Chapter 7: The Father's Second Betrayal
“Dad… why is your name on the transfer?””
James's question hung over the ballroom.
Richard stood beside the lectern, staring at the document David had placed in front of him.
For the first time that afternoon, the powerful businessman looked like a man who had run out of explanations.
Diane approached slowly.
“Richard?””
He didn't look at her.
“Not now, Diane.””
She stopped.
“Not now?””
He closed his eyes.
“Please.””
Diane glanced at the document.
The property transfer listed three parties:
James Edward Whitmore.
Brittany Whitmore.
Richard Whitmore.
But the signatures were what made the situation disturbing.
James's signature appeared beneath the ownership authorization.
Brittany's appeared beside it.
And Richard's signature was attached to a separate declaration authorizing the transaction.
James pointed at the page.
“You told me you never agreed to sell Blackwood Manor.””
“I didn't agree to sell it.””
“Then why did you sign this?””
Richard exhaled.
“Because I believed it was an administrative document.””
James stared.
“Another administrative document?””
Richard looked at him.
“I was told it was an authorization to review the property's title. Nothing more.””
David adjusted his glasses.
“Richard, this document contains language granting the named representatives authority to negotiate a transfer.””
Richard turned sharply.
“That isn't what I was told.””
Martin Caldwell gave a bitter laugh.
“Now you know how James feels.””
Richard's eyes flashed.
“Be quiet, Martin.””
“No. I've been quiet for twenty-two years.””
Martin reached into his leather case.
“You remember the afternoon you called me into your father's study? You remember asking me to prepare the revised inheritance schedule?””
Richard said nothing.
“You told me Edward's wishes were impractical. You told me James was too young to receive the property. You told me you would preserve everything until he was old enough.””
Richard's jaw tightened.
“And I did preserve it.””
“Did you?””
Martin pulled out a second photograph.
It showed an older version of Blackwood Manor.
The roof was damaged. Several windows were boarded up. The gardens were overgrown.
“Look at the property now,” Martin said.
“For years, you allowed it to deteriorate while telling James it was owned by the company.””
Richard's voice became defensive.
“The property required substantial investment.””
“It required maintenance. You had the money.””
James looked between them.
“Why didn't you tell me it was mine?””
Richard turned toward his son.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“That you would take control of it. That you would sell it. That you would make decisions without understanding what your grandfather had built.””
James stared at him.
“So you decided I wasn't responsible enough to know?””
Richard looked down.
“Yes.””
The answer was almost too quiet to hear.
James shook his head.
“You spent years telling me that a man's word was everything.””
“I know.””
“You told me never to sign anything I hadn't read.””
“I know.””
“And yet you signed a document without reading it.””
Richard looked at the paper.
“I made a mistake.””
James gave a hollow laugh.
“Apparently, everyone in this family has.””
Brittany suddenly stepped forward.
“James, don't let them distract you.””
He turned toward her.
“Distract me from what?””
“Your father signed the same document I did. If anyone is responsible here, it's him.””
Richard looked at her.
“You knew exactly what you were doing.””
“So did you.””
“Don't compare yourself to me.””
Brittany laughed.
“Why not? You kept an inheritance from your son for twenty-two years. I tried to secure a future for myself. At least I was honest about wanting the money.””
James stared at her.
“You just admitted you wanted the money.””
Brittany realized her mistake.
“I wanted our future.””
“Stop saying our.””
She looked wounded.
“James, we're supposed to be getting married.””
“No, Brittany. We were supposed to be getting married.””
He removed the wedding ring from his finger.
The small diamond caught the chandelier light.
He placed it beside the documents.
Brittany stared at it.
“Don't.””
James stepped back.
“I'm done.””
Her face twisted.
“You can't do this.””
“I can.””
“You'll regret it.””
“Maybe. But I won't regret refusing to marry someone who treated my mother like she was disposable.””
Diane's eyes filled.
Richard looked toward his son.
For the first time that day, James had done something his father hadn't needed to demand.
He had chosen his mother.
But the relief lasted only a moment.
David cleared his throat.
“There's another matter we need to address.””
Richard turned.
“What now?””
David pointed to the transfer document.
“The authorization you signed was submitted electronically through the property management office. However, the original hard copy contains a clause that changes the nature of the arrangement.””
James leaned closer.
“What clause?””
David turned the paper around.
“An irrevocable power of attorney.””
Richard frowned.
“That's impossible.””
“It's written here.””
Martin looked at the page.
His expression changed.
“Richard, did you authorize anyone to act on your behalf regarding Blackwood Manor?””
“No.””
David tapped the signature.
“Someone is claiming that you did.””
Brittany suddenly reached for her handbag.
Chloe noticed.
“Brittany?””
“Move.””
“Where are you going?””
“Home.””
James stepped in front of her.
“Not until you explain everything.””
She glared at him.
“I don't owe you another explanation.””
Martin opened his case.
“Actually, I believe you do.””
He removed a printed correspondence chain.
“Brittany, the investigator found a series of messages between you and Daniel Hayes. They discuss the property transfer, the planned sale, and the distribution of proceeds.””
Brittany folded her arms.
“Those messages are private.””
“One message is particularly interesting.””
Martin read aloud.
“'Once Richard signs, we won't need James to cooperate. The power of attorney will give us everything we need.''”
James looked at his father.
Richard shook his head.
“I never knowingly signed a power of attorney.””
David examined the document again.
“Then we need to establish how this version was created.””
Brittany's eyes moved toward the ballroom exit.
James noticed.
“You knew about the power of attorney?””
She said nothing.
“Brittany!””
She snapped.
“Yes! I knew!””
A wave of whispers spread through the guests.
Richard stepped toward her.
“Who prepared it?””
Brittany looked at him.
“Ask your old friend Martin.””
Martin's face tightened.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
“Don't drag me into your scheme.””
“You were the one who gave me the original inheritance documents!””
Martin stared.
“I gave you copies of the public records.””
“You told me Richard had changed the estate arrangement!””
“I told you the arrangement needed to be investigated.””
“You said there was a way to get the property back!””
Martin took a step closer.
“Back to James. Not into your personal control.””
James looked at Brittany.
“So you and Martin were working together?””
“No!””
Martin shook his head.
“I met with her because she contacted me. I wanted to know why she was asking about Edward's estate.””
Brittany laughed.
“Convenient.””
David closed his folder.
“Enough. We need to preserve these documents and notify the relevant authorities.””
Brittany's expression changed.
“You can't do that.””
David looked at her.
“I can advise my client to take the appropriate legal steps.””
Richard nodded.
“Do it.””
Brittany suddenly raised her voice.
“You're making a terrible mistake!””
Richard didn't move.
“You made your decisions.””
She pointed toward the muddy stain on Diane's gown.
“You think you're some kind of hero because your wife fell into a flowerbed? Look around! Everyone here has been dragged into your family drama because you couldn't accept that your son was marrying someone you didn't choose!””
Diane quietly answered.
“I never asked him to choose me over you.””
Brittany turned.
“Then why are you still here?””
“Because he's my son.””
Diane's voice cracked.
“And because I still love him, even when he hurts me.””
James lowered his head.
Brittany looked around the room.
She seemed to understand that the audience she had once wanted to impress was now watching her fall apart.
Then she made one final attempt.
“James, we can still fix this.””
He looked at her.
“How?””
“We leave. Right now. We go somewhere private, talk about everything, and start over.””
“Start over?””
“Yes.””
“With Daniel still waiting for you?””
Brittany's mouth tightened.
“He's not important.””
“Then why did he call you during our wedding?””
She didn't answer.
James took a breath.
“I don't want to see you again.””
Brittany's expression hardened.
“Fine.””
She grabbed her handbag.
But before she could leave, David's phone rang.
He answered.
“David Mercer.””
A few seconds passed.
His expression changed.
“Are you certain?””
He listened again.
Then he looked toward Richard.
“Richard, it's the county property office.””
Richard frowned.
“What about it?””
David covered the phone.
“The transfer has been placed on hold. But there's a problem.””
“What problem?””
“The property title shows a previous lien that wasn't included in the documents we reviewed.””
Martin looked startled.
“That shouldn't exist.””
David turned toward James.
“Someone borrowed against Blackwood Manor.””
James felt his stomach drop.
“Who?””
David looked at the screen.
Then he read the name.
“Whitmore Holdings.””
Richard gripped the lectern.
And Brittany, who had been reaching for the ballroom door, slowly turned around.
Because the secret wasn't just that someone had tried to steal James's inheritance.
May you like
Someone had already used it.
And the amount owed was nearly three million dollars.
