Chapter 5: The Money Behind the Wedding
Vanessa’s eyes moved from Daniel’s phone to the camera in Maya’s hand.
“That recording is incomplete,” she said.
“We were discussing legitimate refinancing.”
“Then answer me,” Daniel replied.
“Where is my money?”
“It went toward our future.”
“Our joint account shows a transfer to V.
Hale Consulting.
That company belongs to you.”
“I was protecting the funds.”
“From whom?”
Vanessa pointed at me.
“From her.
Clara could have frozen everything once she learned about the trust.”
“I didn’t know the trust existed,” I said.
“You would have found out tomorrow.”
Daniel scrolled through his statements.
“You transferred my money three days before the wedding.”
“I intended to return it after the loan closed.”
Maya stepped back when Vanessa reached for the camera.
“Give me that,” Vanessa demanded.
“No.”
Vanessa grabbed the strap.
Maya held on, and the camera struck the edge of the table.
Its screen went black.
“There,” Vanessa said.
“Now we can stop this performance.”
Maya picked it up carefully.
“The video was uploaded to my employer’s cloud account while it recorded.”
Vanessa’s hand fell to her side.
Conrad whispered something to her, but Daniel heard him.
“What lien?” he asked.
Conrad straightened.
“This is no longer an appropriate conversation.”
Daniel blocked his path.
“What lien?”
Vanessa lifted her chin.
“Your money paid urgent family obligations.”
Grandma’s brass key slipped from her fingers and struck the table.
“You borrowed against my home.”
Everyone looked at her.
Vanessa spoke quickly.
“It was temporary.”
Grandma gripped the back of the chair.
“You told me those papers updated the insurance.”
“They secured a short-term loan.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred and forty thousand.”
Aunt Patricia covered her mouth.
Grandma took one step toward Vanessa.
“My house was paid off twenty-three years ago.”
“And it will be paid off again when Daniel’s refinancing is approved.”
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“You used my money to cover payments on a loan you took against your grandmother’s house?”
“I was handling it.”
“You were moving debt from one person to another.”
Vanessa turned to me.
“Sign the trust transfer again tomorrow and none of this harms Grandma.
Refuse, and the lender takes her home.”
“That sounds like a threat,” Uncle Robert said.
“It’s reality.”
I stood beside Grandma.
“Remove the lien.”
“I can’t without the refinancing.”
“Then return Daniel’s money.”
“It’s gone.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Gone where?”
Vanessa did not answer.
Conrad closed the leather folder.
“My client will discuss this privately after the reception.”
“Your client?” Daniel repeated.
“You’re supposed to be our family solicitor.”
“Not anymore,” Conrad said.
Grandma swayed.
I caught her before she fell, and Daniel pulled a chair behind her.
“Look at me,” I said.
“You are not losing your home.”
Vanessa’s laugh was small and bitter.
“You still don’t understand.
The lender sent the final notice yesterday.”
She opened an email and placed her phone in front of me.
PAYMENT REQUIRED BY 9:00 A.M.
MONDAY.
“If the balance isn’t cleared,” Vanessa said, “Grandma’s house goes into foreclosure.”
May you like
My hand closed around the phone.
Monday was less than thirty-six hours away.
