Chapter 4: The Signature That Shouldn't Exist
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Claire Weller stood beneath the chandelier with the black folder open in front of her. Her expression was professional, almost expressionless, but her fingers were gripping the edges of the paperwork tightly.
Vanessa looked as though someone had pulled the floor out from beneath her.
"That's ridiculous," she said.
"You're misreading the dates.""
Claire didn't look at her.
"I'm reading the dates exactly as they appear on the documents your company received.""
She turned the folder toward me.
I stepped closer.
The first page was a copy of an ownership amendment. It contained my mother's full name, her signature, and a notary stamp.
The date was September 14.
My mother had died on March 3.
Six months earlier.
I touched the paper.
"Who submitted this?""
"Your sister," Claire answered.
Vanessa immediately shook her head.
"I submitted documents prepared by the family's attorney. I didn't create anything.""
"Then perhaps you can explain why the attorney listed on this amendment retired four years before its execution.""
Claire pulled another page from the folder.
Vanessa said nothing.
My father reached for the paperwork.
"Let me see that.""
Claire moved it out of his reach.
"Mr. Mercer, we've already reviewed your explanations. I'd prefer to hear from the actual shareholder.""
I looked at her.
"What does Aster want from me?""
"An explanation of the ownership structure. And confirmation that you authorized the transfer of operational control.""
"I didn't.""
"Did you sign a resignation?""
"No.""
"Did you authorize Vanessa to sign on your behalf?""
"No.""
Claire nodded and made a note.
Vanessa stepped forward.
"You're treating this like a criminal investigation. It's a family restaurant.""
Claire finally looked at her.
"Your company presented us with financial statements, ownership records, and signed authorizations. We were preparing to invest $4.8 million. That makes this a corporate matter.""
Liam stared at his wife.
"Four-point-eight million?""
Vanessa looked at him.
"I was going to tell you.""
"When?""
"When everything was finalized.""
"Everything was finalized?""
She looked away.
I felt a cold sensation move through my stomach.
"What happens now?"" I asked Claire.
"Until the ownership discrepancy is resolved, Aster will suspend the investment and the management transition.""
Vanessa's face changed.
"You can't do that!""
"We already have.""
"You'll destroy everything we've built!""
Claire closed the folder.
"Ms. Mercer, I think you're confusing what you've built with what you've been authorized to control.""
Aunt Joyce quietly muttered, "Finally, someone said it.""
I didn't smile.
I was looking at the date again.
September 14.
My mother had been gone for six months.
I remembered the hospital room. The pale curtains. The smell of antiseptic. The way my father had held my hand while Grandma whispered that everything would eventually be all right.
And I remembered something else.
A week before she died, Mom had asked me to bring her a blue recipe notebook from the restaurant.
She had held it against her chest and told me something strange.
"Never let anyone convince you that the Blue Lantern belongs to the loudest person in the room.""
At twelve, I hadn't understood.
Now I wondered whether she had known something I didn't.
"Grandma," I whispered.
"What did Mom sign?""
Grandma looked at the document.
"Your mother was preparing a separate agreement before she died.""
"What agreement?""
"She wanted to protect the restaurant and make sure neither of you could be pushed out.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"Of course. Another secret document.""
Grandma ignored her.
"Your mother knew your father was struggling with debt. She also knew that Vanessa had started discussing expansion plans without consulting anyone.""
Dad stiffened.
"Mother, that's enough.""
"No, Richard. It isn't.""
Grandma turned to Claire.
"Do you have the original document?""
Claire shook her head.
"No. We only received a scanned copy.""
"Then you haven't seen the complete agreement.""
Vanessa's head snapped up.
"What do you mean?""
Grandma looked at me.
"The original is in the restaurant.""
My phone vibrated again.
Eddie.
I answered.
"Nora?""
"Yes.""
"I found something else in your office.""
"What?""
"The old blue recipe notebook. The one your mother used to keep.""
I stopped breathing for a moment.
"Where was it?""
"Inside the locked bottom drawer of your desk. Somebody tried to force it open.""
I looked at Grandma.
She closed her eyes.
"Don't let anyone touch it," I said.
"I won't. But Nora, there's a letter tucked inside the back cover.""
"What's written on it?""
Eddie hesitated.
"Your mother's name. And yours.""
My hand tightened around the phone.
"Read the first line.""
He lowered his voice.
"It says, 'If my daughters are ever forced to choose between each other, the one who stays will discover who their father really is.''"
I looked at Richard.
He had gone completely white.
"Give me the notebook," I said.
"I'm coming.""
When I ended the call, Vanessa stepped directly in front of me.
"You're not going anywhere with that.""
I stared at her.
"Move.""
"Nora, listen. We can settle this without involving strangers.""
"Claire is already involved.""
"Then we'll settle it with Dad.""
I glanced at him.
For years, I had believed that if I waited long enough, my father would eventually stand up for me.
Tonight had finally taught me something.
Some people didn't remain silent because they didn't know what was happening.
They remained silent because silence benefited them.
I stepped around Vanessa.
Liam followed me.
"Wait, Nora.""
I turned.
He looked shaken.
"I need to ask you something.""
"What?""
"Did you know your sister had been telling people the restaurant was already hers?""
I shook my head.
He looked down at his wedding ring.
"Because she told me that before we got engaged.""
My stomach tightened.
"What else did she tell you?""
He swallowed.
"She said the restaurant would be our wedding gift. That your father had already agreed to transfer it.""
Behind him, Vanessa shouted his name.
Liam didn't turn.
May you like
"There's something else you need to know," he said quietly.
And then he told me why he had married Vanessa in the first place.
