Chapter 5: The Man Behind the Property Deal
The beneficiary was someone named Richard Bennett.
My father's older brother.
Uncle Richard.
I hadn't seen him in almost four years.
He and Dad had fallen out after a disagreement over their late father's estate. Dad rarely discussed him, except to say that Richard had made some bad financial decisions and had borrowed money he never repaid.
Now his name was sitting on a document connected to the sale of our home.
Dad pulled the laptop closer.
"Why would Richard receive the money?""
Monica stared at the screen.
"That's not what it looks like.""
Dad laughed bitterly.
"Then tell me what it looks like.""
She didn't answer.
I opened the attached email.
It contained a conversation between Monica and Daniel Price.
The messages were dated several weeks apart.
One read:
Once Marcus signs the transfer, the sale can proceed. The buyer is prepared to move quickly.
Another read:
The daughter must be out before the inspection. She has too many personal belongings and may create questions.
My hands began trembling.
Dad read the second message twice.
"Which daughter?"" he asked.
I already knew.
Me.
A third message appeared below it.
Olivia can move into the larger bedroom immediately. It will make the house look occupied by the new family arrangement.
Dad pushed the chair backward.
"They were planning this.""
Monica stepped toward him.
"Those messages have been taken out of context.""
"What context could possibly explain this?""
"Daniel misunderstood what I wanted.""
"Did you tell him to get Jasmine out of the house?""
"I told him she needed to stay somewhere else temporarily.""
"Why?""
"Because things were becoming complicated!""
Dad slammed his hand against the desk.
"Stop saying that!""
Olivia began crying again.
"Mom, I didn't know about Uncle Richard.""
Monica turned sharply.
"Stay quiet.""
Dad looked at her.
"You knew Richard was involved?""
Olivia shook her head.
"I swear I didn't.""
Dad sat down slowly.
I had never seen him look so exhausted.
He rubbed his eyes.
"Richard hasn't spoken to me in years. Why would he be receiving money from a sale of my property?""
Monica whispered, "He needed help.""
Dad stared at her.
"Did you contact him before or after you married me?""
She didn't respond.
"Monica.""
"Before.""
The answer seemed to drain the color from Dad's face.
He stood up.
"You knew my brother before we got married?""
Monica nodded.
"Daniel introduced us.""
"Daniel?""
"Yes.""
Dad stared at her.
"So this was never just about helping your brother.""
She started crying.
"I didn't know it would become this complicated.""
I looked at her.
"You knew exactly what you were doing when you packed my suitcase.""
Monica turned toward me.
"You have no idea what I was dealing with.""
"Then tell me.""
She looked furious.
"You think your father is going to keep supporting you forever? You think you can spend your whole life taking from him?""
I felt my throat tighten.
"I never asked you for anything.""
"That's not true!""
"What did I ask you for?""
"Attention! Money! Opportunities!""
"I asked you to leave my mother's things alone!""
The room fell silent.
Dad looked at me.
I continued.
"For months, I thought I was losing my mind. My mother's necklace disappeared. Her photographs were damaged.
My books were ruined. Every time I asked about something, Monica told me I was careless.""
I opened another folder on my laptop.
It contained photographs.
One showed my mother's silver necklace inside Olivia's makeup drawer.
Another showed my college application documents torn in half.
A third showed my school laptop with a cracked screen.
Dad stared.
"Jasmine, when did this happen?""
"Last December.""
He looked at Monica.
"You told me she dropped that laptop.""
"I don't remember.""
"You told me she lost the necklace.""
"I said I didn't know where it was.""
"She found it in Olivia's drawer.""
Monica looked at her daughter.
Olivia shook her head.
"I didn't know it was Mom's!""
I stepped forward.
"Then why did you wear it?""
Olivia started crying harder.
"I didn't think it mattered!""
"It mattered to me!""
My voice broke.
"It was the only thing I had left from my mother.""
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Dad walked toward the hallway.
"I'm calling Richard.""
Monica rushed after him.
"No!""
He stopped.
"Why shouldn't I?""
"Because he'll lie to you.""
"Then I'll hear it from him.""
Dad dialed the number.
It rang four times.
Finally, a man's voice answered.
"Marcus?""
Dad put the call on speaker.
"Richard, I have a question.""
A pause.
"What's going on?""
"Did you know Monica was arranging to sell my house?""
Silence.
Then Richard laughed awkwardly.
"I think you've misunderstood something.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"That's what she said.""
"Listen, Marcus. Nobody is stealing your house.""
"Then why is your name listed as the beneficiary of the sale?""
Richard stopped laughing.
"Where did you get that document?""
"Answer the question.""
A long pause followed.
Then Richard said something that made Dad grip the phone.
"Monica told me you had already agreed.""
Dad looked toward his wife.
"Agreed to what?""
"She said you were planning to move after Jasmine went to college. She told me the house would be transferred as part of the family settlement.""
"I never agreed to anything.""
Richard exhaled.
"Then you need to talk to her. I've already paid Daniel a deposit.""
Dad's face hardened.
"How much?""
"Twenty thousand.""
Monica covered her mouth.
Dad stared at her.
"You gave him my money, and he gave you a story about an agreement that never existed?""
Richard spoke again.
"Marcus, I thought everything was legal.""
"Who is the buyer?""
Another pause.
Then Richard said, "A woman named Eleanor Brooks.""
Dad looked confused.
"Who?""
"She owns a property investment company. She was prepared to purchase the house once the ownership paperwork cleared.""
I felt my stomach twist.
The idea of a stranger buying the home where my mother had raised me was unbearable.
Dad ended the call.
He stood motionless for several seconds.
Then he took out his phone again.
This time, he called an attorney.
Monica started crying.
"Marcus, please. We can work this out privately.""
He didn't look at her.
"You had months to work it out privately. Instead, you planned to remove my daughter and sell her home.""
A voice answered the phone.
Dad explained that he needed an urgent legal consultation regarding suspected forgery and an attempted property transfer.
He gave the attorney the names on the documents.
Then he asked for advice about preserving the evidence and preventing any unauthorized sale.
After ending the call, he turned to Monica.
"You're not touching those documents.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I have rights in this marriage.""
"We'll let the attorneys determine that.""
Then he looked at Olivia.
"Go downstairs.""
Olivia hesitated.
"Where am I supposed to go?""
"Downstairs. Now.""
She walked past me.
As she reached the door, she stopped.
"Jasmine?""
I didn't answer.
She looked at my suitcase.
"I didn't think you'd actually get kicked out.""
I stared at her.
"You helped pack it.""
Her eyes filled again.
Then she whispered:
"Mom told me something else.""
I looked up.
"What?""
Olivia glanced toward Monica, who was still standing beside the bed.
Then she leaned closer.
"She said the scholarship wasn't the only thing she needed to destroy.""
My blood ran cold.
"What do you mean?""
Olivia swallowed.
"She said you had something your mother left behind. Something Dad didn't know about.""
I felt my fingers go numb.
"What thing?""
Olivia looked directly at me.
"The envelope.""
I froze.
May you like
Because I knew exactly which envelope she meant.
And I suddenly understood why Monica had been so determined to search through my belongings.
