Chapter 5 - The Folder That Changed Everything
I opened the door.
But Diane was already walking away.
“Stop!”
She turned.
“You want answers?”
I stepped outside.
“Yes.”
She held up the folder.
“Then read this.”
I didn’t take it.
“Why should I trust anything from you?”
Her face changed.
For the first time, she looked scared.
“Because someone else is trying to destroy you.”
I stared at her.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
She looked at the house.
“At least believe your children.”
That made me pause.
She handed me the folder.
Then walked away.
Inside were documents.
Court papers.
Financial records.
And one name appeared again and again.
My brother.
Jason.
My younger brother who had died five years ago.
I felt sick.
“That’s impossible.”
Mark looked at the papers.
“What is it?”
I pointed.
“Jason.”
My hands started shaking.
Because Jason had left behind a secret.
A secret nobody knew.
A daughter.
A child I had never met.
Then I saw the last document.
A legal agreement.
A custody transfer.
Signed by…
Me.
But I had never signed it.
Someone had forged my name.
And at the bottom was the name of the person who filed it.
Diane.
I couldn’t breathe.
Why would my mother-in-law fake custody papers?
Why would she need control over my children?
Then my phone rang.
The school.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?”
The voice on the other end was worried.
“Mr. Carter, you need to come here right away.”
“What happened?”
A pause.
Then:
“Someone tried to pick up your daughter.”
My heart dropped.
“Who?”
May you like
The woman whispered:
“They said they were her legal guardian.”
