Chapter 2 - THE DEAL ETHAN NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT
Ethan finally opened the door.
Margaret walked inside as if nothing had happened at Christmas.
Madison followed.
Victoria Hale entered last.
She didn't look at me.
She looked at Ethan.
“You've made this more complicated than necessary.”
Ethan closed the door.
“You're not taking anything.”
Victoria smiled.
“That isn't your decision.”
I stepped forward.
“Then whose decision is it?”
She finally looked at me.
“The court's.”
Margaret crossed her arms.
“Your husband signed a binding family agreement.”
“What agreement?”
Ethan looked at me.
“I'll explain.”
Margaret laughed.
“Now you want to explain?”
“Mom.”
“You kept secrets from your wife for six years.”
“I was protecting her.”
“You were protecting yourself.”
I looked at Ethan.
“Six years ago. What happened?”
He took a breath.
“My father had a gambling debt.”
Richard closed his eyes.
Margaret snapped:
“Don't.”
But Ethan continued.
“He owed almost $400,000.”
I stared at Richard.
“He was going to lose the house.”
“Yes.”
“So you paid it?”
Ethan nodded.
“I paid the debt.”
“With what?”
“My grandfather's inheritance.”
Margaret stepped closer.
“And in return, Ethan promised to support us.”
“That explains the $2,500 a month.”
“Yes.”
“But what about the house?”
Ethan looked at me.
“I transferred the property into a family trust.”
Margaret smiled.
“You see?”
I turned toward her.
“What exactly do you think that means?”
“It means my family owns the house.”
“No,” Ethan said.
Margaret's smile disappeared.
“The trust owns it.”
“And who controls the trust?”
Ethan.
I looked at him.
“So you've always owned it?”
“Technically, yes.”
“Then why did you let them believe otherwise?”
Ethan's face tightened.
“Because Mom threatened to cut Dad off from everyone if I challenged her.”
Richard whispered:
“She threatened me with divorce.”
Madison rolled her eyes.
“Dad, seriously?”
Richard turned toward her.
“You don't understand what your mother has done.”
Margaret glared at him.
“Be quiet.”
Victoria opened her briefcase.
“Enough family drama.”
She removed a document.
“Ethan signed an agreement requiring him to transfer control of the trust if he ever terminated financial support.”
I felt my stomach drop.
“What?”
Margaret smiled.
“Exactly.”
Ethan looked at Victoria.
“That clause is invalid.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
“Then you won't mind seeing the amendment.”
She placed another document on the table.
Ethan picked it up.
His expression changed.
I stepped closer.
“What is it?”
He didn't answer.
I took the paper from his hand.
It was an amendment to the trust.
Signed six years earlier.
And beneath Ethan's signature was mine.
I stared.
My name.
My handwriting.
My signature.
But I had never seen the document.
“I didn't sign this.”
Ethan's face went pale.
“I know.”
Margaret smiled.
“Someone did.”
I looked at her.
“Who?”
She leaned closer.
“That's what you're going to find out.”
Then Victoria placed one final document on the table.
A notarized statement.
It claimed that I had voluntarily agreed to surrender my rights to the family trust if Ethan ever stopped supporting his parents.
The signature looked exactly like mine.
I whispered:
“This is forged.”
Victoria calmly replied:
“Prove it.”
Then my phone buzzed.
A text message from an unknown number appeared.
CHECK THE DATE ON THE NOTARY STAMP.
I zoomed in.
My blood ran cold.
The document had been notarized two days after I had given birth to Lily.
I had been in the hospital.
Unable to walk without help.
I looked at Ethan.
“Who had access to my identification?”
He stared at his mother.
Margaret's smile vanished.
May you like
Then Richard whispered:
“Madison.”
