Chapter 6: The Woman Behind the Company
Emma returned to the house shortly after noon.
She found Richard in the kitchen, standing beside the open laptop he used for work. Several bank statements were spread across the table, and his reading glasses lay abandoned beside a half-empty mug of coffee.
Victoria stood near the sink, dressed in a tailored navy jacket.
She looked composed.
Too composed.
“Where have you been?”” she asked.
Emma placed her bag on the floor.
“Meeting a solicitor.””
Victoria's expression hardened.
“Without discussing it with your father?””
“I'm twenty-four. I don't need permission to ask questions about my inheritance.””
“Your inheritance,” Victoria repeated.
“You seem to have developed a very convenient memory for that word.””
Richard turned away from the laptop.
“Victoria, stop.””
She ignored him.
“Did Daniel Brooks give you something?””
Emma felt her pulse quicken.
“Why do you ask?””
“Because I know how he operates. He has always believed your father made a terrible decision when he changed the trust.””
Richard looked at his wife.
“You knew he kept the original correspondence?””
Victoria's face remained perfectly still.
“I assumed he would maintain professional records.””
“Then why did you tell me the original documents had been destroyed?””
For the first time, Victoria hesitated.
Emma watched her carefully.
There it was again.
The tiny pause before she chose which version of the truth to tell.
“I said the old paperwork was no longer relevant,” Victoria replied.
“You said there was nothing left to challenge,” Richard said.
“Because the amendment was signed.””
“After Daniel warned me not to sign it.””
Victoria's eyes flashed.
“You signed it because you agreed with me.””
Richard looked at her for several seconds.
Then he turned toward Emma.
“What did Daniel tell you?””
Emma pulled out the chair and sat down.
“He showed me the original trust, Mom's letter, and the warning he sent you before you signed the amendment.””
Richard lowered his head.
“I remember the letter.””
“Then you remember being warned.””
“Yes.””
“Why did you sign anyway?””
He stared at the bank statements.
“Because I believed changing the trust would help us refinance the house. Victoria told me we could restore your interest later.””
Emma swallowed.
“Did you ever try?””
“No.””
The honesty hurt, but at least it was honest.
She placed her phone on the table.
“Daniel also gave me a copy of a bank instruction for a ninety-thousand-dollar transfer to Carter Residential Holdings.””
Richard frowned.
“I've never heard of that company.””
“Someone signed your name.””
He reached for the phone, enlarged the photograph, and studied the signature.
His face turned pale.
“That isn't mine.””
Victoria moved closer.
“Let me see.””
Richard pulled the phone away.
“No.””
Her expression changed.
“Richard, I have every right to see financial documents concerning our household.””
“Not until I understand what this is.””
She stared at him, then turned toward Emma.
“You have no idea what you're getting involved in.””
“Then explain it.””
“I don't owe you an explanation.””
“Maybe not. But if somebody is moving money using Dad's signature, a lawyer and the bank are going to ask questions.””
Victoria's mouth tightened.
“You think a bank statement proves fraud? You think a photocopy proves someone forged a signature? You have no idea how complicated these things are.””
Emma nodded slowly.
“You're right. I don't. That's why I'm getting professional advice.””
Richard closed the laptop.
“I'm calling the bank.””
Victoria stepped toward him.
“Don't be ridiculous.””
He looked up.
“Why?””
“Because this could be a clerical error. You will make the situation worse by accusing people before you understand what happened.””
“Then the bank can explain it.””
“Richard, please.””
The sudden softness in her voice made Emma look at her.
Victoria reached for her husband's arm.
“You're exhausted. You haven't slept. Your daughter has spent the morning filling your head with accusations, and now you're ready to damage our marriage over a signature on a photocopy.””
Richard gently removed her hand.
“I'm going to call the bank.””
Victoria stared at him.
For several seconds, Emma thought she might scream.
Instead, Victoria picked up her handbag.
“Fine. Do whatever you want.””
She walked toward the hallway.
At the door, she turned back.
“But remember this, Richard. If you destroy our marriage, you don't get to blame me for what happens afterward.””
The door closed behind her.
Richard remained standing.
Emma watched him reach for the phone, then stop.
“Dad?””
He looked at her.
“I'm sorry.””
She shook her head.
“I need more than an apology.””
“I know.””
“Did you give Victoria access to the mortgage account?””
“Yes.””
“Did you give her permission to transfer ninety thousand dollars?””
“No.””
“Did you ever sign a blank bank instruction?””
Richard frowned.
“No. Why?””
“Because I need to understand how someone could have authorized that payment.””
He sat down heavily.
“When we refinanced the house, I signed several documents. Victoria handled most of the paperwork. She said it would be easier if she coordinated with the bank because she was better organized than I was.””
“Did you sign anything you didn't read?””
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, “Possibly.””
Emma stared at him.
“Dad.””
“I trusted her.””
“So did I.””
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Richard looked at her, and she saw the full weight of what they had lost.
Not just money.
Not just a house.
The ability to believe that the people closest to them were telling the truth.
Emma sat beside him.
“Let's call the bank.””
They spent the next forty minutes verifying Richard's identity and requesting a review of the account activity. The bank representative explained that an investigation would be required before she could comment on the disputed transfer.
Richard answered every question carefully.
When the call ended, he looked exhausted.
“They'll send us the transaction records.””
“Good.””
“But Emma, I need you to understand something. Even if Victoria did something wrong, she is still my wife.””
Emma looked at him.
“And I'm still your daughter.””
He closed his eyes.
“I know.””
“Then stop asking me to make room for her secrets.””
He had no answer.
Emma went upstairs to collect her belongings. She had decided that she would stay with a friend until she could speak to a lawyer and understand her position.
As she zipped her bag, she heard footsteps outside the bedroom.
Richard appeared in the doorway holding a small envelope.
“I found this in my desk,” he said.
“It was hidden behind the old property records.””
Emma took it.
Her name was written on the front in her father's handwriting.
Beneath it were the words: For Emma, if anything ever happens to me.
Her stomach tightened.
“Dad, what is this?””
“I don't know. I don't remember writing it.””
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a single sheet of paper, dated eighteen months earlier.
The handwriting was unmistakably Richard's.
Emma, if you're reading this, I may have failed to protect you the way your mother wanted me to. I discovered something about the house and the money, and I was afraid to confront it without proof.
Emma's fingers began to tremble.
She continued reading.
The company receiving the transfers is not registered in my name. I found a connection to someone Victoria knew before we met. I have been trying to establish what that connection means, but every time I get close, the records disappear.
She looked up at her father.
“Did you write this?””
Richard stared at the page.
“I think I did.””
“You think?””
“I remember being worried about the accounts. I remember looking into the company. But I don't remember writing a letter.””
Emma returned to the page.
The final paragraph was underlined twice.
If I cannot explain what happened, find the woman named in the original incorporation papers. Her name is Evelyn Price. She may know why Victoria wanted this house so badly.
Emma read the name aloud.
“Evelyn Price.””
Richard's expression changed.
He slowly sat on the edge of the bed.
“Who is she?”” Emma asked.
Richard looked toward the closed bedroom door.
“Victoria told me Evelyn was an old business partner who betrayed her years ago.””
“Do you know anything else?””
He shook his head.
“Only that Victoria never wanted me to contact her.””
Emma folded the letter carefully and placed it inside her bag.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel Brooks appeared on the screen.
I've checked the historical company records. Carter Residential Holdings was incorporated before your father married Victoria.
A second message followed.
The original director was not Richard Carter.
Emma stared at the screen.
“Dad,” she whispered.
He looked up.
She turned the phone toward him.
The message continued.
The original director was Evelyn Price. And according to the filing, Victoria was listed as the company's authorized representative.
Richard's face went white.
Emma felt the room grow cold around her.
The company had existed before Victoria entered their family.
The transfers had begun years later.
And now the woman her father had warned her to find appeared to be connected to the very company that had been draining the money.
Before Emma could say another word, the bedroom door swung open.
Victoria stood there.
Her eyes went straight to the letter in Emma's hand.
For the first time since Emma had returned, Victoria looked genuinely afraid.
“Where did you get that?”” she demanded.
Emma held the letter against her chest.
“Why? What does Evelyn Price have to do with you?””
Victoria stepped into the room and closed the door behind her.
Then she looked at Richard.
“You promised me you would never tell her.””
Richard stood slowly.
“I don't remember making that promise.””
Victoria's eyes filled with furious tears.
“Then perhaps you should remember what happened the last time someone tried to expose the truth about Evelyn.””
Emma felt her heart hammer against her ribs.
“What happened?””
Victoria looked directly at her.
“Your mother didn't die knowing everything, Emma.””
May you like
She paused.
“And neither did your father.””
