Chapter 3 - THE SIGNATURE THAT COULD DESTROY US
Madison stepped backward.
“Don't look at me.”
I stared at her.
“You forged my signature?”
“No.”
Ethan's voice hardened.
“Madison.”
“I didn't!”
Victoria closed her briefcase.
“We don't need to accuse anyone tonight.”
“Oh, yes, we do,” I said.
Madison's face flushed.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
She looked toward Margaret.
Her mother said nothing.
That silence told me everything.
“You knew.”
Madison shook her head.
“I didn't know what Mom was doing.”
“Then why did your name appear on the notary records?”
She froze.
Ethan stepped toward her.
“Answer me.”
Madison began crying.
“Mom asked me to help.”
Margaret shouted:
“Don't you dare!”
Madison finally snapped.
“You promised you'd protect me!”
The room went silent.
I looked at Ethan.
“What did Margaret promise her?”
Madison wiped her eyes.
“She said if the trust changed hands, I'd get part of it.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred thousand dollars.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“You were willing to destroy my marriage for $200,000?”
Madison looked down.
“I thought you were going to abandon us.”
“You mean stop giving you money.”
She didn't answer.
Victoria interrupted.
“This confession is irrelevant.”
Ethan turned toward her.
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you sweating?”
Victoria's expression hardened.
“I suggest you consult independent counsel.”
“I already did.”
She froze.
Ethan reached into a drawer.
He pulled out a folder.
“I knew Mom would try something.”
Margaret stared.
“What is that?”
“The original trust.”
He opened it.
“The amendment you presented tonight doesn't exist in the original records.”
Victoria's face changed.
Ethan continued.
“And I had the original document examined by a forensic specialist.”
He handed the report to me.
“The signature is digitally reproduced.”
I looked at Margaret.
She was trembling.
But then she smiled.
“You think that's enough?”
“What else do you have?”
She looked at me.
“Your husband has a secret too.”
Ethan's expression hardened.
“Mom, stop.”
Margaret ignored him.
“He didn't just pay our bills.”
She turned toward me.
“He bought the house.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“He bought the property using money from your joint account.”
I looked at Ethan.
“Is that true?”
He hesitated.
“I used money from an investment account.”
“Our money?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“$180,000.”
I felt betrayed.
“You told me that money was for Lily's college fund.”
“It was.”
“Then why did you use it?”
“To save the house.”
Margaret smiled.
“And now you know.”
She had been waiting for this.
She wanted me angry with Ethan.
She wanted our marriage broken.
Then she said:
“Because if Claire divorces you, the house becomes community property.”
I stared at her.
“What are you planning?”
Margaret's voice became soft.
“I want you to leave him.”
Ethan stepped forward.
“No.”
She smiled.
“Then I'll make sure she does.”
Before I could answer, a police cruiser stopped outside.
A detective entered the house.
“Which one of you is Claire Bennett?”
I raised my hand.
“That's me.”
He approached.
“I need you to come with me.”
“Why?”
He handed me a warrant.
My name was at the top.
The charge made my stomach drop.
FINANCIAL FRAUD.
I looked at Ethan.
He stared at the document in disbelief.
Margaret smiled.
May you like
Then the detective added:
“And there's an arrest warrant for your husband.”
