Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO CALLED ME A LEECH
Theresa's company had received more than $240,000 over four years.
Not only from Maison Alder.
From Daniel.
Aaron.
George.
Even Lauren.
Consulting fees.
Household management reimbursements.
Family event costs.
Short-term loans never repaid.
Theresa had turned the family into her personal economy.
George looked devastated.
“She told me we were broke.”
They were.
Because Theresa kept moving money somewhere else.
“Where?”
Priya traced most of it.
Brokerage account.
Current value:
$312,000.
Vacation club membership.
Jewelry purchases.
And a small rental property outside Naples, Florida.
Title:
Theresa Mercer.
Only Theresa.
George's mouth fell open.
“She owns a house?”
A two-bedroom villa.
Mortgage nearly paid.
Purchased seven years earlier.
While I covered her surgery debt.
While George paid household costs.
While Daniel sent money.
While she told everyone family came first.
Lauren started crying.
“I gave her twenty thousand after my wedding.”
Theresa had said it was needed for property taxes.
The taxes had already been paid.
Aaron looked stunned.
For the first time, the golden couple saw the same woman I had.
Not generous.
Transactional.
Theresa arrived at the next family mediation furious.
“You had no right to investigate me.”
George answered.
“I had every right to understand our marriage.”
She stared at him.
“You're taking her side?”
He looked at me.
Then back at Theresa.
“No.”
His voice shook.
“I'm finally taking mine.”
That silenced everyone.
George announced he was moving out.
Lauren demanded records.
Aaron demanded repayment documentation.
Daniel looked sick.
For years, Theresa had kept her children competing.
Who was elegant?
Who was loyal?
Who deserved help?
Who embarrassed her?
Meanwhile, all roads led back to her accounts.
Then Theresa turned toward me.
“You happy now?”
“No.”
“You destroyed this family.”
“No.”
I stayed calm.
“I stopped paying to hide what was already broken.”
Her face twisted.
“You think you're better than us because of money.”
“No.”
“I think money made it easier for all of you to use me.”
She stood.
“Without this family, you'll be alone.”
That sentence almost worked.
Years earlier, it would have.
Then I thought about my employees.
Priya.
Monica.
Friends Daniel repeatedly discouraged me from seeing.
My penthouse.
My company.
My own quiet.
Alone no longer sounded like punishment.
Then Monica interrupted.
“There is one remaining issue.”
She slid a document across the table.
Theresa's estate.
The house everyone had been panicking over.
It wasn't jointly owned by Theresa and George anymore.
Three years earlier, ownership had been transferred into a trust.
Trustee:
Theresa.
Successor beneficiary:
Daniel.
May you like
George had signed the transfer without understanding it.
Lauren wasn't listed anywhere.
