Chapter 10 - MY EX-HUSBAND’S NAME
For a moment, the room disappeared.
All I could see was the signature.
Evan Mercer.
My ex-husband.
The man who had left me for another woman.
The man who sat beside me during Sophia’s birth.
The man who had watched me fall apart during our divorce.
He had allegedly witnessed me giving my mother control over my finances.
A document I had never signed.
Nathan looked at me.
“You need to sit down.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
He was right.
I sat.
Karla whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“How did Evan get involved?”
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I swear.”
Nathan enlarged the image.
The document looked polished.
Notarized.
Signed.
Witnessed.
Dangerous.
“If this was used anywhere,” he said, “we need to find out.”
I called Evan.
He answered on the fourth ring.
“Laura?”
“We need to talk.”
“What happened?”
“Did you ever witness a power of attorney for my mother?”
Silence.
That silence told me everything.
“Evan.”
“It wasn’t what you think.”
I closed my eyes.
That sentence should be printed on the family crest.
“What do I think?”
“Your mother told me it was for emergencies.”
“So you signed it?”
“She said you had already agreed.”
“You watched me sign?”
“No.”
“Then why did you sign as a witness?”
He exhaled.
“Laura, we were having problems.”
“So you helped my mother forge documents because our marriage was bad?”
“No.”
“Then explain it.”
Another silence.
Then he said something that made my stomach turn.
“She paid me.”
Karla covered her mouth.
“How much?”
“Five thousand.”
I stood up.
“For five thousand dollars, you helped somebody fake control over my finances?”
“I was in debt.”
“You were my husband.”
“I know.”
“No, Evan. You don’t.”
He started apologizing.
I hung up.
Nathan looked furious.
“Save the call log. Write down everything he said.”
Police arrived shortly afterward.
Karla gave her statement.
I gave mine.
The red folder became important evidence.
But Mom wasn’t answering anyone.
Neither was Dad.
At 11:30 that night, Dad finally called.
“Laura.”
“Where is Mom?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean?”
“She left.”
“When?”
“An hour ago.”
“With what?”
He hesitated.
“Two suitcases.”
My heart began pounding.
“Dad, where’s the red folder?”
Silence.
“Dad!”
“It’s gone.”
I closed my eyes.
Mom had the documents.
Copies of identities.
Bank information.
Forged authorization.
Potential evidence.
Nathan grabbed his coat.
“Call the detective.”
Dad suddenly said, “Laura, there’s something else.”
“What?”
“Your mother took the deed.”
I almost laughed.
“She can take the paper. She can’t take the record.”
“I know.”
“Then why does it matter?”
Dad’s voice dropped.
“Because she wasn’t looking for the deed.”
“What was she looking for?”
“The original transfer agreement.”
I froze.
May you like
“What transfer agreement?”
Dad whispered, “The one with the condition.”
