Chapter 7: The Woman Who Knew Everything
I read the anonymous message three times.
If you want to know who really created the fake agreement, ask your bride's mother what she witnessed in Richard's office.
Patricia Mitchell.
The woman who had watched her daughter insult my mother without saying a word.
The woman who had defended Vanessa when I confronted her about the property documents.
The woman who had told me that Evelyn should understand certain standards.
I had never considered Patricia an innocent bystander.
But I hadn't imagined she might be directly involved.
I immediately forwarded the message to Marcus.
*Me:* Find out who sent this.
*Marcus:* Don't contact anyone until we establish whether the information is credible.
Unfortunately, I wasn't in the mood to wait.
I called Patricia.
She answered after four rings.
"Charles, what is it?""
"I need to speak with you.""
"About Vanessa?""
"About Richard's office.""
Silence.
Then I heard her take a breath.
"What about Richard's office?""
"Someone told me you witnessed something there involving the forged documents.""
She didn't answer.
I continued.
"Mrs. Mitchell, I know about the payment. I know about the fake signature. I know your husband has been making promises to investors using my family's property.""
Her voice became defensive.
"You don't understand the business.""
"Then explain it to me.""
"Richard has worked very hard to build his company.""
"My mother has worked very hard to build her home. Why does his work matter more?""
"That's not what I'm saying.""
"Then tell me what you witnessed.""
Another pause.
Finally, she whispered, "Can we meet?""
"Where?""
"Somewhere private.""
"Tomorrow morning. Marcus Reed's office.""
"No. I need to speak with you alone.""
I almost ended the call.
Then she said something that made me stop.
"Charles, your wedding was never supposed to end like this.""
I closed my eyes.
"You're right. It was supposed to end with me marrying your daughter while she and your husband were secretly preparing to take my mother's property.""
Patricia began crying.
"I didn't know everything.""
"But you knew something.""
She didn't deny it.
"Tomorrow," she whispered.
"I'll tell you tomorrow.""
At 9:00 the next morning, Patricia arrived at Marcus's office.
She wore a dark blue suit and carried a large handbag.
Her hair was perfectly styled, but her hands trembled as she placed the bag on the conference table.
Marcus was already seated beside me.
"Mrs. Mitchell," he said.
"Before we begin, I want you to understand that anything you tell us concerning these documents may become relevant to an investigation.""
Patricia nodded.
"I understand.""
Marcus switched on a small recording device after explaining its purpose and obtaining her agreement.
Then he folded his hands.
"Start from the beginning.""
Patricia looked at me.
"I found out about the property negotiations six weeks ago.""
I leaned forward.
"How?""
"Richard was speaking to someone on the phone in his study. He mentioned Evelyn Bennett's farm and your father's adjoining property.""
"What did he say?""
"He said the acquisition would secure a major investment. He also said Vanessa was handling the family side.""
I stared at her.
"Did you know Vanessa was being paid?""
Patricia nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
"How much?""
"Richard told me she would receive a hundred thousand dollars when the transaction was completed.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"And you did nothing?""
She looked down.
"I told him it was wrong.""
"What did he say?""
"He said it was none of my business.""
Marcus made a note.
Patricia continued.
"I argued with him. I told him Vanessa was about to get married and shouldn't be involved in something that could destroy her relationship.""
I let out a bitter laugh.
"Apparently, she didn't listen.""
Patricia wiped her eyes.
"No. She didn't.""
I asked the question that had brought her there.
"Did you witness Richard creating the fake agreement?""
Patricia nodded.
"Three weeks ago, I walked into his office while he was working with his attorney.""
Marcus sat straighter.
"Who was the attorney?""
"His name is Gregory Shaw.""
Marcus wrote it down.
"What did you see?""
Patricia closed her eyes.
"Richard had a copy of Charles's signature from some old paperwork. Gregory was working on a new agreement. They were discussing how to make the signature look consistent.""
My stomach turned.
"What did you do?""
"I asked them what they were doing.""
"And?""
"Richard told me to leave.""
I stared at her.
"You watched them forge my signature?""
Patricia began crying.
"I didn't know what to do.""
"You could have called the police.""
"I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
She looked at me.
"Richard.""
Marcus interrupted gently.
"Did you hear them discuss the intended use of the document?""
Patricia nodded.
"They said it would be sent to the investors as proof that you had agreed to the acquisition.""
I felt my hands tighten against the table.
"So you knew.""
"Yes.""
"And you still came to my wedding?""
She looked down.
"I thought if Vanessa married you, Richard would stop pushing the deal. I thought things might settle down.""
I stared at her.
"Your daughter was the one who insulted my mother.""
Patricia shook her head.
"I know.""
"You sat there and watched.""
"I know.""
"Why didn't you defend her?""
Patricia's shoulders began shaking.
"Because I was afraid Richard would turn against me too.""
For a moment, nobody spoke.
I thought about my mother standing beneath the floral arch, holding out her arms.
She hadn't asked anybody to protect her.
She had simply wanted to welcome another woman into the family.
And these people had treated her like an obstacle.
Marcus placed another document on the table.
"Mrs. Mitchell, did you receive any financial benefit from the proposed transaction?""
Patricia looked up.
"No.""
"Did you help prepare any paperwork?""
"No.""
"Did you communicate with the investors?""
She hesitated.
"Once.""
Marcus waited.
Patricia reached into her handbag and removed a small USB drive.
"I recorded a conversation between Richard and Gregory.""
My eyes widened.
"Why?""
"Because I knew what they were doing was wrong. I didn't know how to stop it, but I wanted proof.""
Marcus took the drive.
"What's on it?""
"Richard explaining the revised agreement.""
He looked at me.
Then he connected the drive to his computer.
The recording began with the sound of a door closing.
Richard's voice came through the speakers.
"Use the version with the cleaner signature. Whitmore doesn't need the entire history. He just needs proof that Bennett is cooperating.""
A second voice responded.
"His attorney may question it.""
Richard laughed.
"By the time he does, the investors will have already committed the money.""
Then Gregory spoke.
"What about the preservation agreement?""
"That old document is a nuisance. We'll make it look like Evelyn waived the restriction when she signed the authorization.""
I felt my blood run cold.
Patricia looked away.
The recording continued.
Richard said:
"And once the wedding is over, Vanessa will have access to Charles. She'll get him to sign the revised transfer documents. If he refuses, we'll use the existing agreement to pressure him.""
Gregory asked, "And the mother?""
Richard answered without hesitation.
"She'll be offered enough money to disappear quietly.""
I pushed my chair backward.
Marcus paused the recording.
Nobody spoke.
Then Patricia whispered, "I'm sorry.""
I looked at her.
"Sorry doesn't give my mother back the peace you've taken from her.""
"I know.""
"Does Vanessa know about this recording?""
Patricia shook her head.
"No.""
"Does Richard?""
"I don't think so.""
Marcus carefully removed the USB drive.
"This is important evidence. We'll preserve it and arrange for it to be reviewed through the appropriate legal channels.""
Patricia nodded.
Then she reached into her handbag again.
"I have something else.""
She placed a folded sheet of paper on the table.
It was an internal company memo.
The heading read:
*Bennett Acquisition — Contingency Strategy.*
I read the first paragraph.
The document described what the company would do if I refused to sign the transfer papers.
It included contacting my employer, questioning my financial credibility, and presenting the disputed documents to investors as evidence of a failed agreement.
But one line caught my attention.
Public relations management should emphasize that Charles Bennett is acting against the interests of his future family due to excessive emotional attachment to his mother's rural property.
I laughed quietly.
They were planning to make me look unreasonable for protecting my mother.
Patricia looked at me.
"Richard believes he can control the story.""
I folded the memo.
"He can try.""
Marcus gathered the documents.
"Mrs. Mitchell, we'll need you to cooperate fully if this matter proceeds.""
"I will.""
Then she turned toward me.
"Charles, I know you probably hate me.""
I didn't answer.
She continued.
"I have a daughter too. I should have protected Evelyn the way I would have wanted someone to protect me.""
I stood.
"Then maybe you should have done that.""
Patricia lowered her head.
I walked toward the door.
But before I left, she spoke again.
"There's one more thing you should know.""
I stopped.
"Richard has invited the investors to a meeting tomorrow.""
"Where?""
"At the wedding venue.""
I turned.
"The wedding venue?""
She nodded.
"He wants to use the gathering to convince them that the acquisition is still moving forward.""
I stared at her.
"There's no wedding.""
Patricia swallowed.
"I know. But he says the ceremony can still be used.""
"Used for what?""
She looked directly at me.
"To make the investors believe you and Vanessa are still together.""
That afternoon, Marcus received confirmation from Harold Whitmore's office.
The investors had been told that the wedding was postponed, not canceled.
Richard had also informed them that the family disagreement was temporary.
They expected to meet me.
They expected to hear that I supported the project.
And they expected the acquisition documents to be finalized.
Marcus looked at me.
"We can send a formal notice explaining that you never authorized the transaction. We can also advise the investors that the signature is disputed.""
"Do it.""
He nodded.
"But Charles, I want you to consider something. If you attend that meeting, you need to understand that it could become confrontational.""
I thought about my mother.
Then I thought about my father's letter.
Don't ever let the world convince you that her hands are something to be ashamed of.
"I'll attend.""
Marcus studied me.
"Why?""
"Because they used my name to convince people they could take my mother's home. I want those people to hear the truth from me.""
He nodded.
"Then we'll prepare.""
As I left his office, my phone vibrated.
A message from Vanessa.
*Vanessa:* My mother told me what she did. Please don't use the recording against my father.
I stared at the message.
Then another arrived.
*Vanessa:* I know I don't deserve anything from you, but please meet me one last time. There's something I need to confess about the wedding.
I almost deleted it.
Then I noticed the final sentence.
*Vanessa:* The reason I insulted your mother wasn't what you think.
I read it twice.
And for the first time, I wondered whether the humiliation at the altar had been more than cruelty.
May you like
Had Vanessa been trying to provoke me?
And if so, what had she hoped would happen?
