Chapter 5: The Money Nobody Knew About
The following morning, I woke before sunrise.
The hotel room was quiet except for the distant sound of waves breaking against the shore.
Maya was asleep in the other bed, one arm hanging over the side. Devin had fallen asleep on the sofa after insisting he didn't need a separate room.
I walked onto the balcony with my laptop.
Daniel had sent several documents overnight.
The first showed the suspicious loan application.
The second showed the proposed family trust.
The third was a business registration.
*VLM Lifestyle Consulting LLC.*
The company had been registered under Vanessa's maiden name four months earlier.
I opened the business records.
Vanessa was listed as the sole managing member.
The registered business address belonged to a small office building in Tampa.
I searched through the loan documents.
The $38,000 had been deposited into the company's business account.
Then, over the next three weeks, the money had been divided into smaller transfers.
Some went toward travel expenses.
Others went to an account associated with Sterling Estate Services.
One payment was particularly interesting.
$12,000 had been transferred to an account belonging to Patricia.
I leaned back in my chair.
Why would my wife take out a loan in my name and transfer twelve thousand dollars to her mother?
I called Daniel.
"Have you seen the business records?""
"Yes," he replied.
"What's VLM Lifestyle Consulting?""
"That's what we're trying to determine.""
"Can she use my identity to obtain a business loan?""
"Not without proper authorization. We need the lender's complete file.""
I stared at the ocean.
"Daniel, I want to know where every dollar went.""
"Then we need to move carefully. I've already prepared requests for the relevant records. Also, I've advised you to place a fraud alert on your credit profile and dispute the loan.""
"Can you freeze the joint savings account?""
"We can discuss protective steps, but don't move or hide marital assets. We need to preserve the records and follow the proper legal process.""
"Understood.""
After the call, I heard the balcony door slide open.
Maya stepped outside wearing her pajamas.
"Couldn't sleep?""
"Not really.""
She sat beside me.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then she asked, "Are you going to divorce Vanessa?""
I looked at her.
"Why are you asking?""
"Because I don't want you to stay married to someone who hates me.""
My chest tightened.
"Sweetheart, this isn't your fault.""
"I know you keep saying that.""
She rubbed her thumb against the edge of her sleeve.
"But sometimes I think if I hadn't been here, you and Vanessa would still be happy.""
I turned toward her.
"Maya, listen to me. My marriage is my responsibility. The way Vanessa treated you was her choice. You didn't cause it.""
She looked down.
"She used to be nice.""
"I know.""
"She helped me with my hair before school. She bought me a pink backpack when I was little.""
I remembered those years.
Vanessa had once seemed genuinely interested in becoming a mother figure to Maya.
"What changed?"" I asked.
Maya shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe when Devin started getting older.""
She hesitated.
"One time, I heard her telling Grandma that you only paid attention to me because you felt bad about Mom dying.""
I swallowed.
"How long ago?""
"Last Christmas.""
I stared at the horizon.
Maya continued.
"I wanted to tell you, but you were so happy that day. Everyone was laughing. I didn't want to ruin it.""
I reached across the small table and took her hand.
"You never have to protect me from the truth.""
She nodded.
Then she leaned against my shoulder.
For the first time in months, I felt her relax.
Later that morning, Devin joined us for breakfast.
He was unusually quiet.
Finally, he put his fork down.
"Can I ask something?""
"Of course," I said.
"Did Mom really take out a loan using your name?""
I looked at him carefully.
"We're investigating it.""
He nodded.
"She told me the company was hers. She said she was starting something new.""
"What kind of business?""
"Luxury travel planning, I think.""
I exchanged a glance with Maya.
"Did she ever mention why she needed money?""
Devin hesitated.
"She said she was helping Grandma with something.""
"What?""
"I don't know.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Actually, I remember one conversation.""
I waited.
"Mom was on the phone in the kitchen. She said the money would be enough to settle everything before the end of the year.""
"Did she mention a house?""
Devin looked surprised.
"Yes.""
My pulse quickened.
"What exactly did she say?""
He closed his eyes, trying to remember.
"She said once the house was transferred, everything would be protected. Then Grandma said something about nobody being able to challenge it.""
I stared at him.
"Did you tell Vanessa you heard that?""
"No.""
"Good. Don't confront her about it.""
He nodded.
Then he looked at Maya.
"I'm sorry.""
Maya gave him a small smile.
"You've said that already.""
"I know. I just keep thinking about it.""
He lowered his voice.
"I knew Mom sometimes treated you differently. I just didn't realize how bad it was.""
Maya shrugged.
"You're not responsible for her.""
Devin looked at her.
"Neither are you.""
For a moment, they both smiled.
Then my phone rang.
Lauren.
I stepped away from the table.
"Hello?""
"Andre, have you spoken to Daniel?""
"Yes.""
"Did he tell you about the loan?""
I went still.
"How do you know about the loan?""
She hesitated.
"Vanessa called me last night. She was furious.""
"What did she say?""
"She said you were digging into her business and that you had no right to interfere.""
I leaned against the wall.
"Lauren, I need you to tell me something. Were you involved with VLM Lifestyle Consulting?""
The silence was immediate.
"Why are you asking?""
"Your work address is connected to the company.""
She sighed.
"I helped Vanessa register the business.""
My jaw tightened.
"Why?""
"She said she wanted to start a travel company. She needed help with the paperwork, and I work in administration. I didn't think anything of it.""
"Did you know about the loan?""
"No.""
"Did you know she used my information?""
"Absolutely not.""
I believed the shock in her voice.
But I wasn't finished.
"Did you receive any money from the company?""
Another pause.
"Yes.""
My stomach tightened.
"How much?""
"Three thousand dollars.""
"For what?""
"Vanessa said it was payment for helping with the business setup.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did you know that money came from the loan?""
"No. Andre, I swear.""
I listened as she began crying.
Then she said something that changed the direction of the entire investigation.
"There's something else you need to know. I found a second set of documents in Vanessa's office.""
"What documents?""
"An inheritance agreement.""
"For whom?""
"Devin.""
I glanced through the glass doors toward the dining area.
Devin was sitting beside Maya, showing her something on his phone.
"What did the agreement say?""
Lauren lowered her voice.
"It said that if something happened to you, the house would pass directly into a trust controlled by Vanessa. Devin would eventually receive the property.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Something happened to me?""
"That's what I thought it meant. I asked Vanessa about it.""
"What did she say?""
"She told me it was just estate planning.""
I took a breath.
"Lauren, why didn't you tell me this before?""
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
She began crying harder.
"Vanessa told me that if I interfered, she'd make sure I lost my job. She has copies of documents with my signature, too.""
I went silent.
"What documents?""
"I don't know exactly. She asked me to sign some business registration papers. Now she's saying I approved the loan.""
I gripped the phone.
"Lauren, you need your own attorney.""
"I know.""
"And don't delete anything.""
"I won't.""
Before ending the call, Lauren whispered:
"Andre, there's one more thing. The family vacation wasn't just about leaving Maya behind.""
"What do you mean?""
"Vanessa invited someone else to the Bahamas.""
"Who?""
"Someone she told everyone was a business partner.""
I waited.
Then Lauren said the name.
"Marcus.""
The name meant nothing to me.
"Who is Marcus?""
Lauren hesitated.
"He's the man who has been helping Vanessa move the money.""
I looked at the beach.
"Is he her business partner?""
"I don't think so.""
"Then what is he?""
Her voice dropped almost to a whisper.
"Andre, I think he's her boyfriend.""
I didn't answer.
I simply stood there, holding the phone.
After seven years of marriage, my wife had apparently built an entire financial operation behind my back.
And the man helping her was supposed to be joining our family vacation.
I ended the call.
Then I walked back toward the breakfast table.
Devin looked up.
"Everything okay?""
I pulled out a chair.
"No.""
I placed my phone on the table.
"There's something both of you need to know.""
Maya reached for my hand.
"What is it, Dad?""
I looked at them.
"Your stepmother wasn't planning to spend that vacation with just her family.""
Devin frowned.
"Who else was going?""
I took a breath.
"A man named Marcus.""
Devin's face changed.
Then he slowly put down his fork.
"Marcus?""
I stared at him.
"You know him?""
Devin nodded.
"He came to our house three times while you were working late.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Devin looked toward Maya.
"Because Mom told me he was helping her with the business.""
Then he added quietly:
"But the last time he came, he called her something I wasn't supposed to hear.""
"What?""
May you like
Devin swallowed.
"He called her his wife.""
