Chapter 5: The Money Hidden Behind the Pregnancy
Marcus stared at his mother.
“Vanessa received the money?””
Evelyn nodded, tears running down her cheeks.
Robert slowly sat down.
“How much?””
Evelyn hesitated.
“How much, Evelyn?””
“Three hundred and twenty thousand dollars.””
Marcus stumbled backward.
“That isn't possible.””
“It was supposed to save your company.””
“My company never received that money!””
The words exploded through the living room.
Evelyn looked up.
“What?””
Marcus grabbed his phone and opened his banking application.
“I've been fighting to keep the business alive for six months. I've been selling equipment, delaying supplier payments, and borrowing from friends. If that money had arrived, I would have known!””
He turned the screen toward his mother.
“Look!””
Evelyn stared at the transactions.
There was no deposit.
Robert rubbed his forehead.
“Where did the money go?””
Evelyn shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“Who arranged the loan?””
“Vanessa.””
“Who signed the documents?””
Evelyn hesitated.
“Your father signed an authorization.””
Robert's voice dropped.
“I signed nothing authorizing a loan against my property.””
“You signed the papers I gave you,” Evelyn whispered.
“I signed what you told me was estate paperwork.””
Evelyn started crying harder.
“I thought it was legitimate.””
Robert looked at her.
“Did you read it?””
She didn't answer.
That silence was enough.
Marcus walked toward the window.
He pressed both hands against the glass.
“My wife stole money using my father's house?””
Evelyn reached for him.
“Marcus, sweetheart, I was trying to save you.””
He stepped away.
“You didn't save me. You put Dad in danger.””
Robert looked at his son.
“Did you know your company was being used as an excuse?””
“No, Dad. I swear.””
For a moment, Robert believed him.
Then Marcus's phone rang.
The name on the screen was Vanessa.
He answered.
“Where are you?””
“Why?””
“Because we need to talk.””
“I'm at my sister's.””
“Come home.””
“No.””
Marcus tightened his grip on the phone.
“Vanessa, I know about the money.””
There was silence.
Then she sighed.
“Your mother told you?””
“Yes.””
“Then she should have kept her mouth shut.””
Marcus's face went white.
“Where is the money?””
“Safe.””
“Where?””
“Why does it matter? It was meant for our future.””
“Three hundred and twenty thousand dollars isn't your personal spending money!””
“Lower your voice.””
“Did you forge Dad's signature?””
“Your father signed the documents.””
“He says he didn't.””
“Then perhaps he should check his memory.””
Robert stood.
“Put her on speaker.””
Marcus did.
Robert stepped closer.
“Vanessa, I know what you did.””
She laughed softly.
“Do you?””
“Yes. And I'm going to the police with everything.””
“Go ahead.””
“You think this is funny?””
“No, Robert. I think you're finally understanding how expensive it is to underestimate me.””
Marcus interrupted.
“Vanessa, where is the money?””
She ignored him.
“You should have signed the property transfer. Then none of this would have happened.””
Robert stared at the phone.
“So this was always about the house.””
“It was about securing my family's future.””
“Your family?””
“Yes. Mine.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Vanessa, what does that mean?””
She paused.
Then said something that made his entire body stiffen.
“It means I'm tired of being married to a man who can't even protect his own business.””
Marcus looked devastated.
“You told me we were building a life together.””
“We were. Until your father decided he owned everything.””
Robert stepped forward.
“Don't put this on me.””
Vanessa's voice turned cold.
“You have no idea what I know about this family.””
Then the call ended.
Marcus slowly lowered his phone.
Evelyn was crying into her hands.
Robert looked at his son.
“Marcus, there's something else.””
“What?””
“Ask her why she needed me to sign the property transfer instead of simply helping your company.””
Marcus frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“If the money was for your business, why did she need ownership of my house?””
Nobody answered.
Robert continued.
“Because the money was never meant for your business.””
Marcus stared at him.
The realization seemed to hit him all at once.
He immediately opened his phone and searched through his messages.
“Wait.””
“What is it?”” Robert asked.
Marcus scrolled through several conversations.
“Six months ago, Vanessa told me she wanted us to open a joint investment account.””
Robert nodded.
“She said she had some money saved from her previous job. She wanted to combine it with my savings.””
“And?””
“I transferred forty thousand dollars.””
Evelyn gasped.
“Marcus!””
He shook his head.
“I thought it was for our future.””
“Did you ever see the account?”” Robert asked.
Marcus looked at his screen.
“No.””
“Did you receive statements?””
“No.””
“Then where did your money go?””
Marcus called the bank.
He put the phone on speaker and explained that he needed information about a joint account he believed had been opened with his wife.
After several security questions, a representative asked him to wait.
The hold music played for nearly three minutes.
Then the representative returned.
“Mr. Williams, I'm unable to locate a joint investment account under the details you've provided.””
Marcus frowned.
“That can't be right.””
“Would you like me to check for any other accounts associated with your information?””
“Yes, please.””
Another pause.
Then the representative spoke.
“Sir, I can see an outgoing transfer of forty thousand dollars to an external account approximately six months ago.””
“Whose account?””
“For security reasons, I'll need to verify additional information.””
Marcus provided the requested details.
The representative returned.
“The receiving account is registered under the name Vanessa Williams.””
Marcus stopped breathing.
Robert slowly lowered himself into the chair.
The representative continued.
“There's also a series of subsequent transfers from that account. The balance was transferred out in several installments.””
“Where?”” Marcus whispered.
“I can only provide the available transaction information through an official statement.””
Marcus ended the call.
He stood in the middle of the living room, staring at nothing.
His wife had taken his money.
His mother had helped her obtain a loan against his father's house.
And now she had accused the very man she had been trying to rob.
Evelyn approached him.
“Marcus, I'm sorry.””
He looked at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I thought I was helping you.””
“You didn't even ask me!””
She lowered her head.
Robert placed a hand on Marcus's shoulder.
“Son, we need to stay calm. Tomorrow, we'll take every document to Thomas and the police.””
Marcus nodded.
But his eyes were fixed on his phone.
“Dad?””
“Yes?””
“What if Vanessa never intended to stay married to me?””
Robert had no answer.
Then Marcus's phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
It was from Vanessa.
*Since you want to investigate me, here's something you should know. Your father isn't the only man in this family who has been lying to you.*
A second message followed.
*Ask your mother who paid for the hospital bill three months ago.*
Marcus looked toward Evelyn.
“Mom?””
May you like
Evelyn's face drained of color.
And Robert realized that whatever happened three months earlier was much bigger than a forged signature.
