Chapter 4 - MY FATHER'S SIGNATURE
I hadn't spoken to my father in six months.
Richard Hayes was a successful property investor who had spent most of my childhood teaching me that family loyalty mattered more than personal ambition.
He had also spent years favoring Brittany.
When my mother died, he became distant.
When I started Maison Hayes, he called it a hobby.
When I became successful, he suddenly wanted to introduce me to wealthy people who might invest.
I had learned to keep my business and personal life separate.
But now Daniel was telling me that my father might have interfered with my inheritance.
"Show me the document."
He placed a copy in front of me.
The signature was unmistakable.
Richard Hayes.
The beneficiary change had been submitted five years earlier.
According to the paperwork, my mother had supposedly transferred her shares into a family trust controlled by Richard.
But there was a problem.
My mother had died seven years earlier.
The document was dated two years after her death.
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
"That's forgery."
Daniel nodded.
"Almost certainly."
"Why would my father do this?"
"That is what we need to establish."
I called him.
He answered after the fourth ring.
"Madison. I saw the wedding videos."
"Then you know what happened."
"Your sister was emotional. You should have handled this privately."
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Even now, he was defending Brittany.
"Did you sign a document transferring Mother's shares?"
Silence.
Then he said, "Where did you get that information?"
"So you did."
"Your mother made arrangements before she died."
"The document is dated two years after she died."
Another silence.
"Madison, you don't understand the business."
"Then explain it."
"These things are complicated."
"Forgery isn't complicated, Dad."
His voice sharpened.
"Watch your accusations."
I looked at Daniel.
He was already recording the call with my permission.
"Did you sign it?"
Richard exhaled.
"Your mother wanted the family protected."
"From what?"
"From people who would destroy everything for money."
I almost laughed.
"Are you talking about me?"
He hung up.
I stood still for a moment.
Then Daniel spoke.
"That was useful."
"Because he admitted it?"
"Because he didn't deny signing it."
By noon, the legal team had filed a formal request for the original trust documents.
At three, we received an unexpected visitor.
Brittany.
She entered my office wearing sunglasses and a pale pink coat.
Without the wedding dress, she looked smaller.
More ordinary.
She placed a box on my desk.
"I brought your bouquet."
I didn't touch it.
"Why are you here?"
"To apologize."
I stared at her.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"I was confused. Victoria said you had abandoned the wedding. She said Nathan needed someone to stand beside him."
"So you put on my dress?"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I wanted to feel special for once."
I leaned back.
"Brittany, you have spent your entire life trying to take things from me because you think I have more."
"That's not fair."
"You stole my portfolio when we were twenty-two."
"That was years ago!"
"You sold my mother's earrings without asking."
"I needed money!"
"And now you stole my wedding dress."
She wiped her cheek.
"I said I was sorry."
I looked at the box.
The orchids were wilted.
"Take them with you."
Her expression changed.
"You're really going to do this?"
"Do what?"
"Destroy our family over a dress."
I stood.
"No. I'm asking why our family keeps destroying me whenever I refuse to give you something."
She stared at me.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Victoria told me something."
I waited.
"She said your mother left more than the company shares."
My heartbeat quickened.
"What else?"
Brittany looked toward the office door.
"She said there was a private account. A very large one."
I frowned.
"How would Victoria know?"
"Because Dad helped her access it."
My mouth went dry.
"How much?"
May you like
Brittany swallowed.
"Twenty-four million dollars."
