Chapter 2 - The Name on the Paper.
For several seconds, no one moved.
The chandelier above them hummed softly, and somewhere deeper in the mansion a grandfather clock began striking nine.
Adrian almost laughed because Vanessa's claim was too ridiculous to deserve anger.
"Take Lily upstairs," he told Margaret.
Vanessa lifted one finger.
"No."
Adrian turned toward her.
"You don't give orders concerning my daughter anymore."
Vanessa's eyes hardened.
Margaret guided Lily toward the staircase.
Lily took two steps, then stopped.
"My bear."
The teddy had fallen beside the broken vase.
Adrian picked it up and handed it to her.
Its left ear had been crudely restitched with blue thread.
He had never noticed that before.
"Go with Margaret, sweetheart."
Lily looked at Vanessa and immediately lowered her eyes.
Adrian noticed that too.
When the child disappeared upstairs, Vanessa walked calmly into the library.
Adrian followed.
She opened a leather folder on his desk and slid three documents toward him.
"Read."
The first was a deed transfer.
The second was an amended marital property agreement.
The third was a power-of-attorney authorization.
All three carried Adrian's signature.
His stomach tightened.
"These are fake."
"They're notarized."
"I never signed them."
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Then perhaps you don't remember signing them."
Adrian looked at the dates.
Two documents had supposedly been signed during a three-day business trip to Toronto.
He remembered those dates clearly because he had spent almost every waking hour negotiating a merger.
Vanessa leaned against the desk.
"You've been exhausted for months."
"Where did you get these?"
"From our attorney."
"We don't have a shared attorney."
"We do now."
Adrian pulled out his phone.
Vanessa's confidence shifted slightly.
"Who are you calling?"
"Samuel Ross."
Samuel had handled Mercer family matters for twenty years.
Vanessa reached for the phone.
Adrian moved it away.
"Don't."
Her hand froze.
Samuel answered on the fourth ring.
"Adrian?"
His voice sounded strained.
"I need you at the house."
There was a pause.
"Tonight?"
"Now."
Then Samuel said something that made Adrian straighten.
"Is Vanessa there?"
Adrian looked across the desk.
"Yes."
Samuel lowered his voice.
"Do not sign anything."
Vanessa's face changed.
Adrian turned away from her.
"Samuel, what is happening?"
The line went silent for several seconds.
"I tried to call you this afternoon."
"About what?"
"A filing reached my office from county records."
Adrian looked down at the deed.
"The house?"
"Not just the house."
Samuel exhaled.
"Someone filed documents affecting Lily's trust."
Adrian's eyes went to the ceiling as if he could see his daughter through it.
"What documents?"
Vanessa moved toward the door.
Adrian stepped in front of her.
Samuel continued.
"A petition claiming that you are financially unstable and frequently absent."
Adrian felt his pulse pounding behind his eyes.
"Who filed it?"
Samuel hesitated.
"The petition names Vanessa as proposed financial guardian."
Vanessa's face was perfectly still now.
Adrian lowered the phone.
"You tried to take control of Lily's trust?"
Vanessa gave a small shrug.
"I tried to protect this family."
"From me?"
"From your neglect."
He had convinced himself that providing everything was the same as being present.
Vanessa saw the guilt on his face and smiled again.
"You see?"
"Even you know there's truth in it."
Adrian stepped closer.
"That does not explain forged signatures."
Vanessa's smile faded.
Before she could answer, footsteps rushed down the stairs.
Margaret appeared in the doorway, breathless.
"Mr. Mercer."
Adrian turned.
"What happened?"
Margaret held up Lily's teddy bear.
The stitching along its left ear had split open.
Something small and black was visible inside the stuffing.
May you like
Margaret's voice trembled.
"I think you need to see what your daughter has been carrying."
