Chapter 3: The House That Was Never His
“Dad,” the groom whispered.
Claire’s fingers slipped from Daniel’s arm.
Eleanor stopped reaching for the phone.
Daniel stared at his mother.
“You and Dad haven’t spoken in eight years.”
“We spoke this morning,” Eleanor said.
“Because your bride gave us no choice.”
Claire stepped over the broken arch.
“She’s lying.
Richard wants this wedding stopped as much as she does.”
The phone rang in Daniel’s hand.
The name DAD filled the screen.
“Answer it,” Eleanor said.
“Don’t,” Claire snapped.
“Not until we’re somewhere private.”
Daniel pressed the speaker button.
“Dad, what is going on?”
Richard’s voice came through the phone.
“Have you signed anything Claire gave you today?”
“Just the vendor forms.”
“And the blue folder?”
Daniel looked toward the reception tent.
“I haven’t even opened it.”
Claire lunged for the phone, but Eleanor caught her wrist.
“Take your hand off me,” Claire hissed.
“Answer his question first,” Eleanor said.
“What was in the blue folder?”
Claire pulled free.
“A marital property agreement.
Couples sign them every day.”
Richard’s voice hardened.
“That document gives Claire authority to sell Hawthorne House.”
Daniel gave a short, confused laugh.
“She can’t sell it without me.
I own it.”
“No,” Richard said.
“You don’t.”
A murmur passed through the guests.
Daniel’s best man lowered the piece of timber he had been holding.
Daniel swallowed.
“You transferred it to me last Christmas.
Claire showed me the deed.”
“I never signed that deed.”
Claire pointed at Eleanor.
“They planned this.
They waited until our wedding day to humiliate me.”
“You told me the county had recorded it,” Daniel said.
“It did,” Claire replied.
“Your father is trying to take back his gift.”
Richard exhaled through the speaker.
“Daniel, Hawthorne House is still mine.
I bought it before you were born and placed it in a family trust.
Someone filed a transfer using a signature that is not mine.”
Daniel looked at Claire.
“Where did you get the deed?”
“From your father’s office.”
“My office never prepared it,” Richard said.
Claire folded her arms.
“Then perhaps your staff made a mistake.”
Eleanor held out the sealed envelope.
“Your father’s real attorney sent this.
It contains the trust records and a copy of the document Claire tried to put in front of you.”
Daniel did not take it.
“You sprayed her, Mom,” he said.
“You arrived uninvited, accused my fiancée in front of everyone, and turned my wedding into a spectacle.”
Eleanor’s shoulders lowered.
Water dripped from her sleeves onto the crushed roses.
“I came through the gate quietly,” she said.
“Claire saw the envelope and grabbed the hose.”
“You called me a fortune hunter,” Claire replied.
“Tell him that part.”
“I called you that after you tried to tear the envelope out of my hand.”
Claire turned to Daniel.
“This is what she does.
She pushes and pushes until someone reacts, then pretends she is the victim.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Both of you, stop.”
The wedding coordinator hurried across the lawn with a blue folder pressed to her chest.
“Daniel,” she said, “Claire told me to keep this in the bridal suite until five minutes before the ceremony.”
Claire’s face tightened.
“Marissa, give that to me.”
Marissa held it behind her back.
“You said it was a surprise.”
“It was.”
Daniel held out his hand.
“Then surprise me.”
Marissa gave him the folder.
The first page carried Daniel’s name, with yellow tabs marking six places for his signature.
Richard spoke from the phone.
“Turn to page nine.”
Daniel found it.
His jaw tightened as he read.
“Exclusive authority to list, mortgage, transfer, or dispose of the property,” he said.
“Claire, why is your name beside that sentence?”
“It protects both of us.”
“It gives you control of a house you knew I didn’t own.”
Claire’s eyes moved toward the gate.
Eleanor stepped between her and the path.
“Where are you going?”
“To call my attorney.”
Richard answered from the speaker.
“You should.
And when he arrives, ask him why your name appears on another document filed three years ago.”
Claire went completely still.
Daniel lifted the phone.
“What other document?”
May you like
Richard’s answer silenced the entire lawn.
“Ask Claire what happened to the man she nearly married before you.”
