Chapter 1 - THE MAN MOM CALLED FAMILY
I stared at the bank record.
The name at the bottom made my stomach tighten.
Thomas Reed.
I knew him.
Everyone in my family knew him.
He had been my mother's closest friend after my father died.
For years, Mom called him family.
She trusted him.
She defended him.
She even helped him when his small construction company was about to collapse.
And now Vanessa had been sending him money.
I looked at my attorney.
“How much?”
He turned the page.
“Two hundred and eighty thousand dollars.”
I stared at the number.
“When did this start?”
“Eight months ago.”
My mother sat wrapped in a towel beside the pool.
She looked exhausted.
“Mom.”
She looked up.
“What?”
“Do you know Thomas has been receiving money from your account?”
Her face changed.
“No.”
I showed her the document.
She stared at the name.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered:
“He told me he was struggling.”
“Did you give him permission to access your account?”
“No.”
“Did you give Vanessa permission?”
Mom shook her head.
“I don't even know how she got access.”
I turned toward Vanessa.
She was still near the gate, surrounded by security.
She looked terrified.
“Ethan…”
I held up the bank statement.
“Why were you transferring my mother's money?”
“I wasn't.”
The attorney interrupted.
“The transfers originated from an account authorized by Mrs. Carter.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“I don't know anything about that.”
I stared at her.
“Then why is your phone number attached to the account?”
Her face went pale.
She had no answer.
My mother suddenly spoke.
“Thomas.”
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked frightened.
“Thomas was here last month.”
“When?”
“While you were away.”
My blood ran cold.
“What did he want?”
Mom lowered her voice.
“He asked about the house.”
I frowned.
“What house?”
“My old house.”
I knew exactly what she meant.
The small house where I had grown up.
The house Mom still owned.
It wasn't worth much compared with my mansion.
But it sat on a large piece of land.
Developers had been trying to buy it for years.
Mom always refused.
“Why would Thomas care about your house?”
She shook her head.
“I don't know.”
The attorney opened another folder.
“Actually, we may know.”
He placed a property document on the table.
My mother's house had recently been appraised for nearly thirty million dollars.
I stared at the number.
“How?”
The attorney pointed to the map.
“A new luxury development is planned around the property.”
“And?”
“If the surrounding parcels are assembled, the value could exceed two hundred million.”
I looked at Mom.
She had never told me.
She had simply kept living in her modest home.
My attorney continued.
“There is also an attempted transfer.”
I opened the document.
My mother's signature appeared at the bottom.
But something was wrong.
I knew her signature.
This wasn't it.
“This is forged.”
“Yes.”
I looked at Vanessa.
Then at Thomas's name.
“Who filed it?”
The attorney answered:
“Thomas Reed.”
My mother covered her mouth.
“He promised he would protect me.”
I crouched beside her.
“He used you.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I trusted him.”
I squeezed her hand.
“You're not alone anymore.”
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke quietly.
“You should have let Vanessa stay.”
I froze.
“Who is this?”
“You just made a very expensive mistake.”
“What do you want?”
“Your mother's property.”
I looked at Mom.
The caller continued.
“Give us the deed.”
“No.”
A pause.
“Then the next thing you lose won't be your marriage.”
The call ended.
I immediately called security.
But before anyone could move, my mother whispered:
“Ethan…”
I turned.
She was staring toward the driveway.
A black SUV was parked outside the gate.
May you like
Someone was sitting inside.
Watching us.
