Chapter 5: The Signature That Wasn’t Hers
I ended the call slowly.
Not because I was calm.
Because I was trying not to explode.
My mother looked at me from across the room.
She knew something was wrong.
“Marcus?””
I didn’t answer immediately.
I looked at Vanessa.
She looked back at me.
And for the first time, I noticed something.
She wasn’t shocked.
She was waiting.
Like she already knew what I had heard.
“You knew.””
Vanessa’s face changed.
“What?””
“You knew someone sent my lawyer documents.””
She froze.
“No.””
“Then why do you look like you’re waiting for me to say something?””
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
My mother slowly stood.
Her legs shook.
“What documents?””
I walked toward her.
“Mom, sit down.””
“No.””
Her voice was stronger than before.
“What documents?””
I hated seeing fear in her eyes.
So I told her.
“Someone sent a property transfer agreement.””
The room went silent.
My mother grabbed the back of the chair.
“I never signed anything.””
“I know.””
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“Maybe you don’t remember.””
Every muscle in my body tightened.
I turned.
“What did you say?””
She lifted her hands.
“I’m just saying she gets confused.””
My mother looked hurt.
Not angry.
Hurt.
Because she had spent years loving this woman.
Inviting her into her home.
Trusting her.
And Vanessa was still trying to make her seem unreliable.
“Enough.””
My voice echoed through the room.
Vanessa stopped.
I pointed toward the phone.
“Call my lawyer.””
She blinked.
“What?””
“Right now.””
“Marcus—”
“Call him.””
She stared at me.
Then she laughed softly.
“You think I’m just going to let you embarrass me?””
I looked at her.
“You embarrassed yourself.””
The words landed.
She looked away.
I took the phone from the table and called the number back.
My lawyer answered quickly.
“Marcus?””
“Yes.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Can you tell me exactly who sent those documents?””
There was silence.
Then:
“I can.””
My grip tightened.
“Who?””
“An email account registered under the name Daniel Price.””
Vanessa’s face changed instantly.
I saw it.
Recognition.
Fear.
My mother whispered:
“Daniel…”
I looked at her.
“You know him.””
She sat down slowly.
“I thought he was helping.””
“Helping with what?””
She looked ashamed.
“After your father died, I was scared. I didn’t understand all the legal things about the house.””
I listened carefully.
“My neighbor introduced him.””
Vanessa interrupted.
“He was a consultant.””
I turned.
“You knew him?””
She looked away.
That was enough.
“You knew him.””
Vanessa sighed.
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“Marcus…”
“How long?””
She hesitated.
“Months.””
My stomach turned.
Months.
While I was away.
While she was telling me everything was fine.
I walked toward the window.
Outside, families were probably opening gifts.
Laughing.
Eating dinner.
Living normal lives.
My house felt like a courtroom.
“What did Daniel do?””
My mother answered quietly.
“He told me he could help protect my property.””
I looked back.
“And then?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Then Vanessa started coming to me with papers.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“She’s misunderstanding.””
My mother looked at her.
“No.””
That single word carried years of fear.
“She told me Marcus would be upset if I didn’t cooperate.””
My blood ran cold.
“She used my name?””
My mother nodded.
“She said you were tired of worrying about me.””
I closed my eyes.
Because that was the one thing Vanessa knew would hurt my mother.
The fear of becoming a burden.
I looked at my wife.
“How could you?””
Her face hardened.
“You don’t know what I was dealing with.””
I stared.
“What were you dealing with?””
She stepped closer.
“You were always gone.””
“I was serving.””
“And I was alone.””
I shook my head.
“So you decided my mother was the solution?””
“No.””
“Then what was the plan?””
She didn’t answer.
Again.
Silence.
Always silence.
Then my lawyer spoke through the phone.
“Marcus.””
I raised it.
“Yes?””
“There’s something else.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
“The signature.””
I waited.
“The document was notarized.””
I looked at my mother.
“But you said she didn’t sign.””
“I know.””
My lawyer paused.
“That’s why I’m concerned.””
“What does that mean?””
“It means either your mother is lying…”
My jaw tightened.
“Or?””
“Or someone created a false signature.””
Everyone went still.
My mother covered her mouth.
Vanessa looked down.
And suddenly, I knew.
This was bigger than a cruel wife.
Bigger than a stolen house.
Someone had planned this carefully.
I ended the call.
Then I looked directly at Vanessa.
“Where is the original document?””
She didn’t answer.
“Vanessa.””
Her eyes moved toward the hallway.
Just for a second.
But I saw it.
A hiding place.
A secret.
I followed her gaze.
And she realized her mistake.
I walked toward the hallway.
She stepped in front of me.
“Marcus.””
“Move.””
“No.””
The woman standing in front of me was no longer pretending.
She was scared.
Because she knew what I was about to find.
Behind me, my mother whispered:
“Son…”
I looked at Vanessa.
“What are you hiding?””
She swallowed.
May you like
Then she said something that made my blood turn cold.
“You really don’t want to open that drawer.””
