Chapter 8: The Woman Who Finally Told the Truth
I arrived at Patricia's house at ten the following morning.
Her attorney, a woman named Karen, was already there.
Patricia looked older than she had the previous evening.
She had removed the expensive decorations from the living room and placed the documents in neat stacks across the coffee table.
“Thank you for coming,” she said.
I sat opposite her.
“Please tell me what's going on.””
Karen opened a folder.
“Before we begin, I want to clarify that Patricia has agreed to cooperate with the review of the property documents.””
I nodded.
Patricia folded her hands.
“Sarah, I owe you an explanation.””
I waited.
She looked down.
“Last year, Daniel told me that you were planning to help the family financially.””
“I wasn't.””
“I know that now.””
“What exactly did he tell you?””
“That you wanted to create a family trust. He said you had discussed it with him and wanted to make sure Melissa and her children would always have support.””
I stared at her.
“That never happened.””
Patricia nodded.
“He showed me a spreadsheet. It listed annual contributions, expected expenses, and a proposed amount of twenty-five thousand dollars.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“Was my name on it?””
“Yes.””
She slid a printed copy toward me.
At the top was the heading:
*THOMPSON FAMILY SUPPORT PLAN*
My name appeared beside the annual contribution.
Daniel's name appeared as administrator.
Melissa was listed as a beneficiary.
Patricia was listed as the family property trustee.
I looked at the figures.
Twenty-five thousand dollars annually.
Five thousand allocated for Patricia's expenses.
Ten thousand for Melissa's household.
The remaining ten thousand was listed as a general family reserve.
I looked up.
“Why did you believe I had agreed to this?””
Patricia's eyes filled.
“Daniel told me you had discussed it privately. He said you didn't want the family to know because you were uncomfortable talking about money.””
I shook my head.
“And you believed him?””
“I wanted to.””
That answer surprised me.
Patricia continued.
“He said you wanted to make things easier for everyone. He told me you were tired of being asked for money individually, so you wanted a formal arrangement.””
I stared at the spreadsheet.
It was almost convincing.
Almost.
Except I had never seen it before.
“Did you sign anything?””
Patricia nodded.
“I signed a preliminary acknowledgment. Daniel said it was only to confirm that I understood the proposal.””
Karen interrupted.
“However, the document was not a finalized trust agreement, and no valid authorization from Sarah has been established.””
I looked at her.
“Then why did the restaurant receive a sponsorship agreement?””
“That's part of what we're investigating.””
Patricia wiped her eyes.
“I thought Daniel was finally becoming responsible. I thought he was creating something that would protect the family.””
I looked at her.
“You called me classless in front of thirty-two people.””
She lowered her head.
“I know.””
“You told me money couldn't buy class while accepting a celebration I paid for.””
“I know.””
“And now you're telling me you believed I had agreed to give your family twenty-five thousand dollars every year?””
She began crying.
“I was wrong.””
I remained silent.
Patricia reached for my hand.
I pulled mine back.
“I don't want your apology because you're afraid of losing the money.””
She nodded slowly.
“You're right.””
Karen closed the folder.
“There's another issue.””
She placed a new document on the table.
It was the second financing application.
The applicant was a property company Daniel had registered six months earlier.
The company listed two directors.
Daniel Thompson.
Sarah Thompson.
I stared at it.
“I've never been a director of this company.””
Karen nodded.
“We're aware. The filing appears to have been submitted using your personal information.””
I looked at Patricia.
“Did you know?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
“Then who did?””
Neither woman answered.
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I declined the call.
A message followed.
*Daniel: We need to stop this before it becomes permanent.*
I looked at Karen.
“Can he cancel the application?””
“Not without the appropriate process. And you should not communicate with him about the disputed documents without advice.””
I nodded.
Then another message arrived.
*Daniel: Mom is making a huge mistake. She doesn't understand what will happen if I lose the company.*
I looked at the property application again.
“What company?””
Karen turned another page.
“This one.””
The company had been established under the name Thompson Family Holdings.
Its registered address was Daniel's workplace.
Its stated purpose was property management and family investment.
But there was something else.
A list of proposed assets.
Patricia's house.
A rental property belonging to another relative.
And my investment portfolio.
I stared at the last entry.
“How did they get this information?””
Patricia looked confused.
“What investment portfolio?””
I looked at her.
“Daniel knows I have investments. Apparently, he has been telling people how much I could contribute.””
Patricia covered her mouth.
“Oh, Sarah.””
I stood.
“I need to leave.””
Karen nodded.
“We'll be in touch.””
As I reached the door, Patricia called my name.
“Sarah.””
I stopped.
“I want you to know something. I didn't ask Daniel to do this.””
I turned.
“But you were willing to accept it.””
She lowered her eyes.
“Yes.””
May you like
That was the first honest answer she had given me.
And somehow, it hurt more than the insults.
