Chapter 6: The Signature That Had Not Happened Yet
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
I stared at the document on Richard's laptop.
Tomorrow's date.
My name.
My signature.
A transfer authorization for millions of dollars.
"How can someone submit a document dated tomorrow?"" I asked.
Richard leaned closer to the screen.
"The request was electronically uploaded this afternoon. The date appears to be intentional, but the bank's system flagged it because the beneficiary authorization doesn't match the trust's current records.""
Eleanor placed both hands on the table.
"Has the transfer been stopped?""
"Temporarily. We need to issue a formal fraud notice immediately.""
I felt a chill run down my spine.
Marcus wasn't waiting for the divorce.
He was still trying to move the money.
And he was using my identity to do it.
Richard made another call.
I heard him speak to someone at the bank.
He explained that I was disputing the authorization, that the signature was not mine, and that the trust beneficiaries had not approved the transaction.
After several minutes, he ended the call.
"The transfer is frozen pending verification.""
Eleanor exhaled.
"Good.""
I looked at her.
"What happens now?""
"Now we find out who helped him.""
Richard closed his laptop.
"Mrs. Hale, there is something else you should know. The document was uploaded using credentials belonging to Daniel Mercer.""
Eleanor's expression hardened.
"Then Daniel is going to have a very difficult conversation with me.""
Richard nodded.
"I've already requested an emergency meeting.""
My phone vibrated again.
A message from Marcus.
I know you're with my mother. You need to stop before this gets ugly.
I showed it to Eleanor.
She read it without changing expression.
"Save that message.""
I did.
Another message arrived.
You have no idea what you're risking.
I stared at the words.
For years, I had thought Marcus's greatest strength was his ability to remain calm under pressure.
Now I realized that calmness had often been a weapon.
He could threaten me without raising his voice.
He could make me question my memory.
He could turn a betrayal into something that somehow became my fault.
I put the phone down.
"I don't want to go home.""
Eleanor reached for my hand.
"Then you won't.""
Richard arranged for me to stay temporarily at Eleanor's guest residence, with medical support nearby.
But before we left the hospital, he asked me to review one more file.
It was a series of internal emails recovered from the company's shared accounting system.
The first message was dated six months earlier.
Marcus had written to Daniel Mercer.
We need to secure the assets before the birth. Once the child is officially registered, the new beneficiary protections will complicate everything.
Daniel had replied.
The trust amendment cannot be overridden through ordinary marital documents. We need valid authorization from the current beneficiary or a court order.
Marcus's response was brief.
I can handle Natalie.
I read that sentence several times.
I could almost hear his voice.
The same voice that used to tell me not to worry.
The same voice that had promised to take care of everything.
Richard scrolled down.
There was another email.
This one had been sent to Vivian.
Once the money clears, we can establish the new residence in your name. Natalie will have no reason to remain involved.
Vivian had replied:
And the divorce?
Marcus:
Before the baby arrives.
My eyes filled with tears.
Not because I wanted him back.
Because I was finally seeing how long he had planned this.
Eleanor sat beside me.
"Don't blame yourself.""
I shook my head.
"I brought him into my family. I trusted him with everything.""
"You loved him. That isn't a crime.""
I looked at the screen again.
"How could he do this to his own daughter?""
Eleanor's expression softened.
"Some people love the idea of being fathers more than they love the responsibility of protecting a child.""
That sentence stayed with me.
Later that evening, we arrived at Eleanor's residence.
It was a large brick home on a quiet tree-lined street. Security lights illuminated the driveway, and a housekeeper had prepared a comfortable bedroom on the ground floor.
I sat on the edge of the bed while Eleanor placed a glass of water on the nightstand.
"Try to rest.""
"I don't think I can sleep.""
"I understand.""
She hesitated near the door.
"Natalie, there's something I haven't told you.""
I looked up.
"What?""
"Your grandfather-in-law didn't create that trust only because he wanted to protect his wealth.""
She sat beside me.
"He had concerns about Marcus long before you married.""
I frowned.
"What kind of concerns?""
"William believed Marcus was becoming obsessed with status. He noticed how quickly my son began spending money to impress people. He noticed the expensive cars, the unnecessary business acquisitions, and the way Marcus treated employees who disagreed with him.""
I listened quietly.
"Your grandfather-in-law confronted him several times. Marcus insisted he was simply ambitious.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I thought my son would change.""
She looked toward the window.
"And because I was ashamed.""
I reached for her hand.
"You couldn't have known he would do this.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"I knew enough to ask more questions. I didn't.""
Before I could respond, her phone rang.
She answered.
"Hello?""
I watched her expression change.
"What do you mean he came to the office?""
She stood.
"When?""
A pause.
"Did you let him inside?""
Another pause.
Then she said sharply, "Nobody signs anything. Nobody releases a single document.""
She ended the call.
"What happened?"" I asked.
"Marcus went to the company headquarters.""
"Why?""
"He demanded access to the trust administration office.""
"Can he do that?""
"Not without authorization.""
She walked toward the door.
"Apparently, he doesn't intend to accept that.""
Richard called a few minutes later.
Eleanor placed the call on speaker.
"What's happening, Richard?""
"Marcus arrived with Daniel Mercer. They are demanding that the bank reverse the freeze.""
"On what grounds?""
"They claim Natalie voluntarily approved the transfer.""
I shook my head.
"That's a lie.""
"I know," Richard replied.
Then his voice became more serious.
"They brought another document.""
Eleanor stopped moving.
"What document?""
"A signed marital agreement.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
Richard continued.
"It states that Natalie agreed to relinquish her rights to the family trust in exchange for a payment of fifty thousand dollars.""
I stared at the phone.
"Fifty thousand?""
Eleanor looked furious.
"She never received such a payment.""
"That's correct," Richard said.
"The bank records show no corresponding transaction.""
I closed my eyes.
Marcus had invented an agreement, fabricated my signature, and attached a payment that never happened.
But Richard wasn't finished.
"The problem is that Daniel claims the agreement was witnessed by someone who can testify that Natalie signed it willingly.""
Eleanor's voice became dangerously quiet.
"Who?""
There was a long pause.
Then Richard answered.
"Vivian Cross.""
I stared at Eleanor.
"Vivian?""
"Yes," Richard replied.
"She submitted a sworn statement this afternoon.""
I felt my throat tighten.
The same woman who had slapped me.
The same woman who had openly admitted to being with my husband.
Now she was claiming to have witnessed me signing away my daughter's inheritance.
Eleanor took a slow breath.
"Richard, prepare an emergency legal challenge. I want every original document preserved.""
"Understood.""
After the call ended, I sat silently on the bed.
I had thought Vivian was simply the woman Marcus had chosen over me.
But she had been involved in something much bigger.
And now she was willing to lie under oath to protect him.
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I hesitated before opening the message.
It contained a photograph.
Vivian was sitting in a restaurant beside Marcus, holding a glass of champagne.
The photograph appeared to have been taken earlier that evening.
Beneath it was a short message.
You should ask your husband why he promised me the baby wouldn't be coming home with you.
My entire body went cold.
I read the sentence again.
Then I showed Eleanor.
Her face went pale.
"What does she mean?"" I whispered.
Eleanor immediately called Richard.
But before he answered, another message arrived.
This time, it contained a photograph of a hospital document.
My hospital admission record.
Someone had highlighted the section containing my expected delivery date.
And beneath it, someone had written:
The plan starts before she gives birth.
I looked at Eleanor.
For the first time since this nightmare began, she looked genuinely frightened.
May you like
Then she grabbed her phone and said four words I would never forget.
"Get the hospital security involved.""
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