Chapter 5 - THE FOUR-HUNDRED-THOUSAND-DOLLAR LIE
“My father would have told me.”
Angela spoke the words with certainty.
But the copy of the cashier's check remained in Victoria's hand.
$410,000.
Samuel Washington's name.
A signature that resembled his.
For twenty-two years, Angela had believed her father lost Meadowbrook because Edward Bradford manipulated him.
Now she had to consider another possibility.
Maybe Samuel had accepted a deal.
Maybe he had been too ashamed to explain it.
Victoria watched her.
“I know how much you loved him.”
“Then don't ask me to believe something without proof.”
“I'm showing you proof.”
“A photocopy of a check isn't proof that he received the money.”
Victoria frowned.
“What else could it mean?”
Angela studied the endorsement.
The first letter of her father's surname curved in a familiar way.
But something bothered her.
Samuel had suffered a stroke shortly before the check was issued.
Afterward, his right hand trembled.
He sometimes had to steady it with his left.
Yet the signature on this copy was perfectly smooth.
Angela looked at Victoria.
“Did you ever see my father endorse this check?”
“No.”
“Did Edward?”
“I assumed so.”
“Where is the original?”
Victoria hesitated.
“I don't know.”
Angela handed the copy back.
“Then there's still something missing.”
Victoria's lips tightened.
“You're determined to make him a villain.”
“No. I'm determined to know what happened.”
Across the garden, the wedding guests were preparing to leave.
Daniel and Isabel stood beside their untouched wedding cake.
Their first evening as husband and wife had turned into an argument over property records.
Angela felt a moment of regret.
They hadn't caused the original dispute.
At least, she didn't yet know whether Daniel had.
Isabel approached carrying two glasses of water.
“Miss Washington?”
Angela turned.
“I thought you might need this.”
“Thank you.”
Isabel glanced at Victoria.
“Could I speak to Angela for a moment?”
Victoria seemed about to object.
Then she walked toward the mansion.
Isabel watched until she was gone.
“I'm sorry about what happened today.”
Angela shook her head.
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“I do, actually.”
Isabel reached into her small bridal handbag.
She removed a folded piece of paper.
Angela recognized it immediately.
The same wedding announcement that had been mailed to her eleven days earlier.
Only this one was the original.
Angela stared.
“You sent it?”
Isabel nodded.
“I wasn't sure you'd come.”
“Why?”
“Because I found your father's name in a property packet Grant left at our house.”
Angela's heart began beating faster.
Isabel continued.
“Daniel and I were reviewing the plans for the greenhouse. I saw a page titled Washington Escrow Agreement. When I asked Grant about it, he told me it concerned an old lawsuit that had already been resolved.”
“And you believed him?”
“At first.”
Isabel looked toward Rosie, who was sitting on a bench with Thomas.
“Then my daughter asked why your family crest was still underneath the Bradford sign at the gate.”
Angela smiled sadly.
“Children notice things adults prefer not to see.”
“She wanted to know whether another family had lived here. I started researching the property. I found an old newspaper article about Samuel Washington.”
“What did it say?”
“That he'd organized summer gardening classes for neighborhood children.”
Angela's throat tightened.
Her father had taught those classes for free.
Every Saturday, children from nearby neighborhoods came to Meadowbrook.
They learned how to plant vegetables.
They helped harvest peaches.
And each child went home with something fresh from the garden.
“It was important to him,” Angela whispered.
“I could tell.”
“Why didn't you simply contact me?”
“I tried through the address in the old article. Your former office had closed. Then I found a newer professional listing, but I wasn't certain it was you.”
Angela had spent years working as a property researcher for a nonprofit organization that helped families investigate disputed land transfers.
She knew how often important documents disappeared into forgotten archives.
And she understood how difficult it was to challenge wealthy property owners.
Isabel continued.
“I wanted you to see Meadowbrook before the construction began. I couldn't prove anything was wrong. But I couldn't ignore your family's name either.”
Angela looked at her.
“You invited someone you had never met to your own wedding because you were worried about the property?”
Isabel nodded.
“I thought if there was a misunderstanding, we could clear it up privately.”
A sad smile crossed her face.
“I didn't expect Victoria to treat you that way.”
“Neither did I.”
They both looked toward the mansion.
Then Isabel spoke again.
“There's something else. Grant asked me to sign a document last week.”
“What kind?”
“A family property guarantee.”
Angela became still.
“Did you sign it?”
“No. I'm a schoolteacher. I don't understand business financing, but I know enough not to sign something without reading it.”
“Good.”
“Grant said I was being difficult.”
Angela almost smiled.
“People often say that when you ask to read what they're putting in front of you.”
Isabel returned the wedding announcement to her handbag.
“I never told Daniel I'd contacted you. I was afraid he'd think I didn't trust his family.”
“Does he know now?”
“I told him ten minutes ago.”
“And?”
“He was hurt. But he said he'd rather be hurt by the truth than protected by a lie.”
Angela looked toward Daniel.
He was speaking with the photographer.
Not smiling.
Not celebrating.
But listening carefully.
Perhaps his marriage had begun with something more valuable than a perfect wedding.
Honesty.
A few minutes later, Grant entered the garden carrying a tablet.
“Daniel, we need to discuss tomorrow's construction.”
Daniel turned.
“Cancel it.”
“I can't.”
“Then I'll speak to the development company myself.”
“You can try.”
Grant looked at Thomas.
“And you should clear your personal belongings out of the northern cottage.”
Thomas froze.
“My cottage?”
“The company owns it.”
Angela stepped forward.
“Thomas has lived there for decades.”
“That doesn't make him the owner.”
“He has a residency agreement.”
Grant smiled.
“Then let him produce it.”
Thomas looked helplessly toward Angela.
The old man had never been good at keeping paperwork.
His wife handled those things.
And Martha had been dead for eleven years.
“Grant,” Daniel said sharply, “you are not putting him out.”
His brother turned.
“Then buy the cottage yourself.”
Daniel stared at him.
“What?”
“That's right. If you want to save every sentimental piece of this estate, pay for it.”
He walked away.
Angela looked at Thomas.
“We'll review your agreement. Don't pack anything yet.”
Thomas nodded.
But fear had returned to his eyes.
Later, as the sun began dropping behind the northern wall, Daniel approached Angela with Isabel beside him.
He held a printed document.
“Miss Washington, I think you need to see this.”
Angela took it.
A financing guarantee.
Dated that morning.
It listed Daniel Bradford as an approving director.
That was troubling enough.
But below his signature was another name.
Isabel Bradford.
Angela looked up.
“Isabel, you said you refused to sign.”
“I did.”
Daniel pointed to the date.
“She wasn't even legally Isabel Bradford when this was supposedly executed.”
Angela studied the signature.
Then looked toward the mansion where Grant had disappeared.
Daniel's voice shook with anger.
“My brother didn't just use my name.”
May you like
He pointed to the second signature.
“He forged my wife's.”
