The Signature That Could Destroy Her Family

For several seconds, Marcus said nothing.

Then he asked, “What is your fiancé's name?””

Olivia wiped her cheeks.

“Ethan Brooks.””

Marcus's expression changed.

“Ethan Brooks?””

“You know him?”” Ariana asked.

Marcus looked at his younger daughter.

“I met him twice. He told me he worked in commercial real estate.””

Olivia nodded quickly.

“He does.””

“And he has a document concerning my house?””

“I don't know exactly what he has.””

Marcus spread both hands over the console.

“Olivia, listen carefully. This is no longer about a bedroom or an argument between sisters. Someone has produced a document claiming I transferred ownership of my property.

Your name is on it. Your mother knows something about another agreement. Now you're telling me your fiancé has that agreement.””

Olivia's chin quivered.

“Mom said he was helping us.””

“Helping you do what?””

“I thought he was helping me get settled before the wedding!””

Marcus looked at Monica.

“Did you introduce Olivia to Ethan?””

“Yes.””

“Did you know he was involved in these documents?””

Monica crossed her arms.

“I knew he was helping us prepare for the future.””

“Whose future?””

“Ours!””

“Mine?”” Marcus demanded.

“Or the future in which my daughter is thrown out and Olivia owns a house she didn't buy?””

Monica's eyes flashed.

“Must everything come down to money with you?””

“No. But when somebody puts my signature on a property transfer I never approved, money and ownership become very relevant.””

Ariana stood beside the staircase, staring at Olivia.

“You knew Ethan had something to do with this?””

Olivia shook her head.

“I knew he had paperwork. He said it was part of the wedding arrangements.””

“What wedding arrangements involve taking Dad's house?””

“I didn't know it involved the house like this!””

“You knew enough to tell me I was leaving today.””

Olivia flinched.

For the first time, she looked ashamed.

“Mom said you would never agree to move if we told you what was happening.””

Ariana felt the words settle into her chest.

“So you decided to force me out before I could ask questions.””

Olivia looked down at the key in her hand.

“I thought you would find somewhere else to live.””

“I'm nineteen, Olivia. I don't have a house waiting for me.””

“You could stay with one of your friends.””

Ariana stared at her stepsister in disbelief.

“You packed my grandmother's photograph beside my shoes and thought I could just go sleep on somebody's couch?””

Olivia's eyes filled again.

“I didn't pack the photograph.””

“Then who did?””

Monica answered too quickly.

“I did. It was fragile, and I didn't want it damaged.””

Ariana looked at the cracked glass.

“You packed it between two suitcases.””

Monica had no response.

Marcus took out his phone again.

“Olivia, call Ethan.””

Olivia stiffened.

“Dad, please.””

“Call him.””

“He'll be angry.””

“Then let him explain why he has a document connected to my property.””

Olivia slowly unlocked her phone. Her thumb hovered over Ethan's contact before she pressed the call button.

The phone rang.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then a man's voice came through the speaker.

“Hey, beautiful. Everything ready for tonight?””

Olivia swallowed.

“No. We have a problem.””

Ethan laughed lightly.

“What happened?””

“Dad found the property documents.””

The laughter stopped.

Ariana saw Marcus's eyes narrow.

Ethan spoke again, his voice suddenly controlled.

“What documents?””

“The transfer papers. The ones with his signature.””

Silence.

Then Ethan asked, “Is your father standing there?””

“Yes.””

“Put him on.””

Marcus held out his hand.

Olivia passed him the phone.

“This is Marcus Carter.””

“Mr. Carter,” Ethan said smoothly.

“I was expecting to speak with you eventually.””

“Eventually?””

“Your wife told me you would need some time to understand the arrangements.””

Marcus's face became expressionless.

“What arrangements?””

“The ones intended to protect Olivia's future.””

“By transferring my property without my knowledge?””

“I'm sure there's been a misunderstanding.””

“Then explain it.””

Ethan sighed.

“Mr. Carter, the documents were prepared according to the information we received. If there is a disagreement about authorization, that is a matter for your attorney.””

“My attorney says the packet references another agreement. Where is it?””

Ethan didn't answer immediately.

Marcus's grip tightened around the phone.

“Where is the agreement, Ethan?””

“I have it.””

Monica pressed a hand against her mouth.

Ariana stepped closer to her father.

Marcus continued, “Bring it here.””

“I'm not sure that's a good idea.””

“Then you should be prepared to explain why you're holding paperwork concerning a property you don't own.””

Ethan's tone hardened.

“Perhaps you should ask your wife why she insisted on keeping certain details from you.””

Monica snapped, “Ethan, stop talking!””

The line went silent.

Marcus stared at Monica.

“Why would he say that?””

Monica shook her head.

“He's trying to protect himself.””

“From what?””

“I don't know!””

Ariana looked toward Olivia.

“Does Ethan have the original agreement?””

Olivia nodded reluctantly.

“He said it needed to stay with him until everything was finalized.””

“Finalized how?””

“The wedding. The house. Everything.””

Marcus raised the phone again.

“Ethan, listen to me. You will not make any further arrangements involving my property. You will preserve every document you have, and my attorney will contact you.””

Ethan gave a short, humorless laugh.

“You're assuming the property is still yours in the way you think it is.””

Marcus went still.

“What does that mean?””

“It means you should read the second agreement before you accuse anyone of wrongdoing.””

“Bring it here.””

“I'll have to consider that.””

“You have one hour.””

Marcus ended the call.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then Monica stepped toward him.

“Marcus, please. You need to understand that I did what I thought was best.””

“You thought it was best to let a man I barely know prepare documents about my house?””

“I thought Olivia deserved security.””

“And Ariana doesn't?””

Monica's expression hardened again.

“That's not fair.””

Ariana gave a broken laugh.

“Nothing about today has been fair.””

Marcus picked up the property papers and returned them to the envelope. He placed it on the console, directly beneath the cracked family photograph.

Then he looked at Olivia.

“Did Ethan ever tell you why he wanted this house transferred before the wedding?””

Olivia shook her head.

“He said it was important to get everything settled first.””

“Did he tell you what the second agreement contained?””

“No.””

Marcus watched her carefully.

“Then why did you agree to it?””

Olivia's tears fell faster.

“Because he said he loved me.””

The words silenced the room.

Ariana's anger faltered. For one moment, she saw not the smug girl who had stolen her bedroom key, but an eighteen-year-old who might have been manipulated by the same people who had tried to push her out.

Then Olivia looked at her father and whispered, “But there's something else Ethan told me.””

Marcus waited.

“He said the agreement wasn't just about the house.””

“What else was it about?””

Olivia's phone vibrated in her hand.