Chapter 2: The Signature
Jasmine could hear the refrigerator humming from the kitchen.
That was how quiet the house had become.
David stood by the fireplace with his phone in his hand.
Jessica sat rigidly on the sofa.
“No one leaves this room,” David said.
Jessica looked offended.
“You're treating me like a criminal.””
“I'll decide what you're being treated like after I know what happened.””
“David—”
“Stop.””
The single word silenced her.
Jasmine had never heard her father speak to Jessica like that.
David pressed the phone to his ear again.
“Martin, send everything to my email. Every document. Every authorization. Every filing.””
He listened.
“And don't process anything else until I personally speak to you.””
He ended the call.
Jasmine whispered, “Dad?””
David turned toward her.
“Come here.””
She walked over.
He put an arm around her shoulders.
“I'm sorry.””
Jasmine shook her head.
“You didn't do it.””
“I should have known what was happening.””
“You trusted her.””
David looked toward Jessica.
“That was my mistake.””
Jessica stood.
“This is ridiculous.””
David didn't move.
“You used my name.””
“I didn't forge anything.””
“Then explain the signature.””
Jessica's lips tightened.
“It was authorization.””
“Authorization for what?””
“To handle the property.””
“I never gave you that.””
“You gave me permission to manage family matters.””
“Not to transfer property.””
Jessica looked at Jasmine.
“I was trying to protect everyone.””
Jasmine wiped a tear from her cheek.
“Why didn't you ask me?””
Jessica gave a bitter laugh.
“Because you would have said no.””
“Exactly.””
“You're nineteen.””
“And?””
“And you don't know what happens when people get older and start making financial decisions.””
Jasmine stared at her.
“You think I'm irresponsible because I'm young.””
“I think you're inexperienced.””
David stepped between them.
“Enough.””
Jessica looked at him.
“You're choosing her over me.””
David's expression hardened.
“This isn't about choosing sides.””
“It always is.””
“No,” he said.
“This is about what you did.””
Jessica crossed her arms.
“I transferred it to my son's name. That's all.””
David's eyes narrowed.
“You said you transferred it.””
“Yes.””
“Then why does the lawyer's file say something different?””
Jessica froze.
Jasmine noticed.
“What does it say?””
David looked at his phone.
“I don't know yet.””
He opened the email Martin had just sent.
There were twelve attachments.
Property deeds.
Attorney correspondence.
Tax records.
A transfer agreement.
And a document labeled:
*POWER OF ATTORNEY — DAVID HARRISON*
David opened it.
His face changed.
Jasmine stepped closer.
“Dad?””
He held the screen away.
“Go upstairs for a minute.””
“No.””
“Jasmine.””
“I want to know.””
David hesitated.
Then he handed her the phone.
She read the document.
Her eyes moved across the page.
At the bottom was David's name.
And beneath it was a signature.
Her father's signature.
Jasmine looked at him.
“You didn't sign this.””
“No.””
Jessica suddenly spoke.
“I told you. You gave me permission.””
David turned.
“When?””
Jessica hesitated.
“Last year.””
“What day?””
“I don't remember.””
“What office?””
“I don't remember.””
“Who witnessed it?””
She said nothing.
David's voice became dangerously calm.
“You expect me to believe I signed a legal power of attorney and don't remember signing it?””
“You were under pressure.””
“What pressure?””
“You were dealing with your business.””
“That doesn't answer my question.””
Jessica looked away.
Jasmine zoomed in on the document.
Something caught her attention.
“Dad.””
He looked at her.
“Look at the date.””
David did.
His face went blank.
The document had been signed three months after David had undergone surgery.
Jasmine remembered that period.
Her father had been in the hospital.
He could barely hold a pen.
He couldn't even sit upright for long.
David stared at Jessica.
“I couldn't sign this.””
Jessica whispered, “You don't remember.””
“I was in a hospital bed.””
“You were confused.””
“I was unconscious for two days.””
Jessica's face tightened.
“I was handling things for you.””
David walked toward her.
“Did you create this?””
“No.””
“Did you sign my name?””
“No.””
“Did you tell someone else to sign it?””
Jessica didn't answer.
Jasmine's stomach dropped.
“Jessica?””
The stepmother looked at her.
“Don't accuse me of something you don't understand.””
David picked up the phone.
“I'm calling Martin back.””
Jessica's eyes widened.
“David, wait.””
He ignored her.
“Martin.””
He listened.
“Yes.””
His expression changed again.
“You're certain?””
Jasmine watched him.
“What?””
David ended the call.
Then he looked at Jessica.
“The witness on the power of attorney has agreed to meet us.””
Jessica's breathing became shallow.
“Who?””
David answered.
“Your brother.””
Jessica froze.
“My brother?””
“Yes.””
Jasmine looked between them.
David continued.
“He says he remembers signing as a witness.””
Jessica's face had gone pale.
“But he also says something else.””
“What?””
David took one step closer.
“He says you told him I was already dead.””
Jessica's eyes widened.
Silence filled the room.
Then Jessica whispered:
“That isn't what happened.””
May you like
David stared at her.
“Then tomorrow, you can tell me exactly what did.””
