped closer.
"Go ahead.""
Vanessa grabbed Richard's arm.
"Wait.""
She looked at Dad.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
Dad pointed toward the door.
"Both of you. Leave.""
Richard slowly collected his documents.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
Dad pointed toward the door.
"Both of you. Leave.""
Richard slowly collected his documents.
"This isn't over, David.""
"No. It isn't.""
Vanessa remained in place.
"You're choosing her over me?""
Dad.
"This isn't over, David.""
"No. It isn't.""
Vanessa remained in place.
"You're choosing her over me?""
Dad stared at her.
"I'm choosing the truth.""
For a moment, her face stared at her.
"I'm choosing the truth.""
For a moment, her face twisted with anger.
Then she looked at me.
"You have no idea what you've started.""
I held her gaze.
"Neither twisted with anger.
Then she looked at me.
"You have no idea what you've started.""
I held her gaze.
"Neither do you.""
They left.
Dad locked the door behind them.
Then his phone rang.
It was Michael.
Dad answered.
"Tell me do you.""
They left.
Dad locked the door behind them.
Then his phone rang.
It was Michael.
Dad answered.
"Tell me you've found something.""
Michael's voice came through the speaker.
"I checked the property records again. There's a problem.""
"What problem?""
"Someone filed a deed-related document six months ago. It hasn't been registered as a completed transfer, but it references an ownership agreement.""
Dad gripped the phone.
"Who filed it?""
Michael paused.
"Vanessa Carter.""
Then he you've found something.""
Michael's voice came through the speaker.
"I checked the property records again. There's a problem.""
"What problem?""
"Someone filed a deed-related document six months ago. It hasn't been registered as a completed transfer, but it references an ownership agreement.""
Dad gripped the phone.
"Who filed it?""
Michael paused.
"Vanessa Carter.""
Then he added something else added something else.
"And David, there's a witness signature on the document.""
Dad looked at me.
"Whose?""
Michael took a breath.
"Emily Carter.""
I felt the floor disappear beneath my feet.
Because I suddenly remembered the document Vanessa had brought into my bedroom.
May you like
The one she'd told me was an insurance form.
And now I knew exactly why she had been so desperate to get my signature.
