Chapter 8 - GERTRUDE’S REAL PLAN
Rebecca filed for an emergency custody hearing that afternoon.
Not because I wanted to take Skylar away from her father permanently.
Because I needed rules.
No surprise pickups.
No Gertrude.
No discussion of the financial case around Skylar.
No taking her out of the county.
Until a judge could review everything, stability mattered more than anyone’s pride.
Brandon stopped calling me.
Instead, he began calling Rebecca.
By evening, his story had changed.
He had been manipulated.
He had trusted his mother.
He had signed documents without understanding them.
He had never intended to take my home.
I didn’t believe him.
But one thing did become clear.
Gertrude had lied to him too.
Brandon believed the home-equity loan would solve her debts and fund the Palm Springs property.
Gertrude had something larger in mind.
Rebecca found it inside documents Melissa provided.
BGM Residential Holdings was not owned equally by Brandon and Gertrude.
Gertrude owned eighty percent.
Brandon owned twenty.
More importantly, a draft property-transfer agreement listed BGM as the future owner of my San Bernardino house.
My house.
The plan was breathtaking.
First, create a fraudulent authorization allowing Brandon to borrow against the property.
Second, use part of the money to create artificial “renovation equity.”
Third, manufacture records suggesting Brandon and Gertrude had financially improved the house.
Fourth, pressure me into signing additional documents.
And if I refused?
Gertrude had prepared a different path.
Divorce.
Custody allegations.
A claim that Brandon had an equitable interest in the residence.
A lawsuit expensive enough to force me into settlement.
“She wanted you exhausted,” Rebecca said.
“She wanted you defending yourself in five directions at once.”
Financially.
Legally.
Professionally.
As a mother.
As a wife.
Gertrude had mistaken exhaustion for weakness.
That evening I received a message from an unknown number.
“You don’t know what Rebecca found because she hasn’t found the second file.”
I stared at it.
Another message arrived.
“Ask Brandon about Project Lighthouse.”
I forwarded both to Rebecca.
Then I called Brandon.
He answered immediately.
“What is Project Lighthouse?”
Silence.
“Brandon.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“That’s not an answer.”
His voice dropped.
“Charlotte, please don’t ask questions about that over the phone.”
My pulse quickened.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know who has access to Mom’s accounts anymore.”
“What is Lighthouse?”
“It was supposed to be insurance.”
“Against what?”
He whispered.
“Against you finding out.”
I closed my eyes.
“What did you do?”
“I didn’t do it.”
“Then who did?”
May you like
This time, his answer came without hesitation.
“Hailey.”
