Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN HE WARNED US ABOUT
Hannah met us at Mara’s office.
She came alone, carrying a grocery bag because the folder wouldn’t fit in her purse.
“I left Noah with my sister,” she said.
She was younger than I expected. Not glamorous. Not smug.
Just a woman with bitten nails and a coat missing a button.
I hated Ryan for making me afraid of her before she’d even sat down.
She placed the folder on the table.
“He told me you knew about us.”
I gave a short, ugly laugh.
“He told me you were a woman from work who wouldn’t leave him alone.”
Hannah stared at the table.
“Of course he did.”
Inside the folder were copies of my identification, old bank statements, signature samples, and a draft authorization bearing Dad’s name.
Dad studied it without touching.
“That isn’t mine.”
The financial attorney, Daniel Cho, examined the pages.
“We’ll need originals and records from the institutions involved. These copies give us places to look.”
Hannah pulled out another sheet.
“I found this behind the others.”
It was an email printout.
Martin had written:
Need spousal acknowledgment before the lender asks for direct confirmation. Gala gives you a deadline. Handle it.
Ryan had replied:
She’ll sign.
I remembered him placing papers beside my breakfast.
A routine update, he’d said.
I remembered asking why my trust was mentioned.
I remembered how quiet he became.
“Did you sign?” Daniel asked.
“No.”
Ryan had smiled then.
Not warmly.
He had taken the papers away and kissed the top of my head.
We’ll talk tonight.
Hannah rubbed her palms on her jeans.
“There’s something else.”
She took out her phone and played a voicemail.
Ryan’s voice filled the room.
“Hannah, stop making this difficult. If you show up tonight, you’ll regret it. And don’t use the kid to get to me.”
She stopped it.
“He’s Noah’s father,” she said. “But Noah isn’t a tool. I need that written down somewhere.”
Mara nodded.
“We can help you find your own attorney.”
Hannah looked at me.
“I’m sorry.”
I believed her.
Then Daniel turned over the last page in the folder.
It listed a scheduled transfer.
May you like
The amount was almost everything left in my trust.
The date was tomorrow.
