Chapter 2
Robert opened the envelope with hands that were steadier than mine.
"This house was nearly lost five years ago," he said.
Margaret snapped, "Not tonight."
Robert ignored her.
Five years earlier, Brooks Catering had been drowning in tax debt after Daniel's first restaurant failed. I knew the family was struggling. I also knew Daniel had asked me for money.
What I had never known was where all of it went.
Robert slid a recorded deed across the table.
My name was printed in the ownership line.
EMILY CARTER BROOKS.
I stared at it.
"This isn't funny."
"It's not a joke," Robert said. "Your inheritance paid the back taxes, stopped the foreclosure, and covered the lien Margaret never told you about. My attorney prepared the transfer as security. It was recorded three years ago."
I looked at Daniel.
He would not meet my eyes.
"You knew?"
"Emily—"
"Did you know?"
His silence answered first.
Then he whispered, "Yes."
The room tilted again.
Margaret slapped the paper with her palm.
"She was never supposed to use that against this family."
Robert looked at her. "She didn't. You used this family against her."
My hand throbbed so hard I could barely think.
Robert took out his phone.
"I'm calling an ambulance."
Daniel moved toward me. "We can handle this here."
I stepped back.
"Don't touch me."
He froze.
Margaret said, "If she leaves now, she's proving she never belonged here."
I looked at the woman who had just hit me.
Then at the house I had apparently saved without even knowing it had become mine.
"Good," I said. "Then let's stop pretending I do."
As Robert called 911, Daniel grabbed the deed.
His eyes dropped to the bottom of the second page.
And his face went white.
May you like
There was another signature under mine.
His.
