Chapter 6: The Lawyer Opens the File
The lawyer's office was quieter than Jasmine expected.
She sat beside David in the waiting area, nervously twisting her fingers together.
Jessica sat across from them.
Nobody had spoken much during the drive.
David had made it clear that he wanted to hear directly from the lawyer, review the documents, and understand precisely what had happened.
He wasn't interested in another argument about intentions.
He wanted facts.
When the receptionist finally invited them into the meeting room, Jasmine felt her heart begin to race.
The lawyer stood to greet them.
“David. Thank you for coming in. I've gathered the documents connected to the property request.””
David shook his hand.
“Good. I want to understand why my daughter was removed from the records without my authorization.””
The lawyer nodded.
“Of course. I'll explain what we have on file, and we'll distinguish between what was requested, what was processed, and what still requires verification.””
He placed a folder on the table.
Jessica stared at it.
Jasmine noticed that her stepmother had become unusually quiet.
The lawyer opened the folder and began reviewing the documents.
He explained that his office had received instructions concerning a proposed change to the property's ownership arrangements.
The request had included information identifying the people involved and specifying the change being sought.
David listened without interrupting.
Then the lawyer reached a particular page and paused.
“This is one of the documents we need to examine carefully.””
David leaned forward.
“What is it?””
“It records the instructions and supporting information supplied to our office.””
He turned the page so David could see it.
David studied the details.
His expression became increasingly serious.
“Who supplied this information?””
The lawyer looked at his notes.
“Your wife was the point of contact for the request.””
David turned toward Jessica.
She stared at the table.
“Did you submit this?”” he asked.
Jessica nodded reluctantly.
“Yes.””
“Did you tell the lawyer that I had agreed to the change?””
Jessica shifted in her chair.
“I explained that I wanted the property arrangements changed.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
The lawyer intervened carefully.
“We should be precise about the distinction between requesting a change and establishing that the person with the necessary legal authority has approved it. That is one of the issues we're reviewing.””
David nodded.
“Then let's review it.””
The lawyer continued through the file.
He explained which steps had been taken and which questions remained unresolved.
The exact legal effect of the paperwork depended on the applicable ownership records, the authority available to the people involved, and whether the required formalities had been satisfied.
He did not promise that the transfer could simply be erased.
Nor did he say that it was necessarily valid.
Instead, he recommended examining the original documents and taking appropriate steps before anyone treated the proposed arrangement as final.
David listened closely.
“Can you confirm whether the property has legally been transferred to her son's name?””
“Not conclusively from the material we've reviewed today,” the lawyer replied.
“I need to verify the relevant records and examine the original documents before giving you a definitive answer.””
Jasmine felt a mixture of relief and dread.
“So I haven't necessarily lost my place?”” she asked.
The lawyer turned toward her.
“I wouldn't draw that conclusion from this paperwork alone. We need to establish the property's current legal status and determine what rights, if any, are affected.””
David placed a hand on the table.
“Then that's what we're going to do.””
Jessica finally spoke.
“I never intended for this to become such a serious matter.””
David looked at her.
“Yet you went ahead without asking me.””
“I thought the arrangement would protect my son.””
The lawyer paused, giving them a moment.
David shook his head.
“We've already discussed your reasons. Now we need to understand your actions.””
Jessica's eyes filled with frustration.
“Why can't you understand that I was worried about his future?””
“I understand that you were worried. What I don't understand is why you believed the solution was to keep Jasmine in the dark.””
Jessica looked toward Jasmine.
For a moment, it seemed she might apologize.
Instead, she said, “I thought you would eventually understand.””
Jasmine felt her chest tighten.
“Eventually?””
Jessica sighed.
“I thought once everything was arranged, we could discuss it calmly.””
“But the arrangement affected me before I even knew it existed.””
Jasmine looked directly at her stepmother.
“You wanted me to accept a decision after you had already taken away my chance to be part of the discussion.””
Jessica didn't respond.
The lawyer quietly gathered several pages into a separate stack.
“There is another point we need to clarify,” he said.
Everyone turned toward him.
“Before any further action is taken, we need to establish exactly what authority supported the requested change. That includes checking the relevant ownership documents and confirming the basis on which the instructions were accepted.””
David's expression hardened.
“Please do that immediately.””
“I will. I'll also provide copies of the records so you can review them with independent legal advice if necessary.””
David nodded.
“That's what I want.””
The meeting continued for some time.
The lawyer explained the need to preserve all correspondence, review the original documents, and avoid making further changes until the legal position was clear.
David asked questions about each step.
Jasmine listened, trying to understand what the paperwork meant for her future.
Jessica answered several questions about the instructions she had given, but her responses became less confident whenever David asked why she hadn't consulted him.
Eventually, the lawyer closed the folder.
“I want to be clear about one thing,” he said.
“We should not assume the transfer is valid simply because a request was submitted, and we should not assume it is invalid before the necessary checks are completed. The documents and applicable law will determine the available options.””
David stood.
“Understood. I expect a complete review.””
“You'll receive an update as soon as I've verified the records.””
David thanked him, and Jasmine rose from her chair.
Jessica remained seated for a moment, staring at the closed folder.
Then she stood and followed them out.
In the hallway, David stopped.
“Jessica, I want to ask you one more question.””
She turned toward him.
“What?””
“Did you make this decision entirely on your own, or did someone help you prepare the request?””
Jessica's face changed.
Jasmine noticed immediately.
It was a small reaction, but it was unmistakable.
Jessica looked toward the office door before returning her attention to David.
“Why are you asking me that?””
“Because I want to know exactly how this happened.””
“I already told you what I did.””
“You told me that you instructed the lawyer. You haven't explained whether anyone else was involved in preparing the documents.””
Jessica's hands tightened around her purse.
“No one needs to be involved. I handled it.””
David watched her carefully.
“Then answering should be simple.””
She looked away.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Jasmine felt a chill run through her.
Until that moment, she had assumed the entire situation was the result of Jessica's determination to secure property for her son.
Now she wasn't so sure.
David stepped closer, his voice firm but controlled.
“If you have nothing else to explain, say so. But if there's something you haven't told me, this is the time to tell the truth.””
Jessica swallowed.
“I don't want to discuss this here.””
“Then we'll discuss it at home.””
He turned toward the exit.
Jasmine followed, but as she passed Jessica, she noticed her stepmother's phone lighting up inside her purse.
Jessica glanced down at the screen.
Her expression changed again.
She quickly silenced the phone and slipped it away.
Jasmine couldn't see the message.
She didn't know who had sent it.
But she saw the fear in Jessica's eyes.
And for the first time, Jasmine wondered whether the secret behind her removal from the family property involved more than a decision her stepmother had made alone.
David had promised to uncover the truth.
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Now, with the lawyer reviewing the records and Jessica struggling to answer simple questions, the family was approaching a moment none of them could easily avoid.
Because the next document David received might finally reveal whether Jessica had merely overstepped her authority—or whether something far more complicated had been set in motion.
