Chapter 6: The Signature From The Past
I stared at the signature until my eyes burned.
My mother’s name.
A signature that should have been impossible.
The room around me became strangely quiet.
The ticking clock on the wall sounded louder than it ever had before.
Three years ago, my mother had passed away after a long battle with cancer. I was the person who held her hand during her final days. I was the person who heard her whisper that she was proud of me.
She couldn’t have signed anything.
She couldn’t have approved anything.
She couldn’t have helped Lucas.
Yet there it was.
Her name.
Her handwriting.
Or at least something that looked like it.
I called my attorney immediately.
“Rachel, I need you to explain something to me.””
She answered on the second ring.
“Felicity, I was actually about to call you.””
“Why is my mother’s signature on this document?””
A pause.
Not a normal pause.
The kind of pause someone makes when they are choosing their words carefully.
“Because that’s the biggest problem.””
I sat down.
“What does that mean?””
“Meet me tomorrow morning.””
“Rachel.””
“Felicity, don’t discuss this with Lucas yet.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why?””
“Because if my suspicion is correct, he doesn’t know how much evidence we have.””
Evidence.
The word echoed.
This wasn’t just about a house anymore.
This was about deception.
The next morning, I sat across from Rachel in her office.
She placed several documents on the table.
“The ownership transfer request was never completed,” she said.
I exhaled.
“Because it was rejected?””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“Because someone withdrew it before the county processed it.””
I frowned.
“Lucas?””
“That’s what I thought at first.””
She slid another paper toward me.
“I traced the filing history.””
I looked down.
The name listed as the person who submitted the paperwork wasn’t Lucas.
It was a company.
A small property consulting business.
I looked up.
“What is this?””
Rachel leaned back.
“Do you recognize the name?””
I shook my head.
“Not the company.””
She tapped the paper.
“But you might recognize the person who owns it.””
I looked again.
The owner’s name was listed beneath the company title.
My heart stopped.
“Evelyn Caldwell.””
Lucas’s aunt.
I knew her.
I had met her twice.
She was always polite.
Quiet.
The kind of person who sat in the corner during family gatherings and rarely spoke.
“She did this?””
Rachel nodded.
“And she’s not the only one.””
She handed me another document.
This one was older.
Much older.
A loan agreement.
My name wasn’t on it.
But my address was.
I read through the pages.
Then I saw it.
A line that made my fingers go cold.
The house was listed as collateral.
Except the house was never used as collateral.
Not by me.
Not by my parents.
I looked at Rachel.
“What is this?””
“Someone attempted to use your property information to secure a loan.””
“Who?””
She didn’t answer.
She didn’t have to.
I already knew.
Lucas.
But why?
Why would he risk everything?
That night, I drove past my old home.
I didn’t go inside.
I just sat across the street.
The lights were on.
Someone was there.
I watched as Beatrice opened the front door.
My front door.
She looked comfortable.
Almost happy.
Like she had won.
Then Lucas walked out.
They argued.
Even from a distance, I could tell.
His hands moved aggressively.
Her expression was cold.
Finally, he slammed the door.
And Beatrice shouted something through the glass.
I couldn’t hear the words.
But I knew she wasn’t comforting him.
She was blaming him.
The next day, Lucas called.
I almost didn’t answer.
But curiosity won.
“Felicity.””
His voice sounded tired.
“What do you want?””
“I need to talk.””
“No.””
“Please.””
I closed my eyes.
“About what?””
A long silence.
Then:
“About my mother.””
I stood still.
“What about her?””
“She lied to me.””
That was not the answer I expected.
I said nothing.
Lucas continued.
“She told me everything was legal.””
“And you believed her?””
“I wanted to.””
I laughed quietly.
“You wanted to believe something because it benefited you.””
“I know.””
That surprised me.
“You know?””
“Yes.””
His voice cracked.
“I know I was wrong.””
I looked out the window.
For a second, I remembered the man I loved.
Then I remembered the suitcase in my bedroom.
The stolen key.
The fake documents.
“What happened, Lucas?””
Another pause.
Then he whispered:
“My mother didn’t just want to move into your house.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What else?””
“She wanted me to convince you to sign something after the wedding.””
“What kind of something?””
His answer came quietly.
“A marital property agreement.””
I felt sick.
“She wanted me to sign away my own house?””
“No.””
May you like
His voice dropped.
“She wanted you to sign it away.””
