The Property My Mother Left Me
Chapter 03 - The Property My Mother Left Me
The Charleston property had belonged to Anna's mother, Evelyn.
For most of Anna's childhood, it was nothing more than an aging brick warehouse near the waterfront.
Evelyn refused to sell it.
Everyone thought she was sentimental.
She wasn't.
She was patient.
Over twenty years, the neighborhood changed.
Restaurants opened.
Hotels arrived.
Developers came calling.
By the time Evelyn died, the property was worth nearly four million dollars.
She left it entirely to Anna.
Not David.
Anna.
Her mother had insisted.
"Marriage doesn't mean you stop owning your own future."
At twenty-nine, Anna thought that sounded unnecessarily suspicious.
At forty-three, sitting across from her husband and his secret partner, she finally understood.
David had spent three years trying to convince Anna to sell.
She always refused.
Then he changed tactics.
A hotel project.
A refinance.
A promise that they would build something together.
Except the company paperwork showed Anna wasn't part of anything.
Mitchell & Cross Development was owned fifty-one percent by David.
Forty-nine percent by Caroline.
Anna looked at Caroline.
"How much money have you invested?"
Caroline's voice became quiet.
"Two hundred thousand."
Anna was surprised.
"Your own money?"
"My father's inheritance."
David closed his eyes.
Anna almost felt sorry for Caroline.
Almost.
"You thought David owned the Charleston property."
Caroline nodded.
"He showed me documents."
"What documents?"
Caroline reached into her purse and removed her phone.
She showed Anna photographs.
A deed.
A property assessment.
A signed transfer.
Anna stared.
Her signature appeared at the bottom.
But Anna had never signed it.
"That's forged."
Caroline looked at David.
"What?"
Anna zoomed in.
"That's my name."
She looked up.
"Not my signature."
David started walking toward the door.
Anna stood.
"Where are you going?"
"I need air."
"No."
He turned.
"You don't get to leave before telling us who forged my signature."
David laughed bitterly.
"You've already decided it was me."
Anna stared at him.
"Wasn't it?"
David's silence lasted too long.
Then Caroline whispered:
"Oh my God."
She stepped back.
"What have you done?"
David's face changed.
Not guilt.
May you like
Fear.
And Anna suddenly realized her husband wasn't the only person involved.
