Chapter 2: The Secret Agreement
The next morning, David sat alone in his office staring at the documents spread across his desk.
The family estate had survived lawsuits, financial problems, and years of business struggles.
But he never imagined the biggest threat would come from inside his own home.
The lawyer, Mr. Anderson, had arrived early with a folder full of evidence.
David looked exhausted.
“Tell me everything.””
Mr. Anderson opened the folder.
“Jessica came to my office three weeks ago. She told me you wanted to update the property arrangement.””
David’s eyebrows tightened.
“I never met with you.””
“I know that now,” the lawyer replied.
David picked up one of the pages.
“So she lied.””
“She presented a signed authorization form.””
David stared at the signature.
“That isn’t my signature.””
Mr. Anderson nodded.
“That’s what concerned me.””
Meanwhile, Jasmine sat outside the office listening quietly. She had not wanted to leave her father alone, but she also felt guilty for causing conflict.
When David opened the door and saw her, his expression softened.
“You should be resting.””
Jasmine shook her head.
“I couldn’t.””
David walked over.
“Jasmine, look at me.””
She looked up.
“This is not your fault.””
“But she did this because of me.””
“No,” David said firmly.
“She did this because she made a choice.””
Jasmine swallowed.
“I trusted her.””
David sat beside her.
“I know.””
A few minutes later, Jessica entered the office.
She looked nervous, but she tried to hide it.
“Can we talk?””
David stood up.
“Yes. We can.””
Jessica looked at the lawyer.
“Can we do this privately?””
“No,” David replied.
“Everyone affected by this deserves to hear the truth.””
Jessica’s face changed.
“David, I only did what I thought was best.””
“You forged my approval.””
“I didn’t forge anything.””
Mr. Anderson placed the document on the table.
“Mrs. Carter, this signature does not match Mr. Carter’s official records.””
Jessica looked away.
David noticed.
“Why?””
Jessica looked at him.
“What?””
“Why would you do this?””
For a moment, Jessica said nothing.
Then she answered.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
“That you would leave everything to Jasmine.””
David stared at her.
“She is my daughter.””
“And Ethan is your son too,” Jessica replied.
David’s expression hardened.
“Ethan is my stepson. I have treated him like my own, but that does not mean you can steal from Jasmine.””
Jessica’s eyes filled with frustration.
“You always put her first.””
“Because she lost her mother,” David said quietly.
The room fell silent.
Jessica looked down.
“I was trying to protect Ethan’s future.””
David shook his head.
“You destroyed your own family’s trust instead.””
Just then, Jasmine’s phone buzzed.
She glanced down.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
Her face immediately changed.
David noticed.
“What is it?””
Jasmine slowly handed him the phone.
The message contained a picture.
It was a photo of Jessica standing outside a private meeting room with a man Jasmine didn’t recognize.
Underneath the photo were six words:
*“Ask your stepmother about the real plan.””*
David looked at Jessica.
“Who is this man?””
Jessica’s expression turned pale.
“I don’t know.””
But Jasmine noticed something.
Her stepmother was not looking confused.
She was looking afraid.
That night, David reviewed every financial document connected to the estate. The more he searched, the more questions appeared.
Then, at midnight, Mr. Anderson called.
David answered immediately.
“Did you find something?””
The lawyer’s voice sounded serious.
“Yes.””
David sat up.
“What?””
“There is another transfer agreement.””
David frowned.
“Another one?””
“Yes. And this one was signed before the property transfer.””
David felt his stomach drop.
“What does it say?””
The lawyer hesitated.
“It says Jessica planned to remove Jasmine from the property permanently.””
David looked across the room at Jasmine sleeping on the couch after an exhausting day.
His hands tightened around the phone.
But then the lawyer added one more sentence.
“And Mr. Carter… there is something else.””
David stood up.
“What?””
“The document mentions someone else who helped her.””
A cold feeling moved through him.
“Who?””
The lawyer was silent for a moment.
May you like
Then he finally answered.
“It was someone from your own family.””
