Chapter 5: Forty-Eight Thousand Dollars
I read the bank document three times.
Forty-eight thousand dollars.
The money had come from the savings account Vanessa and I had opened two years earlier to prepare for our child's future.
It was supposed to cover medical expenses, childcare, and eventually the baby's education.
Now it was scheduled to disappear into an account belonging to a man I barely knew.
“Where did you get this?”” I asked my mother.
She pulled out a chair.
“Yesterday, Vanessa asked me to help organize some paperwork in the study.””
I looked at her.
“Why would she ask you?””
“She said she wanted to surprise you by arranging the baby's financial future. She left a folder on the desk and asked me to find a document.””
Mom opened her handbag again.
“I found this instead.””
“Did you confront her?””
“No. I wanted to understand what I was looking at before making accusations.””
I examined the document.
The authorization carried my electronic signature.
It looked almost exactly like mine.
But I hadn't approved anything.
“Mom, this is fraud.””
“I know.””
Chloe sat down beside us.
“There's something else you should know.””
I turned toward her.
“Go ahead.””
“Vanessa has been working with Adrian for months. She told me he was helping her set up an independent investment account.””
“Why would she need an independent account?””
Chloe rubbed her forehead.
“She said she wanted financial security in case your marriage failed.””
I looked toward the staircase.
“Did she tell you she was planning to leave me?””
Chloe nodded.
“She said she would wait until after the baby was born.””
My chest tightened.
“And what were you doing helping her?””
Chloe's eyes filled.
“I thought she was protecting herself. I didn't know she was stealing from you.””
“You knew about the apartment.””
“Yes.””
“The hotel?””
She nodded.
“And the messages about framing my mother?””
Chloe looked down.
“I saw those later.””
I stood up.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because Vanessa threatened me.””
“With what?””
Chloe took a shaky breath.
“She said she had private photographs of Ryan. She threatened to send them to his employer and destroy his career. She also told me she would tell everyone that I had helped her steal money.””
I stared at her.
“Did you?””
Chloe didn't answer immediately.
Then she whispered, “I transferred a small amount for her.””
“How much?””
“Five thousand dollars.””
I stepped back.
“You helped her?””
“I thought it was temporary. She said she was moving money into a separate account because she was afraid you might leave her.””
I looked at the document again.
My own mother had nearly been blamed for an assault.
My wife had apparently been planning to take our savings.
And my sister-in-law had helped.
I felt like the entire house was built on lies.
My mother reached for my arm.
“Marcus, breathe.””
I pulled away, not because I was angry with her, but because I couldn't stand being touched.
“I need to call the bank.””
I took the documents upstairs and locked myself in the study.
The bank representative answered after several minutes.
I explained that an unauthorized transfer had been scheduled.
She asked me to verify my identity, then placed me on hold.
When she returned, her voice had changed.
“Mr. Hayes, I can confirm that a transfer request was submitted yesterday.””
“By whom?””
“The request was made through your online banking profile.””
“I didn't submit it.””
“Understood. We can place a temporary restriction while our fraud team investigates.””
“Do that immediately.””
She paused.
“There is another issue. Your account has had several recent access attempts from a device we don't recognize.””
I gripped the desk.
“How many?””
“Fourteen attempts in the past three weeks.””
“Can you tell me the location?””
“I'm afraid we can't provide that information over the phone.””
I closed my eyes.
“Freeze everything. Change the access credentials. Whatever you need to do.””
The representative confirmed the security restrictions.
When I hung up, I noticed something on the desk.
A small silver USB drive.
It wasn't mine.
I picked it up.
A sticky note was attached.
For Marcus. Please listen before confronting her.
I inserted it into the computer.
A folder opened.
Inside were several audio files.
The first was dated three weeks earlier.
I clicked it.
Vanessa's voice filled the room.
“Once the baby arrives, Marcus will be too distracted to question anything.””
Adrian answered.
“What if he finds out about the transfers?””
“He won't. His mother will be too busy defending herself.””
“And the pregnancy?””
Vanessa laughed.
“That's why I have to keep the timing right.””
I leaned closer.
“What timing?”” Adrian asked.
“After the delivery. I'll tell Marcus I need time to recover, then I'll move into the apartment. He'll keep paying the expenses because he'll want access to the baby.””
Adrian chuckled.
“You've thought of everything.””
“Almost everything.””
“What do you mean?””
There was a pause.
Then Vanessa said something that made my hands go numb.
“There's one thing I haven't figured out yet. What happens if the baby doesn't look like Marcus?””
I stopped breathing.
Adrian didn't laugh this time.
“Vanessa, are you sure?””
“About what?””
“About the dates.””
She sighed.
“Adrian, we've discussed this.””
I replayed that sentence.
Then another.
And another.
I couldn't process what I was hearing.
I opened the next audio file.
This time, Vanessa sounded angry.
“I'm not going to raise a child while everyone keeps asking questions. Marcus will believe whatever I tell him.””
Adrian replied quietly.
“And if he gets a DNA test?””
Vanessa's answer came without hesitation.
“Then we'll have a bigger problem.””
A knock sounded at the study door.
“Marcus?””
It was my mother.
I quickly removed the USB drive.
“Come in.””
She opened the door and looked at my face.
“What did you hear?””
I couldn't find the words.
Then my phone rang.
It was the hospital.
A nurse spoke urgently.
“Mr. Hayes, your wife has just arrived in our maternity unit. She says she's experiencing severe abdominal pain.””
I stood up.
“Is the baby okay?””
“We're assessing her now.””
“I'm coming.””
I grabbed my keys.
Before leaving, I looked at my mother.
“Mom, don't tell Vanessa about the recording.””
She nodded.
Then she said something that stayed with me all the way to the hospital.
“Marcus, whatever happens next, remember that the child is innocent.””
I reached the hospital twenty minutes later.
Vanessa was sitting on the examination bed, speaking to a nurse.
The moment she saw me, she began crying.
“Marcus, thank God you're here.””
I approached her.
“What's wrong?””
“I think something's happening with the baby.””
The nurse checked the monitor.
“Her vital signs are stable, but the doctor is reviewing everything.””
I took Vanessa's hand.
She squeezed it.
Then she looked into my eyes.
“Marcus, there's something I need to tell you.””
My heart started pounding.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“I know you've been listening to things that aren't true.””
I stared at her.
“What things?””
She began crying harder.
“Adrian told me everything.””
I went cold.
May you like
Vanessa leaned closer.
“And if you want to know the truth about our baby, you should ask him who the father really is.””
