Chapter 4: My Mother's Signature
I read my mother's name three times before I accepted what I was seeing.
Margaret Adams.
My mother.
The woman who had held my hand when I walked down the aisle.
The woman who had cried when Noah was born.
The woman who had sat across from me at Sunday lunches and told me how lucky I was to have a husband like Nathan.
Her signature appeared beneath a document authorizing the transfer of the family property into Carter Family Holdings.
I looked at Daniel.
"Tell me this isn't real.""
Daniel removed his glasses.
"I'm afraid the document is genuine. Whether your mother understood what she was signing is another question.""
Nathan shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
"Your mother was helping us.""
I turned toward him.
"Helping you steal the house?""
"Watch your mouth.""
I laughed in disbelief.
"You're sitting in a lawyer's office, Nathan. You have an affair with my sister, you use our money to buy her a townhouse, and now my mother is involved in transferring a property that I helped save. What exactly should I call it?""
Nathan leaned forward.
"Your mother wanted to protect the family.""
"Which family?""
He didn't answer.
Daniel interrupted.
"Mr. Carter, I need to know whether Mrs. Adams was told about Emily's beneficial interest.""
Nathan looked away.
"That was between Patricia and Margaret.""
My stomach tightened.
"Patricia knew?""
"Of course she knew," he snapped.
"She arranged everything.""
Daniel wrote something down.
I looked at Nathan.
"How long have you been planning this?""
He rubbed his jaw.
"Emily, this is getting out of control.""
"No. It got out of control when you decided my sister was more important than your marriage.""
Nathan stood abruptly.
"I'm not discussing this here.""
Daniel didn't move.
"Then you should leave.""
Nathan pointed at me.
"You think you're winning? You're not. My mother has connections.
Brielle has a child coming. And your own mother knows exactly what needs to happen.""
I stared at him.
"My mother will have to explain herself.""
He laughed.
"Good luck with that.""
He walked out, slamming the door.
For several seconds, I remained still.
Then Daniel closed his laptop.
"Emily, I recommend that you call your mother. But don't confront her until we've preserved every relevant document.""
I nodded.
I wasn't sure I could speak.
At 4:10 that afternoon, I drove to my mother's house.
The familiar white curtains hung in the kitchen windows. Her rose bushes were trimmed neatly along the walkway. A little wooden sign beside the front door read HOME IS WHERE LOVE LIVES.
I almost laughed.
My mother opened the door wearing her favorite blue cardigan.
"Emily! What a surprise.""
She stepped forward to hug me.
I didn't move.
Her smile faltered.
"What's wrong?""
I held up the printed document.
"Why did you sign this?""
She glanced at the paper.
Then she stepped aside.
"Come in.""
The smell of cinnamon and freshly brewed coffee filled the hallway. Everything looked exactly as it always had.
A framed photograph of my wedding sat on the console table.
Nathan was kissing my cheek.
My mother stood behind us, smiling.
I wondered whether she had already known then.
We sat at the kitchen table.
Margaret folded her hands.
"Before you get upset, you need to understand that I was trying to help.""
"Help whom?""
"Everyone.""
"Did you know Nathan was sleeping with Brielle?""
Her fingers tightened.
"Emily—"
"Did you?""
She looked toward the window.
"Things between Nathan and Brielle became complicated.""
I felt my throat close.
"Complicated?""
"They developed feelings.""
I stared at her.
"My sister was sitting beside my husband at my anniversary dinner.""
"She was pregnant, Emily. Emotions were high.""
I pushed the document across the table.
"And you helped them take the house.""
My mother sighed.
"That house was always Nathan's family property.""
"I paid the taxes.""
"You were married. You shared responsibilities.""
"I paid for the roof, the insurance, and the renovations.""
"You had a good income.""
I leaned forward.
"Did you know the money was being transferred to Brielle?""
She hesitated.
That was enough.
"How much did they give you?"" I asked.
Her head snapped up.
"Excuse me?""
"How much did Nathan pay you to sign?""
"How dare you!""
I didn't raise my voice.
"Then answer me.""
She stood, walked to the counter, and began rearranging a stack of mail.
"I didn't receive money.""
"Did he promise you something?""
She said nothing.
I watched her hands.
My mother had a habit of twisting her wedding ring when she was nervous.
She was doing it now.
"Mom.""
She finally turned.
"Nathan said he would make sure I was comfortable.""
I felt cold.
"What does that mean?""
"He said the family would take care of me.""
"Why?""
Her eyes filled.
"Because I have debts, Emily.""
I blinked.
"What debts?""
She sat down again.
For the next ten minutes, the truth came out in pieces.
Two years earlier, my mother had borrowed money to help a friend start a business. The friend disappeared. My mother had been left with loans she couldn't repay.
She hadn't told me.
Nathan had discovered the problem.
He offered to help.
In exchange, she agreed to sign documents supporting the property transfer.
"He said it was just a restructuring," she whispered.
"He told me you would still have a home.""
I looked at her.
"Where?""
She didn't answer.
"Where was I supposed to live?""
"He said you would be provided for.""
I pushed my chair back.
"You helped my husband remove me from the house I paid to maintain because he promised to pay your debts?""
Margaret began crying.
"I thought I was protecting you.""
"No, Mom. You were protecting yourself.""
She reached for my hand.
"Please. Don't destroy the family over this.""
I pulled my hand away.
"The family was destroyed before I found out.""
My phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel.
*We located another transfer. Your mother received $38,000 from Carter Family Holdings six months ago.*
I turned the screen toward her.
She stopped crying.
"Mom, you said you didn't receive money.""
Her lips parted.
"I was going to tell you.""
"Thirty-eight thousand dollars?""
"It wasn't payment for the house.""
"Then what was it?""
She looked down.
"To settle the loans.""
I stood.
"You lied to me.""
"I had no choice!""
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
I walked toward the door.
Behind me, my mother began sobbing.
"Emily! Please! I'm still your mother!""
I stopped with my hand on the doorknob.
For a moment, I wanted to turn around.
I wanted her to explain that this was all a misunderstanding. That she had been manipulated. That she would never knowingly betray her own daughter.
Instead, she said something I would remember for the rest of my life.
"Nathan promised Brielle would make a better wife for him.""
I turned slowly.
"What?""
My mother wiped her cheeks.
"He said you had become difficult. That you cared more about money and the children than about him.""
I stared at her.
Then I understood.
She hadn't merely signed a document.
She had listened to my husband describe me as an obstacle.
And she had agreed.
I opened the door.
"Emily," she whispered.
I looked back once.
"You can keep the thirty-eight thousand dollars, Mom. But you cannot buy your way back into my children's lives.""
I walked outside.
My phone rang before I reached the car.
Daniel.
"Emily, I need you to come back to the office.""
"Why?""
"We found the original payment authorization.""
"Okay.""
"Your mother wasn't the only person who signed it.""
I stopped.
"Who else?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Someone with authority over your children's inheritance.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Who?""
"Patricia Carter.""
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Then he added:
"And she signed it using Noah and Lily's names.""
