Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
I read Vanessa's message four times.
Then I put my phone down.
I didn't trust her.
Why would I?
She had sat on my bed wearing my robe.
She had known Derek was married.
She had known I was pregnant.
She had even been told that I was practically separated from him.
But something about her message bothered me.
Not because I believed she suddenly cared about me.
Because she had mentioned my father's name.
I called Carter.
He answered immediately.
“Audrey?””
“Vanessa contacted me.””
His voice became cautious.
“What did she say?””
I read him the messages.
He remained silent for a few seconds.
“Do not meet her alone.””
“I wasn't planning to.””
“Good. Forward me the messages. If she has information about potentially fraudulent documents, we need to handle it carefully.””
“Should I reply?””
“You can tell her that any documents should be preserved and that she can communicate through our office. Don't encourage her to take anything that doesn't belong to her.””
I sent Vanessa a brief response.
If you have information relevant to the legal matters, please contact my attorney. Do not remove or alter any documents.
She replied almost immediately.
I understand.
Then:
I'm sorry.
I stared at the apology.
It didn't make me feel better.
An apology from someone who had helped betray you doesn't undo the betrayal.
Still, I wondered what she had found.
The next morning, Carter arranged a meeting at his office.
I had barely slept.
Maisie had woken twice during the night, and every time I settled her back into her crib, my thoughts returned to the same questions.
How long had Derek been planning this?
How much money had he borrowed?
What exactly had he told Vanessa?
And why had he used my father's name?
At 10:00 a.m., I arrived at Carter's office with Maisie.
A receptionist showed me into a private conference room.
Carter was already there, along with Rebecca.
A thick folder sat on the table.
“Good morning,” Carter said.
“How bad is it?””
He looked at Rebecca.
She opened the folder.
“We've confirmed that Derek submitted the financing application using the mansion as proposed collateral.””
I nodded.
“And my signature?””
“The lender's copy appears to contain an image-based reproduction of your signature. We have requested the original electronic submission records.””
“Can they prove it wasn't mine?””
“We can establish that you did not authorize the transaction. A forensic examiner can also compare the disputed signature with verified samples.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“What happens to Derek?””
“That depends on the evidence and the relevant authorities. We are not going to speculate before the investigation is complete.””
Carter turned another page.
“There's something else. The lender has identified a related company called Halston Development Partners.””
I recognized the name.
It was Derek's business.
He had started it four years earlier.
“What about it?””
“According to the documents, the company was seeking financing for a redevelopment project. The application listed several expected sources of capital.””
He placed a page in front of me.
One line was highlighted.
Private investment commitment — Thomas Vance.
I stared.
“My father?””
“Yes.””
“But Dad never agreed to invest.””
“That's what he told us.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Then why is his name here?””
“We don't know yet. But the application suggested that your father had committed $1.5 million.””
I shook my head.
“He would never do that without proper documentation.””
“Exactly.””
Carter leaned back.
“We're checking whether Derek presented any forged correspondence or misleading communications.””
I looked at the folder.
“What if he used my father's name without permission?””
“Then your father may have grounds to take action. But we'll let the evidence determine that.””
I was quiet for a moment.
Then I asked, “Why would Derek do this?””
Carter didn't pretend to know.
“Money, ambition, desperation. There are many possibilities. What matters now is what we can prove.””
I looked down at Maisie.
She was sleeping in her carrier.
“Will he still be able to come after me for money?””
“Your marriage and financial arrangements will need to be reviewed carefully. We will protect your separate property and challenge any unsupported claims. We also need to assess whether there are marital debts that were incurred without your knowledge.””
That last sentence made me uncomfortable.
“Could I be responsible for his business debts?””
“Not automatically. Liability depends on the nature of the debt, the documents, and applicable law. We'll examine every agreement before you respond to anything.””
I nodded.
Then Carter slid another document across the table.
“This is the occupancy notice served yesterday.””
I read it.
The trust had formally notified Derek that his permission to occupy the mansion was being reviewed and that he was prohibited from representing himself as the property's owner.
There was also a demand that he stop making representations about the property to third parties.
“Does this mean he'll be removed?””
“It begins the formal process. We will comply with the agreement's notice period and all applicable legal requirements.””
I signed the acknowledgment.
My hand shook slightly.
Carter noticed.
“You don't have to rush.””
“I know.””
I looked at my signature.
For a moment, I remembered signing our marriage license.
Derek had squeezed my hand and whispered, “Forever.””
Now I was signing documents to separate my life from his.
When I left the office, Vanessa was standing near the reception desk.
She wore a black coat and held a leather handbag.
The moment she saw me, she stood.
“Audrey?””
I stopped.
Carter stepped closer.
“Ms. Cole, if you have information, you can speak with me.””
Vanessa nodded.
“I know. I just wanted to apologize to her.””
I looked at her.
“You don't owe me another performance.””
Her face reddened.
“I deserve that.””
“Yes, you do.””
She glanced toward Maisie's carrier.
“She's beautiful.””
I didn't answer.
Vanessa swallowed.
“I didn't know about the forged signature.””
I studied her expression.
“What did you know?””
She looked down.
“I knew he was married. I knew you were pregnant. He told me you were emotionally distant and that you both planned to separate after the baby was born.””
“And you believed him?””
“I wanted to.””
“That doesn't make it true.””
“I know.””
She opened her handbag and took out a folded piece of paper.
Carter immediately intervened.
“Please don't hand us original documents without explaining where they came from.””
Vanessa nodded and put the paper back.
“I have photographs of something in Derek's office. I took them before I left.””
“Where are the originals?”” Carter asked.
“In his desk.””
“Did you access the documents with his permission?””
“No.””
“Then we need to be careful about how that information is handled.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“There's a letter addressed to your father.””
My chest tightened.
“What letter?””
“He wrote it months ago. I saw it in the locked drawer.””
“What did it say?””
“I only read the first page.””
She hesitated.
Then she looked directly at me.
“It said that Derek was prepared to make a private arrangement with your father involving the mansion.””
I felt cold.
“What kind of arrangement?””
“I don't know.””
“Why didn't you tell me earlier?””
She looked ashamed.
“Because I thought I was going to be the person living there.””
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Carter said, “Ms. Cole, please provide your contact information to my office. We'll determine what information can be properly obtained.””
Vanessa nodded.
Before leaving, she looked at me one last time.
“I really am sorry.””
I watched her walk away.
Carter touched my shoulder.
“Let's go upstairs. We need to discuss this privately.””
Back in the conference room, he closed the door.
“Your father needs to know about that letter.””
“I'll call him.””
“Not yet. I want to review what Vanessa has actually provided first.””
I nodded.
But my mind was already racing.
Derek had written to my father.
He had made some kind of arrangement involving the mansion.
And he had apparently done it while telling me that our finances were too tight to buy a crib from the more expensive store.
At 1:40 p.m., my father arrived.
He walked into the conference room carrying his briefcase.
The moment he saw me, he came over and kissed my forehead.
“How's my girl?””
“I'm okay.””
He glanced at Maisie.
“And my granddaughter?””
“She's sleeping.””
He smiled.
Then Carter showed him the information.
My father read the summary without speaking.
When he reached the reference to the private letter, his expression changed.
“Did you say this was dated six months ago?””
“Yes,” Carter replied.
My father slowly closed the folder.
“Then I know exactly what he's talking about.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
Dad looked at me.
“Derek came to see me last spring. He wanted me to sign a document.””
“What document?””
“A letter of intent.””
“For what?””
“To transfer the mansion into a holding company after a proposed business restructuring.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“Why would you agree to that?””
“I didn't.””
“Did Derek tell you I wanted it?””
My father looked uncomfortable.
“He said you had discussed it with him.””
“I never did.””
“I know that now.””
I leaned forward.
“Dad, why didn't you tell me?””
He looked down.
“Because he asked me not to interfere in your marriage. He said you wanted to keep business separate from family.””
I closed my eyes.
Another lie.
Another carefully constructed story.
Carter asked, “Did you retain the draft?””
My father nodded.
“I did.””
“Do you remember who prepared it?””
“A man named Richard Sloan. Derek said he was his corporate attorney.””
Carter wrote the name down.
“Did you sign anything?””
“No.””
“Did you send any written authorization?””
“No.””
My father paused.
“But I did something else.””
He opened his briefcase and removed a sealed envelope.
“I kept every document Derek sent me.””
He placed it on the table.
Inside were copies of emails, financial projections, and a draft property-transfer agreement.
I looked at the first page.
My name appeared at the top.
And beneath it was a statement that made my hands go numb.
Audrey Vance Halston, as beneficial successor to the Vance Family Property Trust, has expressed her intention to support the proposed transfer.
I looked at my father.
“I never said that.””
“I know.””
Carter examined the document.
“Did you receive this directly from Derek?””
“Yes.””
“Was there any indication that Audrey had approved it?””
“No.””
My father looked at me.
“He told me you had already discussed it with him.””
I swallowed.
“Why would he do that?””
My father didn't answer immediately.
Then he said something that changed the entire direction of the conversation.
“Because Derek wasn't simply trying to get a loan.””
He pointed to the final page.
“He was trying to convince me to surrender control of the trust.””
Carter leaned forward.
“Mr. Vance, are you saying he proposed a transfer of the trust's assets?””
“Not exactly.””
My father turned the page.
“He wanted a new company created. The company would be controlled by Derek, but he wanted me to transfer the mansion into it as an initial contribution.””
I stared at the document.
“And you refused?””
“Immediately.””
“Did Derek threaten you?””
“No.””
My father looked at Carter.
“But he did tell me something strange before he left.””
“What?”” Carter asked.
My father hesitated.
“He said that once the baby arrived, Audrey would finally understand why it was better for the family if he controlled the finances.””
I felt sick.
The baby.
Me.
The family.
Everything had been part of his plan.
Then my father's phone vibrated.
He checked the screen.
His expression hardened.
“What is it?”” I asked.
He turned the phone toward Carter.
It was an email from Derek's attorney.
The subject line read:
*NOTICE OF INTENDED CLAIM AGAINST TRUST BENEFICIARY.*
I stared at it.
“What does he want now?””
Carter opened the email.
He read the first paragraph.
Then he looked at my father.
And for the first time since this nightmare began, my attorney seemed genuinely surprised.
“Derek is claiming that Audrey promised him the mansion as part of their marital arrangement.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
But Carter wasn't finished.
“He's also claiming that Thomas Vance made a separate verbal commitment to transfer the property.””
My father stood.
“That's absurd.””
Carter nodded.
“Perhaps. But there's one more issue.””
He turned the laptop toward us.
Attached to the email was a scanned document.
A document with my father's signature.
And beneath it, a date.
Six months before Maisie was born.
My father stared at the screen.
May you like
Then he whispered:
“I never signed that.””
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