Chapter 3: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
Dad didn't sleep that night.
Neither did I.
At 1:17 a.m., I came downstairs for water and found him sitting at the dining room table with his laptop open, several bank documents spread around him.
The kitchen light was the only one on.
He looked up when he heard me.
"Can't sleep?""
I shook my head.
He pushed a glass of water toward me.
"Come sit.""
I pulled out the chair beside him.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he closed the laptop.
"I'm sorry.""
I looked at him.
"For what?""
"For not seeing what was happening in my own house.""
I stared at the table.
"Did you know she hated me?""
Dad's face tightened.
"I knew you two weren't getting along.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"No, sweetheart. I didn't know how bad it had become.""
I swallowed.
"She took my room before I could finish unpacking. She gave my mother's sewing machine to Brielle. She tells me I'm lucky she lets me live here.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because every time I did, you told me to be patient.""
He looked at me.
I continued.
"You said Vanessa was adjusting. You said Brielle was having a hard time. You said we all needed to make sacrifices.""
Dad lowered his head.
"I thought I was giving everyone time to become a family.""
I gave a small, bitter laugh.
"I was the only one trying.""
He reached across the table and took my hand.
"I'm sorry, Maya.""
I wanted to believe him.
But an apology couldn't put the feathers back on my wings.
It couldn't give me back the evenings I had spent making something beautiful while wondering whether I was allowed to be happy.
And it couldn't explain why Vanessa had tried to steal my mother's money.
At eight the next morning, Dad called the bank.
He asked for a complete review of the trust, including every attempted transaction, account-access record, and beneficiary change.
I sat beside him while he spoke.
"Yes, I understand.""
A pause.
"No, my daughter did not authorize this.""
Another pause.
"I want the account frozen against any changes until this investigation is complete.""
He looked at me.
"Yes. She is the beneficiary. I am her legal guardian.""
When he ended the call, he looked exhausted.
"The bank is sending us the documents. They're also referring the suspicious signature to their fraud department.""
"Can Vanessa still access the money?""
"No. The account is protected now.""
I nodded.
Then I asked the question I had been afraid to ask.
"Does she know where the money came from?""
Dad frowned.
"What do you mean?""
"Did she know Mom left it for me? Or did she think it was your money?""
He looked away.
"She knew.""
I felt something cold settle in my stomach.
"Then she knew it was mine.""
Dad nodded slowly.
Before either of us could say anything else, footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Vanessa entered the kitchen wearing a cream-colored robe.
Her hair was perfectly arranged, and she held a mug of coffee.
She looked at the laptop.
Then at Dad.
"Have you been up all night investigating me?""
Dad didn't respond.
Vanessa sighed.
"This is absurd.""
"Sit down," he said.
"I have things to do.""
"Then this will be quick.""
She placed her mug on the counter.
"Daniel, we need to talk about your daughter's behavior. Yesterday was unacceptable.""
I looked at her.
"My behavior?""
"Yes. You humiliated Brielle in front of your father.""
I stared.
"She stole my costume.""
"She borrowed it.""
"You ripped the straps.""
Vanessa waved her hand.
"Accidents happen.""
Dad stood.
"Enough.""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"You can't keep treating Maya like she's the only person who matters.""
"She is my daughter.""
"And Brielle is mine!""
"Then protect her without taking things that belong to my child.""
Vanessa's cheeks flushed.
Dad opened the laptop and turned it toward her.
"Explain this.""
She glanced at the screen.
The document displayed the attempted beneficiary change.
She didn't look surprised.
Instead, she sighed.
"I already explained.""
"No, you didn't. You told me you were protecting the family. That's not an explanation.""
"I wanted to make sure Brielle had something.""
Dad stared at her.
"You tried to put yourself on Maya's trust.""
"I was going to use the money for both girls!""
I felt my hands tighten around my glass.
"Then why did you put only your name on the document?""
Vanessa turned sharply.
"Don't interrupt adults.""
Dad stepped between us.
"She can ask whatever she wants.""
Vanessa laughed without humor.
"Of course. You always defend her.""
Dad pointed to the screen.
"Who signed Maya's name?""
"I don't know.""
"Who submitted the request?""
"I said I don't know!""
He leaned forward.
"Then we'll let the bank find out.""
For the first time, Vanessa looked toward the stairs.
I followed her gaze.
Brielle was standing there.
She was wearing pajamas, holding her phone in both hands.
"Mom?"" she asked.
Vanessa immediately straightened.
"Go back upstairs.""
Brielle didn't move.
"Is this about the papers?""
The room went silent.
Dad turned toward her.
"What papers?""
Brielle looked at her mother.
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Go upstairs, Brielle.""
But Brielle seemed unable to move.
She looked at me.
Then at Dad.
"I didn't know it was her money.""
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"Brielle, stop talking.""
Dad's voice was gentle but firm.
"Come downstairs, sweetheart.""
Brielle slowly walked into the kitchen.
She sat at the far end of the table.
Her phone was still in her hand.
Dad looked at her.
"Do you know anything about the bank documents?""
Brielle swallowed.
"Mom asked me to help her with something on the computer.""
Vanessa slammed her palm against the counter.
"That's enough!""
Dad didn't even turn around.
"Let her speak.""
Brielle's eyes filled.
"She said she needed Maya's signature. She showed me an old school form and told me to copy the handwriting.""
My blood ran cold.
I looked at her.
"You copied my signature?""
Brielle nodded.
"I thought it was just for permission to access the account.""
"Why would you believe that?""
"Mom said Dad had already agreed.""
Dad's face turned white.
"Did you know the document was changing the beneficiary?""
Brielle shook her head.
"No. I swear.""
Vanessa moved toward her daughter.
"Stop lying!""
Brielle flinched.
Dad stepped forward.
"Don't you dare intimidate her.""
Vanessa froze.
Then Brielle began crying.
"Mom told me Maya was getting all the money when she turned eighteen. She said it wasn't fair because she wanted to buy me a car and help me with college.""
I stared at her.
A car.
A college fund.
My mother had died, and somehow her savings had become a prize Vanessa believed she deserved to distribute.
Dad pulled out the chair beside Brielle.
"Where did you get the old signature?""
Brielle wiped her cheeks.
"From Maya's school permission slips.""
I looked down.
I remembered signing those forms at the kitchen counter.
I remembered Vanessa asking me to leave important papers in a folder so she could help Dad organize them.
My stomach turned.
Dad looked at Vanessa.
"Did you tell Brielle to forge the signature?""
Vanessa's mouth opened.
Then closed.
Finally, she said, "I was trying to give my daughter the same opportunities Maya has.""
Dad stared at her.
"You used your own daughter to commit fraud.""
"I did not!""
"You instructed her to copy Maya's signature.""
"I was going to fix everything later!""
"With whose money?""
Vanessa had no answer.
Dad picked up his phone.
"I'm calling our attorney.""
Vanessa rushed toward him.
"Daniel, don't.""
He moved away.
"Don't make this worse.""
She grabbed his arm.
"Please. Think about what this will do to Brielle.""
Dad looked at her hand until she released it.
"That's exactly what you should have thought about before involving her.""
Then he called.
While he spoke, I sat across from Brielle.
She wouldn't look at me.
Finally, she whispered, "I'm sorry.""
I stared at the girl who had worn my wings.
The girl who had laughed while I cried on the carpet.
The girl who had helped her mother copy my name.
"Why did you want my costume?"" I asked.
She wiped her nose.
"Mom said you didn't deserve to have something special when I had nothing.""
I looked toward the hallway.
The broken halo was still upstairs.
I wanted to hate Brielle.
Part of me did.
But I also realized something terrible.
Vanessa hadn't simply taught her daughter to take my belongings.
She had taught her that anything I owned was something Brielle was entitled to.
Dad ended the call.
"The attorney is coming over this afternoon," he announced.
"Until then, nobody touches those documents or deletes anything from their phones.""
Vanessa looked furious.
"You can't control everything!""
"No," Dad replied.
"But I can protect my daughter.""
He turned toward me.
"Go upstairs, sweetheart. I'll help you fix your costume.""
I nodded.
As I climbed the stairs, I heard Vanessa say something behind me.
"Daniel, if you bring lawyers into this, you'll lose more than you think.""
Dad answered quietly.
"Then tell me what else you've been hiding.""
I stopped on the landing.
There was a long silence.
Then Vanessa spoke.
May you like
And the words that followed made me grip the railing.
"Fine. You want the truth? Your first wife didn't leave Maya all that money by accident. She knew something about me before she died.""
