Chapter 11: My Mother's Signature
I read the name again.
Evelyn Hayes.
The signature looked almost identical to my mother's handwriting.
For a moment, I couldn't move.
Then I called her.
She answered immediately.
“Marcus? How is Vanessa?””
“Mom, I need you to tell me something.””
“What happened?””
“Did you sign an agreement involving the baby?””
Silence.
“Mom?””
“No.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Your signature is on a document with Vanessa and Adrian.””
“What?””
“I'll send it to you.””
A few seconds passed.
Then I heard her inhale sharply.
“Marcus, that's not my signature.””
“Are you sure?””
“I have never signed anything like that.””
“Did you meet Melissa Grant?””
“No.””
“Did you know Vanessa was working with her?””
Mom's voice became firm.
“No, sweetheart. What's happening?””
I looked toward the maternity ward.
“I don't know anymore.””
“I'm coming.””
“Mom, wait—”
She had already hung up.
Melissa Grant arrived at the hospital thirty-five minutes later.
She was in her early forties, wearing a charcoal business suit and carrying a leather briefcase.
She introduced herself as a former attorney for Vanessa.
“Former?”” I asked.
“I withdrew from representation last week.””
“Why?””
Melissa glanced toward the maternity ward.
“Because my client was attempting to conceal material information from me.””
I crossed my arms.
“What information?””
She opened her briefcase and removed a document.
“Your wife asked me to prepare an agreement concerning the unborn child's future care and financial support.””
I looked at the paper.
It was nearly identical to the one Chloe had shown me.
“Did you prepare this?””
“I prepared an initial draft. I did not approve the final document.””
“Why is my mother's name on it?””
Melissa hesitated.
“Your wife told me Mrs. Hayes had agreed to act as a financial guarantor.””
“That is impossible.””
“I suspected as much.””
She opened another folder.
Inside were emails between Vanessa and her.
One message caught my attention.
Evelyn will sign once she understands the arrangement. Marcus won't be told until after the birth.
Another message read:
If she refuses, use the existing signature from the trust paperwork.
I stared at the screen.
“What does that mean?””
Melissa removed a second document.
It was a photocopy of my mother's signature from an old property record.
Someone had copied it.
Then they had placed it on the new agreement.
My stomach turned.
“Forgery.””
Melissa nodded.
“That is my concern.””
“Why didn't you report it?””
“I wanted to verify the circumstances first. I also needed to ensure my own files were preserved.””
I looked at her.
“Did you know about the $250,000?””
Her face tightened.
“I learned about that arrangement after I withdrew.””
“Who was supposed to pay?””
“Adrian.””
“Where was the money coming from?””
Melissa looked down.
“According to the documents I saw, a portion was supposed to come from the trust your father established.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“That's impossible. Vanessa has no access to that trust.””
“That's why she wanted your signature.””
I leaned against the wall.
Everything had been planned around one thing.
My father's money.
My house.
My child.
And my mother's reputation.
Melissa continued.
“Mr. Hayes, there's another issue. Your wife asked me to prepare a document naming Adrian as the child's intended guardian if you were declared unfit.””
I stared at her.
“Declared unfit?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
She hesitated.
“Based on allegations of domestic instability and emotional aggression.””
I remembered the recording.
Vanessa had slapped herself and blamed my mother.
She'd created a scene that made me look like a man who couldn't protect his pregnant wife.
Now I understood why.
If she could make me appear unstable, she could use the accusations to weaken my position in any future custody dispute.
I looked at Melissa.
“Was my mother involved in any of this?””
“No. The signature appears to have been copied.””
“Then why would you send me that photograph?””
“Because I wanted you to know what had happened before the final documents were submitted.””
I took out my phone.
“I'm giving everything to my attorney.””
Melissa nodded.
“That would be wise.””
At that moment, the maternity ward doors opened.
A nurse hurried toward us.
“Family of Vanessa Hayes?””
I stepped forward.
“I'm her husband.””
“Her contractions have intensified. The doctor is monitoring the baby, but we may need to prepare for delivery.””
I looked toward the corridor.
“Can I see her?””
The nurse nodded.
“She has asked for you.””
I followed her.
Vanessa was breathing heavily when I entered.
Her hair was damp, and her face was pale.
She looked at me with desperate eyes.
“Marcus.””
I stood near the bed.
“I'm here.””
“Where's Adrian?””
“He isn't coming in.””
She shook her head.
“You don't understand. I need him.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because he's the father.””
I said nothing.
She reached for my hand.
“Marcus, I need you to help me.””
“With what?””
“Getting the documents signed.””
I stared at her.
“Even now?””
“It's important.””
I slowly pulled my hand away.
“Vanessa, your mother-in-law's signature was forged.””
She blinked.
“What?””
“You used my mother's signature on the agreement.””
Her breathing changed.
“I didn't.””
“Melissa has the original documents.””
Vanessa turned toward the window.
Then she whispered something I barely heard.
“Adrian was supposed to handle that.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“So you knew.””
She began crying.
“Marcus, please. I didn't want things to become this complicated.””
“You forged my mother's signature.””
“I didn't forge anything!””
“Then explain it.””
She shook her head.
“I trusted Adrian.””
I looked at her.
“You trusted him with our child, our money, and our future. But you couldn't trust me with the truth.””
She closed her eyes.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she looked at me again.
“There's one more thing.””
I waited.
“Adrian isn't the only person who knows about the trust.””
“Who else?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Your father's old accountant.””
I froze.
“Mr. Bennett?””
She nodded.
“He helped Adrian access the records.””
I stared at her.
Mr. Bennett had attended my father's funeral.
He'd helped Mom settle the estate.
He'd even given a speech about how much my father had loved his family.
“Why would he help Adrian?””
Vanessa looked frightened.
“Because he was promised money.””
I stepped closer.
“How much?””
“Two hundred thousand dollars.””
I looked toward the door.
Then my phone rang.
It was my mother.
I answered.
“Mom?””
Her voice was trembling.
“Marcus, I've just received a call from Robert Sinclair.””
“What did he say?””
“He found something in your father's original files.””
“What?””
Mom took a breath.
“He says the trust was changed six months ago.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“Changed by whom?””
She whispered:
“Your father apparently left a second beneficiary.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She was watching me.
May you like
Then Mom said the name.
“Vanessa.””
