Chapter 3 - THE CAMERAS IN THE BLACK TRIM
Vanessa stared at the message on Chloe’s phone.
Daniel read it again.
Then he looked toward the kitchen windows.
“What does that mean?”
I followed his gaze.
“The security cameras recorded everything.”
Chloe’s face turned pale.
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.”
“You told me they were disconnected.”
“I never told you that.”
“You said the system was old.”
“It is old.”
“It still works.”
Daniel took out his phone.
“Show me.”
We entered the kitchen through the garden doors.
Silver hair remained scattered behind us.
I wanted to gather every strand.
I also knew the truth could not wait.
The security system was hidden inside the pantry wall.
My late husband had installed it after a contractor stole antique tools from the garage.
I upgraded it after two watches disappeared from the study.
Vanessa had laughed when she saw the small black lenses.
She called them decorations from another century.
I opened the recording archive.
The first video showed Vanessa entering my bedroom two weeks earlier.
She searched my jewelry box.
She removed a sapphire necklace.
Then she placed an empty velvet case beneath my pillows.
Another video showed Chloe carrying one of my husband’s antique watches through the side door.
Daniel watched without speaking.
Vanessa stood behind him.
“That necklace was going to be my wedding gift.”
“Did Mom give it to you?”
“She intended to.”
I looked at her.
“No.”
Daniel opened another file.
Vanessa sat inside the study with Marcus Vale.
Documents covered the desk.
My house deed lay between them.
Marcus pointed toward my signature on an old Christmas card.
Vanessa practiced it on a blank page.
Daniel stopped the video.
“You forged her signature.”
“It was a rehearsal.”
“For what?”
“A surprise renovation.”
Daniel stared at her.
She heard how ridiculous the answer sounded.
He played the next file.
Marcus spoke clearly.
Once Daniel marries you, the board votes on the merger.
His mother owns the controlling legacy shares.
Get the proxy before the wedding.
Vanessa answered.
She will sign when she thinks she is losing her memory.
Daniel stopped breathing.
My late husband and I had financed Daniel’s software company when it was only an idea inside our garage.
Robert placed twenty-seven percent of the voting shares in my name.
Daniel knew I owned shares.
He did not know they carried special veto power over any sale of the company.
Robert believed family money should never become a cage around our son.
He created the clause to prevent outside investors from forcing Daniel out.
Vanessa and Marcus had found it.
They wanted my proxy.
They wanted the house.
They wanted the merger.
And they wanted Daniel to believe I had become mentally unstable before I could object.
Daniel turned toward Vanessa.
“How long?”
She remained silent.
“How long have you and Marcus been planning this?”
Chloe began crying.
“I only helped with the videos.”
“What videos?” Daniel asked.
Chloe looked at Vanessa.
Her sister’s face became dangerous.
Daniel stepped closer.
“What videos?”
May you like
Chloe whispered.
“The ones where your mother looks confused.”
