Chapter 5: The Father Who Refused to Take Sides
The next morning, Daniel found a small envelope beneath his front door.
It had no stamp.
No return address.
Only his name written across the front.
He picked it up while holding Lily's breakfast plate in his other hand.
“Daddy, what's that?””
“Just some mail, sweetheart.””
He placed the plate on the kitchen table and opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten note.
Daniel, we need to speak privately. Don't trust Marcus. He has been lying to Vanessa about more than one thing.
There was a phone number underneath.
And a signature.
Richard Collins.
Daniel read the note twice.
He had known Richard for nearly eight years. The older man had always treated him fairly, even when business disagreements became uncomfortable.
But Daniel hadn't expected him to get involved.
His phone rang.
Richard's name appeared on the screen.
Daniel answered.
“Good morning.””
“Daniel, did you receive my note?””
“Yes.””
“Can we meet?””
Daniel looked toward Lily.
“She has school in an hour.””
“Of course. I'll work around that.””
Daniel was silent.
Then Richard said something unexpected.
“I owe you an apology.””
Daniel leaned against the kitchen counter.
“For what?””
“For allowing Marcus anywhere near my family.””
Daniel looked at the envelope.
“What has he done?””
Richard exhaled.
“More than you know. But I don't want to discuss this over the phone.””
“Does Vanessa know?””
“She knows some of it.””
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
“Then why are you calling me?””
“Because you're the father of my granddaughter. And because I believe you're the only person who hasn't been thinking about himself.””
Daniel didn't respond.
Richard continued.
“I'd like to meet you at my office at ten.””
Daniel glanced at the clock.
“I'll see what I can arrange.””
After ending the call, he walked over to Lily.
She was cutting her strawberries into tiny pieces with the side of her fork.
“Daddy?””
“Yes?””
“Is Grandpa angry with Mommy?””
Daniel pulled out the chair beside her.
“I think Grandpa is worried.””
“Because Mommy kissed that man?””
Daniel nodded.
Lily stopped cutting her strawberries.
“Can Grandpa make Mommy come home?””
Daniel gently moved a piece of hair away from her forehead.
“That's not something Grandpa can decide.””
“Can you?””
Daniel swallowed.
“I can make sure you're safe and loved. That's what I can promise.””
Lily nodded.
Then she reached for another strawberry.
At ten o'clock, Daniel arrived at Richard's office.
The receptionist immediately showed him inside.
Richard stood beside a large window overlooking the city.
He looked older than Daniel remembered.
“Thank you for coming,” Richard said.
Daniel shook his hand.
“What's going on?””
Richard pointed toward a chair.
“Sit down.””
A thick folder rested on the desk.
Richard opened it and removed several printed documents.
“Marcus approached one of my investors six months ago. He claimed he could arrange a private property acquisition.””
Daniel examined the first page.
“What does that have to do with Vanessa?””
“Marcus convinced her to provide certain documents. Some of them were legitimate. Others contained confidential financial information.””
Daniel looked up.
“Did she know?””
“I don't believe she understood what she was signing.””
“That's a serious accusation.””
“I know.””
Richard pushed another document across the desk.
“This is the part that concerns me most.””
Daniel looked down.
His own company name appeared on the page.
He frowned.
“Why is my business here?””
Richard sat opposite him.
“Marcus claimed that your company had agreed to provide financial guarantees for the investment.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“That is completely false.””
“I suspected as much.””
“I never signed anything.””
“I know.””
Daniel looked at him.
“How?””
Richard opened another folder.
“Because I asked my legal team to check the original documents. The signature was copied from an older business agreement.””
Daniel leaned back.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he asked, “Why would Marcus involve me?””
Richard folded his hands.
“That is what we're trying to establish.””
Daniel stood and walked toward the window.
He remembered Marcus's behavior outside the building.
The way he had tried to sound reasonable.
The way Vanessa had defended him without hesitation.
Now Daniel understood that the affair might have been only one part of a much larger deception.
“Does Vanessa know about the forged signature?””
Richard shook his head.
“Not yet.””
Daniel turned.
“Why not?””
“Because I wanted to speak to you first.””
Daniel looked confused.
Richard continued.
“I don't want you to think I'm asking you to forgive her. I'm not. What happened in front of Lily was unacceptable.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Then why are you telling me all this?””
“Because Marcus may have used your marriage as a way to get close to my business.””
Daniel looked down at the papers.
“And Vanessa?””
Richard was quiet for a moment.
“She may have been in love with him. But I don't believe she knew everything.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Whether she knew or not, she chose to stand in front of him while her daughter cried.””
Richard lowered his eyes.
“I saw the security footage.””
Daniel turned sharply.
“What?””
“My driver recorded the incident outside the building. I asked him to send me the footage.””
Daniel felt his stomach tighten.
“Why would you watch that?””
“Because I needed to understand what happened.””
Richard paused.
“And because I wanted to know whether my daughter had made a terrible mistake or whether she had completely forgotten who depended on her.””
Daniel looked away.
Richard opened a drawer and removed a small USB drive.
“There's something else.””
Daniel stared at it.
“What?””
“Marcus sent this to Vanessa last night. She forwarded it to me because she was frightened.””
Richard connected the drive to his computer.
A video appeared.
Marcus was sitting inside a parked car.
He was speaking to someone outside the frame.
Daniel leaned closer.
Then Marcus's voice came through the speakers.
“Once Daniel signs the final papers, the entire deal is protected. Vanessa won't ask questions. She's already convinced him that the investment is legitimate.””
Daniel went completely still.
Richard paused the video.
“Have you ever discussed signing any investment documents with Vanessa?””
Daniel shook his head.
“Never.””
Richard looked directly at him.
“Then we have a serious problem.””
Daniel stared at the screen.
The recording continued.
Marcus leaned closer to the camera.
“And if Daniel refuses, I'll use what I have on him.””
Daniel's face tightened.
“What does he have on me?””
Richard pressed play again.
Marcus smiled.
“Because Daniel has no idea what happened to the money from the original property deal.””
The video ended.
Daniel slowly turned toward Richard.
“What original property deal?””
Richard didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he removed another document from the folder.
It was dated nearly three years earlier.
And Daniel recognized the signature at the bottom.
His own.
But he had never seen the document before.
Richard placed it on the desk.
“Daniel, before you accuse Vanessa of destroying your marriage, you need to understand what Marcus was trying to do to your business.””
Daniel picked up the paper.
His eyes moved across the numbers.
Then stopped at a line marked TRANSFER AUTHORIZATION.
The amount was enormous.
May you like
And beneath the transfer details was a name he recognized.
Vanessa Collins.
