Chapter 4: The Warning Ethan Left Behind
I read the sentence again.
Then a third time.
*Marcus, if you're reading this, then the person I was trying to protect Brielle from has probably already entered your home.*
I lowered the letter.
"Who is he talking about?""
Daniel Whitmore didn't answer immediately. He removed his glasses, cleaned them with a cloth, and placed them beside the folder.
"Before I answer that, I need you to understand something. Ethan was seriously ill when he wrote this. He knew his time was limited, and he was increasingly concerned about the people surrounding his daughter.""
"Caleb?""
"Possibly.""
"Possibly?""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Ethan believed his brother was manipulating Brielle. But he also suspected someone else was involved. Someone with access to his financial records and personal documents.""
I looked down at the letter.
"Then why did he write to me?""
"Because he had heard you were marrying Nia. He believed you were someone who could protect Brielle without allowing her to control the situation.""
I almost laughed.
If Ethan could see what had happened in my living room the previous night, he would understand how badly things had gone wrong.
I continued reading.
I know you may wonder why I didn't tell Nia everything. I wanted to. But she was already carrying the burden of raising Brielle, and I didn't want to leave her with another nightmare.
Caleb has been telling my daughter that she will inherit everything I own. That's a lie. I established a trust because I know Brielle is vulnerable to people who promise her easy money.
If the trust disappears, look at the property records. Someone has been trying to use my daughter's name to obtain something that doesn't belong to her.
I stopped.
"Property records," I repeated.
Daniel nodded.
"That is why I contacted you.""
I pulled out the disputed deed.
"Someone tried to transfer my house.""
"Yes.""
"But Ethan died years before I bought this property.""
"Correct.""
"So how does his inheritance connect to my house?""
Daniel opened another folder.
"Your house is not directly connected to Ethan's estate. However, the documents submitted to the county recorder claim that your property was purchased using funds from Brielle's trust.""
I stared at him.
"That's impossible.""
"I know.""
"I bought this house with my father's inheritance.""
"Do you have proof?""
"Bank statements. Closing documents. Everything.""
"Good. Preserve all of it.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Someone is trying to make it look like my house belongs to Brielle?""
"More specifically, someone is attempting to establish that your wife used trust money to acquire property on behalf of her daughter. If the fraudulent paperwork were accepted, it could create a complicated legal dispute.""
"Could they actually take my house?""
"Not simply because they submitted a document. But a fraudulent claim can cause serious problems, especially if someone is attempting to obtain financing against the property.""
I stared at him.
"Financing?""
Daniel nodded.
He slid another paper across the table.
It was a preliminary application for a secured loan.
My home address appeared at the top.
The requested amount was $185,000.
I felt my stomach twist.
"Who applied for this?""
"The application identifies Brielle Carter as the prospective borrower.""
I looked at the signature.
It wasn't mine.
But the signature of the alleged property owner was.
Mine.
I pushed the paper away.
"Someone is trying to borrow money against my house.""
"That's what the documents suggest.""
"And where would that money go?""
Daniel hesitated.
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Nia.
*Marcus, please call me. Something happened.*
I immediately dialed her number.
She answered on the first ring.
"Marcus?""
"What happened?""
Her breathing was uneven.
"Someone came to the house.""
I stood so quickly that my chair scraped against the floor.
"Who?""
"I don't know. A man. He said he was delivering documents for Brielle.""
"Did you let him inside?""
"No. But he kept saying I needed to sign something.""
My hand tightened around the phone.
"Did you sign?""
"No!""
"Good. Where are you now?""
"In the kitchen.""
"Lock the doors. I'm coming home.""
Daniel stood.
"Mr. Carter, wait.""
I covered the phone.
"What?""
He looked genuinely concerned.
"Ask your wife whether the man mentioned the name Caleb.""
I returned to the call.
"Nia, did he say who sent him?""
She hesitated.
"He said Caleb wanted to speak to me.""
I closed my eyes.
"Don't speak to him. Don't open the door for anyone. I'm on my way.""
I ended the call.
Daniel gathered the documents.
"There's something else you need to know.""
I looked at him.
"Ethan's letter contains a second page. I haven't shown it to you yet.""
"Why not?""
"Because I wanted to confirm something first.""
He removed a folded sheet from the folder.
At the bottom was Ethan's signature.
Above it was a handwritten sentence.
*The person who knows where the missing money went is not my brother. It's the woman who helped him get close to my daughter.*
I stared at the words.
"Who is the woman?""
Daniel looked at me.
"We believe her name is Vanessa Reed.""
I searched my memory.
I had heard that name before.
Then it hit me.
Vanessa was Brielle's college roommate.
She had attended our wedding.
She had been at the party the previous night.
In fact, she had been the woman sitting closest to Brielle when I walked in.
I remembered her quietly leaving after I ordered everyone out.
"She was in my house last night.""
Daniel nodded.
"Then I strongly recommend you find out what she knows.""
My phone vibrated again.
This time, it wasn't Nia.
It was an unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
Nia was standing inside our kitchen.
The picture had been taken through the window.
Underneath it were six words.
*Tell Marcus to stop digging.*
I looked at Daniel.
Then I grabbed the documents.
May you like
Someone had been watching my family.
And they knew exactly where to find my wife.
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