Chapter 4: The Secret Behind the Forged Signature
I didn't take Ethan back to my house that evening.
Instead, I drove straight to my sister Laura's home, keeping one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting near my son's shoulder.
He hadn't spoken much since showing me the document.
Every few minutes, I glanced at him in the rearview mirror.
He was holding his mother's old teddy bear, the same one he had carried when we buried her.
When we arrived, Laura opened the front door before I could knock.
She looked at my face, then at Ethan.
"Daniel? What happened?""
"Can we come inside?""
"Of course.""
She stepped aside immediately.
Ethan ran into her arms.
"Aunt Laura.""
She kissed his forehead.
"Hello, sweetheart. What's wrong?""
He shook his head.
I placed my hand on his shoulder.
"He's staying here tonight.""
Laura looked at me carefully.
"Is this about Vanessa?""
I nodded.
Her expression changed.
"I knew something wasn't right.""
I looked at her.
"What do you mean?""
She guided Ethan toward the living room.
"Let's get him settled first.""
After giving Ethan some cookies and putting on his favorite cartoon, Laura followed me into the kitchen.
I placed the envelope on the counter.
She examined the document.
Her eyes widened when she saw Ryan's name.
"Who is this man?""
"Vanessa's lover.""
Laura covered her mouth.
"You're joking.""
"I wish I were.""
She read the application again.
Then she reached the paragraph containing my forged signature.
"Daniel, did you sign this?""
"No.""
"Are you absolutely certain?""
I stared at her.
"Laura, I know my own signature.""
She turned the paper over.
"She's trying to make him a legal guardian?""
"Apparently.""
Laura shook her head.
"Why would anyone do this?""
"That's what I'm trying to find out.""
She lowered her voice.
"What does Ethan know?""
I looked toward the living room.
"Enough to be frightened. Not enough to understand what's happening.""
Laura sat down.
"Then we need to protect him.""
I nodded.
"I've already spoken to an attorney. I'm taking the document to her tomorrow.""
Laura touched my arm.
"Daniel, there's something I need to tell you.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
"About Vanessa.""
My stomach tightened.
"What about her?""
Laura hesitated.
"Three weeks ago, she called me.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"She asked whether I thought Ethan would be better off living with someone who had more time for him.""
I stared at her.
"What did you say?""
"I told her his father was perfectly capable of raising him. She laughed and said she wasn't talking about you.""
My jaw tightened.
"What exactly did she say?""
Laura looked toward the living room before continuing.
"She said Ryan had a special connection with Ethan, and that children needed a stable male figure.""
I felt my blood pressure rising.
"Ryan barely knows my son.""
"That's what I told her.""
"And?""
Laura shook her head.
"She said you were too busy to notice what was happening in your own house.""
I looked down at the document.
Everything was beginning to make sense.
Vanessa hadn't simply been having an affair.
She had been preparing something.
Something involving my child.
The following morning, I met Patricia Wilson at her office.
I placed the envelope on her desk.
She examined every page carefully, then compared the signature with a document I had previously signed.
After several minutes, she removed her glasses.
"Mr. Carter, this is serious.""
"Can she actually give my son to this man?""
"Not simply because she wants to. You remain Ethan's legal father. A document like this does not automatically transfer your parental rights.""
"Then why would she forge my signature?""
Patricia leaned back.
"That is precisely what we need to establish. Someone may be attempting to create the appearance of your consent.""
She pointed to a paragraph.
"Look here. The application refers to an alleged parental authorization dated September fourteenth.""
I frowned.
"That was the day I was in Boston.""
"Do you have evidence of that?""
"My flight records. Hotel receipts. Business meeting invitations.""
"Good. Preserve all of them.""
She continued reading.
Then she stopped at a section listing the proposed residential address.
"Do you recognize this address?""
I leaned forward.
It was a property in a neighboring suburb.
"No.""
Patricia wrote it down.
"We need to determine who owns it.""
I looked at Ryan's name.
"Why would my wife want this man to become Ethan's guardian?""
Patricia chose her words carefully.
"That question may have an answer beyond the affair. We should investigate the circumstances before drawing conclusions.""
I nodded.
She placed the document inside a protective folder.
"Do not confront Vanessa with this original. We'll make copies and preserve the evidence. I also recommend that you speak with the appropriate authorities about the suspected forgery and any potential attempt to remove your child without your consent.""
I agreed.
Before I left, she asked one final question.
"Has Vanessa ever threatened to take Ethan away?""
I remembered her words from the night before.
It's time Ethan learned who his real father is.
"Not directly," I answered.
Patricia looked concerned.
"Then document everything from now on.""
That afternoon, Mark called me.
"Mr. Carter, I found something.""
I was sitting in my office, reviewing the documents Patricia had requested.
"What is it?""
"I searched the name Ryan Mitchell. There are several people with that name, but I found one connected to a property management company.""
"Which company?""
"Mitchell Residential Group.""
I wrote it down.
"Is it connected to Vanessa?""
"Not directly. But I found something else.""
"What?""
"The property listed on the guardianship application belongs to a company registered under that same group.""
I stood.
"Who lives there?""
"According to the public records, nobody is currently registered. But the property was recently renovated.""
I looked at the address again.
"Send me everything you have.""
"Already sent, sir.""
I opened the email.
There were several public records, including a corporate filing.
The registered manager was Ryan Mitchell.
But the company had another director.
Vanessa Carter.
My wife.
I stared at the screen.
She had never mentioned owning a business with Ryan.
I called Mark back.
"How long has this company existed?""
"About eighteen months.""
"That's before my wedding anniversary.""
"Yes, sir.""
I leaned against my desk.
"Find out whether the company owns anything else.""
"Understood.""
I ended the call.
For several minutes, I sat motionless.
Then my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered.
"Daniel, where is Ethan?""
"He's safe.""
"That's not what I asked.""
"He's with Laura.""
Her voice sharpened.
"You had no right to take him there without telling me.""
"He's my son.""
"I'm his stepmother!""
"Then you should have treated him like family.""
She went silent.
Then she said, "We need to discuss the paperwork.""
"What paperwork?""
"Don't play games with me.""
I looked at the folder.
"You mean the document with my forged signature?""
Her breathing changed.
"Daniel, you don't understand.""
"Then explain it.""
"I was trying to make arrangements for Ethan.""
"By naming Ryan as his legal guardian?""
"He has experience with children.""
I almost laughed.
"He's been sleeping with you behind my back.""
"That's irrelevant.""
"Not to me.""
She became angry.
"You're making this impossible!""
I spoke quietly.
"No, Vanessa. You did that when you brought another man into my home and tried to make him my son's father.""
She hung up.
A moment later, a message arrived.
*Vanessa:* If you really love Ethan, you'll stop making this difficult.
I showed the message to Patricia.
She immediately told me to preserve it.
But that wasn't the last message.
Ten minutes later, another notification appeared.
*Vanessa:* You have no idea what Rebecca wanted for Ethan.
I stared at the screen.
Rebecca.
My first wife.
The woman who had been dead for seven years.
Why was Vanessa suddenly bringing her into this?
Before I could respond, another message arrived.
*Vanessa:* Maybe you should ask why she left certain things behind.
I felt a chill.
May you like
What did Rebecca have to do with any of this?
And what exactly had my second wife discovered about the woman I had loved before her?
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