Chapter 3: The House Drea Had Already Sold
Drea stared at the document in Ethan’s hand.
“It’s part of the refinancing packet,” she said.
“You signed dozens of pages.”
“I never signed this.” Ethan held up the final page.
“It transfers the house to DNR Holdings.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
Mara pulled Calla behind her.
“Then why was it hidden under a floorboard?”
Drea stepped toward her.
“You put it there.”
“I was locked inside.”
“You had time to create a performance.”
Ethan unfolded the second page.
His thumb stopped beneath a paragraph, and the paper began shaking.
“This authorizes a two-hundred-and-forty-thousand-dollar loan against the house.”
Drea folded her arms.
“We discussed renovations.”
“We discussed a kitchen.
We did not discuss handing my house to a company I’ve never heard of.”
A woman pushed through the guests.
Janice, the family’s longtime notary, took the document from Ethan and examined the seal.
“Ethan, where did you get this?”
“Mara found it.”
Janice ran her finger beneath the stamped date.
“This is my seal, but I didn’t notarize your signature.”
Drea gave a short laugh.
“You must have forgotten.”
“I keep a register.
Every signature, every date, every address.” Janice looked directly at her.
“My spare seal disappeared six weeks ago.”
“You’re accusing me because of a missing stamp?”
“You had a key to my office.”
Drea’s face tightened.
“I watered your plants while you were away.”
“And opened my locked desk?”
Calla pressed her face against Mara’s side.
Ethan crouched and gently touched his daughter’s shoulder.
“Calla, did Drea ever ask you about papers in my study?”
“She asked where you kept the house folder.”
Drea spun toward her.
“Don’t lie.”
Calla flinched.
“Do not speak to her like that,” Mara said.
“She is my stepdaughter.”
“She is not your shield.”
Drea reached for Calla, but Ethan stood between them.
“You locked Mara in that building.
You took Calla’s phone.
Now your name is connected to a forged transfer.”
“My name isn’t on that paper.”
Janice turned the page over.
“Your initials are.”
Drea snatched for it.
Janice pulled it against her chest, and two guests stepped between them.
“Give it to me,” Drea demanded.
“No,” Janice said.
“I’m giving it to the police.”
Drea’s smile disappeared.
“If you involve them, Ethan will lose everything.”
Ethan rose slowly.
“What does that mean?”
“It means he signed other documents.
Real ones.”
“What other documents?”
Drea opened her handbag and removed a blue folder.
“You want the truth in front of everyone?” she asked.
“Fine.”
She pulled out a paper bearing an official court stamp and held it where Mara could see.
Mara’s knees weakened.
“Where did you get that?”
“Calla’s mother didn’t come back because she loved her,” Drea said.
“She came because the money ran out.”
“That isn’t true!”
Drea handed the paper to Ethan.
“Ask her why she signed away her rights to Calla.”
Ethan read the first line, then looked at Mara.
May you like
At the bottom of the page was Mara’s name.
And above it were the words: Voluntary Surrender of Parental Rights.
