Chapter 8 - DANIEL’S DECISION
Daniel did not respond to Vanessa’s message.
He replayed Robert’s recording until Margaret closed the laptop.
“You heard enough.”
“No,” Daniel said. “I heard Dad tell me not to marry her without ever explaining why.”
“He may have known Celeste had a daughter.”
“That doesn’t mean Vanessa knew what happened.”
Margaret studied him.
“You still want to believe her.”
“I want to know whether I’m ending my marriage before it begins because of something her mother did fourteen years ago.”
“She lied about Northstar.”
“Yes.”
“She entered the study.”
“We suspect she did.”
“She may have forged your signature.”
“We don’t have proof.”
Margaret heard the desperation beneath his caution.
Daniel was not defending Vanessa because he considered the evidence weak.
He was defending the years he had spent loving her.
“If the wedding happens,” Margaret said, “you must protect yourself.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“I thought marriage was supposed to be the opposite of that.”
“Marriage should be safe. That does not mean trust should be blind.”
They contacted Nora Bennett, an attorney Margaret had known for twenty years. Nora specialized in financial fraud and property disputes. She arrived at Lakehaven before dawn.
After hearing the recording, she advised them not to confront Vanessa or Adrian.
“We need to identify the buyer, trace the deposit, and determine whether the forged contract has entered the county recording system,” Nora said. “If they believe Margaret still intends to transfer the property, they may expose the rest of their plan.”
Daniel looked toward the cream envelope on the table.
“You want Mom to bring the deed to the wedding.”
“I want them to believe she is bringing it.”
Margaret understood immediately.
“The gift becomes bait.”
Nora nodded.
“Northstar cannot complete a legitimate sale without clear title. If Vanessa expected Daniel to receive the house tomorrow, she may already have scheduled the next step.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I won’t use my wedding as a trap.”
Nora looked at him.
“Your wedding became part of their plan before we entered this room.”
Silence followed.
Daniel walked to the window.
The sky beyond Lakehaven was turning pale.
“What happens if Vanessa admits everything?” he asked.
“That depends on what everything includes.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“You decide whether you can stand beside someone who continues lying when the truth is placed in front of her.”
Daniel looked at Margaret.
“Will you attend?”
“Do you want me there?”
“Yes.”
The answer came without hesitation.
Margaret touched the cream envelope.
“Then I will attend.”
At nine that morning, Daniel met Vanessa at the wedding venue.
Margaret did not go with him. Nora waited in a car across the street while Daniel entered alone.
Vanessa stood in the ballroom directing workers. She looked exhausted.
When Daniel approached, she sent everyone away.
“You came,” she said.
“I said I would.”
“Are we getting married?”
Daniel looked at the flowers, the stage, and the table where their wedding cake would stand.
“Tell me why your mother lied about Northstar.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“She was ashamed.”
“Of working there?”
“Of what she did there.”
“What did she do?”
“She convinced people to sell properties. Some of them regretted it.”
“My father refused.”
“Yes.”
“Was your mother at Lakehaven the night he died?”
Vanessa opened her eyes.
“I don’t know.”
“Did you enter his study?”
“I was looking for the old quarry records.”
Daniel felt something inside him collapse.
“Why?”
“Because Adrian said Northstar would pay us $5 million for the southern section.”
“You told me you wanted guest cottages.”
“We need money.”
“I don’t.”
“Your company does.”
Daniel stared at her.
The confidential board vote.
The expansion project.
The recent losses he had hidden from everyone.
“How do you know?”
“Adrian showed me the reports.”
“Those reports are stored on a private server.”
“Your password was saved on my laptop.”
Daniel stepped back.
Vanessa reached for him.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You entered my company records.”
“To understand how bad things were.”
“You lied.”
“You lied first. You told me Hale Urban was stable.”
Daniel looked away.
His company had lost two contracts. A failed development had drained reserves. He had personally guaranteed part of the debt.
He had not told Margaret.
He had not told Vanessa.
“I was fixing it,” he said.
“With what money?”
“Not money stolen from my mother.”
“The house will be yours.”
“It isn’t mine yet.”
“It was always going to be.”
Daniel turned back to her.
“Did you forge my signature?”
Vanessa’s mouth opened.
No answer came.
That silence was the closest she had come to honesty.
Daniel removed his wedding ring from his pocket. He had carried it to the rehearsal.
He placed it on the table between them.
“I’ll be here tomorrow,” he said.
Vanessa stared at the ring.
“Does that mean we’re getting married?”
“It means tomorrow you will have one final opportunity to tell the truth.”
He walked away.
Behind him, Vanessa picked up the ring.
She called Adrian before Daniel reached the door.
May you like
“She’s bringing the deed,” Vanessa whispered.
Daniel heard every word.
