Chapter 7: The Second Agreement
"You're not supposed to find out about the second agreement.""
Denise's words hung in the living room.
Nobody moved.
Dad stared at her as if he were seeing a stranger.
"What second agreement?""
Denise pressed her lips together.
I took a step toward her.
"You just admitted there is another agreement with my name on it. What did you sign?""
She shook her head.
"You're misunderstanding.""
"Then explain it.""
"Marcus, please. We need to talk privately.""
Dad laughed without humor.
"That stopped being an option when you stole my daughter's identity.""
Kaylee stood beside the sofa, clutching her phone.
"Mom, what did you do?""
Denise looked at her.
"Everything I did was to keep you safe.""
"From what?""
"From losing everything!""
Kaylee's voice cracked.
"We have a house. We have money. I have a new car. What exactly were we going to lose?""
Denise didn't answer.
I took out my phone and called Eleanor.
She answered immediately.
"Nia, I've been waiting for your call.""
"Westbridge submitted another agreement. They used my electronic signature to transfer the property.""
There was a sharp silence.
"Did you see the application?""
"Not yet. My attorney's office called. They said it was submitted this morning.""
"Don't sign anything. Don't acknowledge any obligation. I'm sending you a secure document request. We need the full filing.""
I glanced at Denise.
"Do you know what the second agreement is?""
Eleanor exhaled.
"I was afraid this would happen.""
My stomach tightened.
"Tell me.""
"Your mother created a secondary protection clause. If anyone attempted to transfer the trust property using fraudulent documentation, ownership would remain protected while the transaction was challenged.""
"Then why is Westbridge claiming they can take it?""
"Because they have submitted a separate document claiming that you voluntarily waived those protections.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"That makes no sense. I've never signed anything.""
"That's exactly what we need to establish.""
Dad took the phone from me.
"Eleanor, this is Marcus. What can we do?""
"First, preserve every message, document, and device involved. Second, I need you both to come to my office tomorrow morning. I'll have our litigation attorney review the filing.""
"What happens if Westbridge transfers the building before then?""
"They cannot lawfully transfer it merely because they've submitted an application. We'll seek an immediate restriction on any disputed transaction.""
Dad thanked her and ended the call.
Then he turned toward Denise.
"Give me the phone.""
She stared at him.
"What?""
"The device you used to access my banking account and Nia's information.""
"It's my personal phone.""
"Give it to me.""
"You can't take my property.""
I stepped forward.
"Funny how you suddenly understand property rights.""
Denise glared at me.
"You think you're clever?""
"No. I think I'm done being quiet.""
Dad pointed toward the stairs.
"Pack a bag. You're staying somewhere else until this is sorted out.""
Denise's mouth fell open.
"You're throwing me out?""
"I'm protecting my daughter.""
"After everything I've done for you?""
He shook his head.
"That's exactly the problem. You keep talking about what you've done for everyone. You never talk about what you've taken.""
Denise turned toward Kaylee.
"Tell him he's making a mistake.""
Kaylee looked down.
"Mom, I don't know what to say.""
Denise grabbed her purse.
"Fine. When all of this falls apart, don't come looking for me.""
She walked toward the door.
But before she left, she stopped beside me.
"You should ask your father what happened the night your mother died.""
Dad immediately stood.
"Denise, don't.""
She looked at him.
"You can't hide everything forever, Marcus.""
Then she walked out.
The front door slammed.
I turned toward Dad.
"What was she talking about?""
He sat down slowly.
"I don't know.""
But his expression told me he did.
That night, I couldn't sleep.
At 1:17 a.m., I went downstairs for water and found Kaylee sitting at the kitchen island.
Her eyes were swollen.
She had removed the dealership tags from her new key fob and placed them beside a glass of untouched juice.
"Can't sleep?"" I asked.
She shook her head.
I filled a glass.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then she said, "I didn't know she was using your car.""
I leaned against the counter.
"Did you know she was using Dad's money?""
Kaylee shook her head.
"She told me it was an early inheritance.""
"An inheritance from whom?""
"She said Grandma had left something for me.""
I stared at her.
"Grandma?""
"She said it was money from your mother's side of the family. Something Dad didn't want to discuss.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why would my mother's family leave you money?""
Kaylee looked ashamed.
"I didn't question it.""
That was the difference between us.
I had spent years questioning every dollar I received because nobody had ever handed me anything without making me feel guilty.
Kaylee had grown up believing money appeared whenever she wanted something.
I looked at her phone.
"Can I see the messages again?""
She handed it over.
I scrolled through the conversation with the unknown number.
Most messages concerned the vehicle purchase.
But one older message caught my attention.
*The second agreement must be activated before the beneficiary reaches twenty-four.*
I read it again.
I was twenty-three.
My birthday was in four months.
I showed Kaylee.
"Did you know about this?""
She shook her head.
"No.""
I scrolled farther.
A message from Denise read:
*I need more time. She doesn't know about the account.*
The reply was immediate.
*Time is over. You signed the original witness declaration. If Nia learns the truth, your position becomes very difficult.*
I felt cold.
Then I found a message that had been deleted from the conversation but was still visible in the notification history.
*If Marcus discovers what happened on the night Elaine died, neither of you will be protected.*
I stopped breathing.
Kaylee leaned over my shoulder.
"What does that mean?""
I stared at the screen.
"I don't know.""
But somewhere upstairs, Dad's bedroom door opened.
He appeared at the top of the staircase.
His face was pale.
"Nia," he said quietly.
"Yes?""
He looked at the phone in my hand.
Then he asked the question I hadn't expected.
"Did Denise leave?""
"Yes.""
He came downstairs slowly.
"Good. There's something I've been afraid to tell you.""
He placed an old photograph on the kitchen island.
It showed my mother standing beside a hospital bed.
A date was written on the back.
The night she died.
And beside her, partially cut off by the camera frame, stood Denise.
Dad looked at me.
"Your mother didn't die believing the debt was settled.""
He swallowed.
"She died trying to tell me who had taken the original trust documents.""
May you like
Then he pointed to the woman standing beside her in the photograph.
"That woman was the last person who saw your mother alive.""
