Chapter 2 - The House That Was Never Theirs
For several seconds, no one spoke.
I looked at the white colonial house where I had grown up.
The porch where Dad had thrown my suitcase still held one of Emma’s blankets.
My childhood bedroom window glowed upstairs.
Yet legally, somehow, the entire property belonged to me.
“I don’t understand.”
Maya pulled out another document.
“Your father transferred ownership eight months ago.”
Dad laughed bitterly.
“Transferred it to her.”
“No.”
Maya’s voice sharpened.
“You transferred it to an LLC whose beneficial owner was fraudulently listed as Grace.”
“That still means she owns it.”
“Not necessarily.”
Daniel’s father stepped closer.
“It means you wanted creditors to believe you no longer owned the asset.”
Dad said nothing.
Charles continued.
“And if I am guessing correctly, you moved much more than your house.”
Maya nodded.
“Two rental properties.”
“A brokerage account.”
“Three vehicles.”
“And approximately nine hundred thousand dollars through offshore entities connected to Carter Meridian.”
I stared at Dad.
“You used my name to hide money.”
Dad looked almost offended.
“I protected this family.”
“You threw me out.”
“Because Daniel Whitmore ruined everything.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“How?”
Dad pointed at him.
“You got her pregnant.”
“No.”
I stepped forward before Daniel could answer.
“You don’t get to blame him for crimes you committed before I was pregnant.”
Dad’s eyes shifted toward me.
For the first time that night, he looked uncertain.
I had never challenged him that way.
Not once in twenty-one years.
Maybe being thrown onto the street with a newborn had finally destroyed whatever part of me still wanted his approval.
Mom began crying.
“Grace, your father was under pressure.”
“From whom?”
Dad turned toward her.
“Diane.”
She flinched.
That frightened me more than his shouting.
Maya noticed too.
“Mrs. Carter, what pressure?”
Mom glanced toward the neighbors gathering behind curtains.
“We shouldn’t do this outside.”
Dad barked a laugh.
“Now you care about privacy?”
Daniel removed his coat and placed it around Emma and me.
“We’re leaving.”
Dad’s expression changed instantly.
“You can’t take those documents.”
Maya held the folder against her chest.
“They are ours.”
“No.”
Dad stepped forward.
“The originals are inside.”
Maya froze.
“What originals?”
Dad realized his mistake one second too late.
Daniel stared at him.
Maya’s eyes narrowed.
“You have original corporate records inside the house?”
Dad backed toward the doorway.
May you like
Then every light inside the house suddenly went dark.
A second later, smoke began curling from the garage.
