Chapter 7 - THE OFFER

I sat at the dining table because I wanted to know how far they would go.

My phone was recording audio in my jacket pocket.

Rachel knew where I was. A retired police officer named Marcus, a friend of hers, was parked half a block away waiting to take Mom to safety the moment I gave the signal.

Trent stayed near the back door.

Vanessa placed a folder in front of me.

"What's this?"

"A solution."

Inside was a draft separation agreement.

According to the document, I would leave the house, transfer $150,000 to Vanessa, and give her temporary use of all household property while we "worked through marital issues."

I laughed once.

"You think I have $150,000?"

Vanessa's expression changed almost imperceptibly.

She leaned back.

"How bad is it?"

I rubbed my face like a tired man.

"Bad."

Trent glanced at her.

I continued. "The deal collapsed. Investors walked. I owe people money."

Vanessa's eyes lit with exactly the emotion she had tried to hide that morning.

Relief.

"How much money do you have?" she asked.

"Not enough."

She pushed the agreement closer.

"Then sign this before your creditors come after everything."

"The house is mine."

"For now," she said.

I looked up.

She smiled.

There it was.

The real Vanessa.

"What does that mean?"

"It means marriage is complicated, Daniel. Property is complicated. Your mother is complicated. You need someone who understands how to protect you."

"You?"

"Me."

Trent snorted.

I turned toward him. "And what do you get?"

Vanessa answered before he could.

"He gets nothing. He's family."

My phone captured every word.

I stood.

Trent moved between me and the door.

"Sit down," he said.

"Move."

"Don't be stupid."

Upstairs, something thumped.

Vanessa's eyes flew toward the ceiling.

Mom.

I took one step toward the staircase.

Trent grabbed my shoulder.

I turned hard and knocked his hand away.

"Touch me again," I said, "and this conversation changes."

For a second, nobody moved.

Then Mom screamed.

I ran upstairs.

Vanessa shouted behind me.

I reached Mom's room and found the window open, curtains blowing.

The room was empty.

On the bed lay her overnight bag.

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And on top of it was a note written in Vanessa's handwriting.

Your mother made her choice.