Chapter 8: The Woman Who Wanted Everything
My father read the document three times.
Then he looked at Uncle Michael.
"How did you get this?""
Michael pulled out a chair in the dining room.
"Richard's company has been trying to secure financing. Someone approached a property agent using information connected to Emma's trust.""
Dad's face tightened.
"And Vanessa signed this?""
"That's what the document appears to show. The agent refused to proceed because the property wasn't registered in her name.""
I stood beside the dining table, barely breathing.
My mother's property.
The little cottage she had inherited from her parents.
I remembered visiting it when I was younger. It had a white fence, a small garden, and a wooden swing hanging from an old tree.
My mother used to tell me that one day it would be mine.
I hadn't thought about it in years.
"Why would Vanessa want to sell it?"" I whispered.
Dad pulled me close.
"That's what we're going to find out.""
The next morning, he contacted his lawyer.
By lunchtime, we were sitting in a conference room with Mr. Bennett, a family solicitor.
He examined the documents carefully.
"First, I want to make something clear," he said.
"The trust assets belong to Emma. Neither Daniel nor Vanessa can simply take them for personal use.""
Dad nodded.
"I understand.""
Mr. Bennett turned toward me.
"Emma, the property and financial assets were established for your benefit. The attempted transfer is serious, but the fact that it was stopped is important.""
"Can Vanessa still sell the property?""
"No. Not without the appropriate legal authority, which she does not appear to possess.""
Dad leaned forward.
"What about the money she transferred from my household account?""
"That is a separate matter. We will need to review the records and determine whether those transfers were authorized.""
My father placed his bank statements on the desk.
"These are all the payments I made for the household.""
Mr. Bennett examined them.
"There's a significant amount here.""
Dad nodded.
"Vanessa told me she was using the money for household expenses. I trusted her.""
The lawyer looked up.
"Trust is important in a marriage, Mr. Carter. But financial records matter too.""
He began organizing the papers.
"One more thing. I recommend that all communication about the trust and the property be handled through my office from now on.""
Dad agreed.
As we stood to leave, my phone vibrated.
It was a message from Madison.
Emma, can we talk? Please don't tell Mom.
I showed Dad.
He nodded.
"You can reply. Just be careful not to get caught in the middle.""
I stepped outside and called her.
She answered immediately.
"Emma?""
"Hey. What's wrong?""
Her voice was shaking.
"Mom is really angry.""
"About what?""
"About Dad stopping the money.""
I leaned against the wall.
"Is Tyler okay?""
"He's fine. But Mom keeps arguing with Grandma. She says Dad has embarrassed her and that she deserves compensation.""
I closed my eyes.
"What does that mean?""
Madison hesitated.
"She said she's going to make Dad pay.""
My stomach tightened.
"Madison, has she said anything else?""
"She keeps talking to Richard. Yesterday, I heard them arguing about a property.""
I straightened.
"What property?""
"I don't know. But Mom said the money from selling it would solve everything.""
My heart started pounding.
"Madison, did she mention my name?""
Silence.
Then she whispered, "Yes.""
I felt cold.
"What did she say?""
"She said if Dad won't give her money, she'll make sure you don't get anything either.""
I couldn't speak.
Madison began crying.
"I'm sorry, Emma. I didn't know Mom was doing all this.""
I swallowed.
"It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong.""
"Are you still my sister?""
That question broke my heart.
"Of course I am.""
She cried harder.
"I miss you.""
"I miss you too.""
After the call, I told Dad everything.
He immediately contacted Mr. Bennett.
That evening, he received a call from Vanessa.
He put it on speaker.
"Daniel, we need to talk.""
Dad sat down.
"Go ahead.""
"I've been thinking about everything.""
"That's good.""
She sighed.
"I know things got out of control. I was upset. I shouldn't have said some things to Emma.""
I stared at the phone.
It was the first time I had heard her admit anything.
Dad remained cautious.
"What exactly are you apologizing for?""
"Everything. The clothes. The arguments. The school.""
He waited.
Then Vanessa continued.
"But I think we need to move forward. I want to come home.""
Dad glanced at me.
"That's not something we can decide over the phone.""
"Daniel, we're married.""
"Marriage doesn't erase what happened.""
She became emotional.
"I've been staying with my mother, and the children are miserable. Tyler keeps asking when he'll see you again.""
Dad's expression softened slightly.
"I miss them too.""
"Then let me come home.""
He was silent.
Finally, he said, "We'll discuss it after speaking with the lawyer.""
Vanessa's voice sharpened.
"Why does everything have to involve lawyers?""
"Because you've attempted to access Emma's trust without authorization.""
Silence.
Then she laughed nervously.
"That's ridiculous. I was only asking questions.""
"You submitted a transfer request.""
"I was trying to help!""
"By taking money that belongs to my daughter?""
Her voice rose.
"She doesn't even need that much money! She's a child!""
Dad ended the call.
For several seconds, he sat quietly.
Then he turned toward me.
"Sweetheart, I need you to understand something. Your mother's inheritance is not the reason you deserve love and protection.""
I nodded.
"You deserve those things because you're my daughter.""
I hugged him.
But the next day, Vanessa made one final move.
She arrived at our house with Madison and Tyler.
She was carrying two suitcases and a large envelope.
Dad opened the door.
"What are you doing here?""
Vanessa smiled.
"I'm coming home.""
He looked at the suitcases.
"Did we agree to that?""
She stepped inside.
"Don't make this difficult.""
Madison ran straight toward me and hugged me.
Tyler followed.
I hugged them both.
For a few seconds, I felt hopeful.
Maybe things could finally become normal.
Then Vanessa placed the envelope on the dining table.
"Before we continue, I need you to sign something.""
Dad didn't touch it.
"What is it?""
"A settlement agreement.""
He opened the envelope.
His eyes moved across the first page.
Then he looked up at her.
"You're asking me to pay you $150,000?""
Vanessa lifted her chin.
"That's what I deserve after everything I've sacrificed.""
Dad slowly closed the envelope.
"And if I refuse?""
Her smile disappeared.
She leaned closer and whispered:
"Then I'll tell everyone what your first wife did before she died.""
May you like
My father went completely still.
Because whatever Vanessa believed she knew about my mother, she was clearly prepared to use it as a weapon.
