Chapter 4: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I stared at the document Rebecca had placed on my mother's hallway table.
My name was printed beneath a paragraph authorizing Marcus to act on my behalf in matters involving the Carter family trust.
At the bottom was a signature that looked almost exactly like mine.
Almost.
"Who gave you this?"" I asked.
Rebecca closed her briefcase halfway.
"Marcus submitted it to our office three weeks ago. He represented that you had already agreed to the arrangement.""
"That's a lie.""
"I understand.""
"No, you don't."" I pushed the document toward her.
"I have never seen this paper. I've never authorized Marcus to access my mother's company. And I certainly never signed anything giving him control over my inheritance.""
Marcus stepped closer.
"Nia, please let me explain.""
I turned toward him.
"You have thirty seconds.""
He swallowed.
"The agreement was supposed to be temporary.""
"Temporary?""
"My father was going through a difficult period. The bank was threatening to withdraw financing from the hotel development. We needed additional security.""
"So you forged my signature?""
"I didn't forge anything.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Then whose signature is that?""
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"I had someone prepare the paperwork. I thought you would sign it eventually.""
"Eventually?""
"You were going to be my wife. We were going to share everything.""
My mother stepped between us.
"Marriage doesn't give you ownership of another person's company, Marcus.""
He looked at her.
"Mrs. Carter, this isn't about stealing anything.""
"Then why did you submit a document bearing her signature without her permission?""
Marcus had no answer.
Rebecca placed her briefcase on the floor.
"There's another issue. The document was submitted alongside a proposed amendment to the marital trust. That amendment would have allowed certain assets to be transferred into a company controlled by Marcus's father.""
My stomach tightened.
"How much money?""
Rebecca hesitated.
"Based on the proposed structure, the initial transfer would have been approximately twelve million dollars.""
Twelve million.
I looked at Marcus.
"You were going to take twelve million dollars from my mother?""
"No!"" He raised both hands.
"That's not what it was.""
"Then explain it.""
"My father was going to use the money to stabilize the business. Once everything recovered, the funds would have been returned.""
My mother shook her head.
"Without collateral?""
Marcus looked away.
"That was the plan.""
"That wasn't a plan," Mom replied.
"That was a gamble with someone else's money.""
I watched him carefully.
The man standing in front of me had held my hands at the altar that morning.
He had promised that honesty would always be the foundation of our marriage.
Now he was asking me to believe that twelve million dollars disappearing into his father's struggling business was simply a family favor.
Rebecca interrupted.
"I need to clarify something. I haven't come here to accuse anyone. I've come because I discovered discrepancies in the submitted documents.""
She turned to me.
"The signature was apparently verified using a sample from another document.""
"What document?""
"A property authorization you signed several years ago.""
I remembered.
When I was twenty-three, my mother had asked me to sign a form allowing her office to arrange maintenance on a small apartment she had purchased for me.
It had been a simple document.
My signature had been on file ever since.
"Who had access to that document?""
Rebecca looked at Marcus.
He stared at the floor.
I felt sick.
"Marcus?""
He finally spoke.
"Your sister.""
The hallway seemed to tilt.
"Brielle?""
He nodded.
"She brought me the paperwork.""
My mother went completely still.
"What?""
Marcus hurried to explain.
"Brielle said you had already agreed to help. She told me your mother had discussed the arrangement with her.""
I shook my head.
"Why would Brielle have my signature?""
"She said she had a copy from your old files.""
I looked at my mother.
Mom's expression had changed.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
"Where did she get those files?"" she asked quietly.
Marcus shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Rebecca picked up the documents.
"Whatever happened, I strongly recommend that nobody signs anything else until the original records have been examined.""
My mother nodded.
"Agreed.""
Then she looked at Marcus.
"You need to leave.""
He turned toward me.
"Nia, please.""
I took off the wedding ring that I had placed back on my finger earlier that evening.
I put it on the table beside the forged agreement.
"You didn't marry me because you wanted a life with me.""
"That's not true.""
"You married me because you thought my mother's money would become accessible.""
"I love you!""
"Then why did you need a fake signature?""
His eyes filled with tears.
For a moment, he looked like the man I had fallen in love with.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
The caller ID read MOM.
He declined the call.
It rang again.
This time, he answered.
"What?""
Patricia's voice came through loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Where are you? Your father is waiting. Did you get her to sign?""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Mom, not now.""
"Did you get the documents signed?""
"No.""
There was a pause.
Then Patricia said something that made my blood run cold.
"Then make sure she doesn't leave that house without agreeing. We didn't spend six months arranging this marriage for nothing.""
Marcus looked at me.
My mother reached for my hand.
I didn't need another explanation.
I finally understood why Patricia had been so determined to make our wedding happen.
And why my mother had become her target.
This had never been about a wedding.
May you like
It had been about money.
And Brielle had helped them get close enough to steal it.
