Chapter 5: The Woman Who Had Betrayed My Father
Her name was Evelyn Price.
She had worked for my father since before Bennett International became a global company.
She knew his schedule, his business relationships, his private accounts, and every important document stored in his office.
She had also attended my wedding.
When I saw her, I remembered how she had held Grace shortly after her birth and whispered that she was the most beautiful baby she'd ever seen.
Now she stood beside the elevators, holding a brown leather folder.
“Richard,” she said.
My father slowly put his phone away.
“Evelyn.””
She glanced at me.
“Danielle.””
I tightened my hold on Grace.
“What are you doing here?””
Evelyn looked at the folder.
“I came to prevent a misunderstanding from becoming something much worse.””
My father took a step toward her.
“You knew about the missing records?””
She hesitated.
“I knew some documents had been moved.””
“Moved where?””
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie to me.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Richard, please. Not in front of everyone.””
My father laughed bitterly.
“You seem to have forgotten that my daughter was just slapped in this lobby because someone believed she didn't belong here. I think we've passed the point where privacy matters.””
Evelyn lowered her head.
Jonathan suddenly moved toward her.
“Evelyn, give me the folder.””
She stepped backward.
“No.””
Jonathan's voice sharpened.
“Those documents belong to the company.””
“They don't belong to you.””
Victoria stared at them.
“Jonathan, what's happening?””
He ignored her.
My father extended his hand.
“Evelyn, give me the folder.””
She looked at him for a long moment.
Then she placed it in his hands.
He opened it.
Inside were photocopies of property deeds, trust documents, financial transfers, and several pages bearing my name.
I moved closer.
“Dad, is that the ownership agreement?””
He nodded.
Then he stopped at one page.
“This is impossible.””
“What?””
He showed me the signature line.
It carried my name.
Danielle Bennett.
The signature looked convincing at first glance.
But I knew it wasn't mine.
The final letter was wrong.
My father examined the date.
“September fourteenth.””
I remembered that date.
“Dad, I was in Chicago that week. I was helping Daniel move into our new apartment.””
“Exactly.””
Jonathan crossed his arms.
“Anyone can dispute a signature. That doesn't prove anything.””
My father looked at him.
“It proves enough to justify a forensic examination.””
Evelyn suddenly spoke.
“The original was supposed to be destroyed.””
Everyone turned toward her.
My father stared.
“What?””
She wiped her cheek.
“Jonathan said the transfer would never be questioned because the trust was inactive.””
Jonathan exploded.
“That's a lie!””
Evelyn flinched but continued.
“I was told that Danielle had already agreed to surrender her interest.””
I stared at her.
“Who told you that?””
She looked directly at me.
“Your husband.””
The lobby seemed to tilt.
“My husband?””
“Daniel.””
I couldn't breathe for a moment.
My father immediately reached for my arm.
“Danielle, sit down.””
But I remained standing.
“Are you saying Daniel signed something in my name?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I don't know whether he signed it. I only know that he arranged the meeting where the documents were discussed.””
My mind raced.
Daniel and I had been married for two years.
He had always been supportive of my family.
He had encouraged me to stay away from my father's business because he knew I hated corporate politics.
He had even joked that he would never want to work for my father.
But there had been strange moments.
Phone calls he took outside.
Questions about the family trust.
An argument about why I still had access to certain financial records.
At the time, I hadn't thought much of them.
Now they felt like pieces of a puzzle I had refused to complete.
My father looked at Evelyn.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
She began crying.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Jonathan?””
She nodded.
“He had information about my son.””
Jonathan laughed sharply.
“Don't drag your family problems into this.””
Evelyn turned toward him.
“You threatened to report my son to the police if I didn't cooperate.””
“Your son committed fraud.””
“He made one mistake!””
“And you covered it up.””
My father raised his hand.
“Enough.””
James approached with two security officers.
“Mr. Bennett, the police are on their way.””
Jonathan immediately protested.
“This is a corporate matter. There is no reason to involve the police.””
My father looked at him.
“Someone may have forged my daughter's signature and stolen documents from our home. You can explain that to the authorities.””
Victoria grabbed her husband's arm.
“Jonathan, tell me this isn't true.””
He pulled away.
“Stop asking stupid questions.””
Her face changed.
I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
Because she had spent the evening humiliating me, confident that her husband's money made her untouchable.
Now she was discovering that the same money might have been connected to something criminal.
Evelyn turned toward me.
“Danielle, there's one more thing you should know.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She opened the folder again and removed a small envelope.
“Your father never received this.””
The envelope had my name written on it.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Daniel standing outside a private office building with Jonathan.
The date was printed in the corner.
September fourteenth.
The same date as the forged signature.
On the back, someone had written:
*He knows about the baby. Make sure she signs before the birth.*
My hands went cold.
Grace stirred.
I held her closer.
“Dad,” I whispered.
My father took the photograph.
He stared at it for several seconds.
Then he looked at Evelyn.
“Who wrote this?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I don't know.””
My father turned to me.
“Danielle, where is Daniel tonight?””
I looked at my phone.
He had sent me a message earlier.
Running late, sweetheart. Don't wait up. Love you both.
I hadn't thought anything of it.
Now I read it again.
Then another message appeared.
*Daniel:* Are you still at the Grand Sterling?
My heart began pounding.
I typed back.
*Me:* Yes. Why?
The reply came almost immediately.
*Daniel:* Don't let your father see the blue folder.
I stared at the screen.
There was a blue folder in Evelyn's leather case.
My father noticed my expression.
“What is it?””
I turned the phone toward him.
He read the message.
Then his face hardened.
“James,” he said quietly.
“Yes, sir?””
“Lock down the private archive room.””
James nodded.
“Already done.””
My father looked at the blue folder.
“Then let's find out what my son-in-law is so desperate to hide.””
But when James reached for it, Evelyn suddenly grabbed his wrist.
“Wait!””
Her voice cracked.
“There's something inside that folder you need to understand first.””
May you like
She looked at me.
“Your husband wasn't the person who originally planned this.””
