PART 2 — THE DOCUMENTS HE NEVER READ
Evelyn arrived eleven minutes later.
She didn't even get out of the car before opening the passenger door.
“Get in.”
I climbed inside carefully, keeping Lily against my chest.
The moment Evelyn saw my face, she knew I was trying not to cry.
“Did he really lock you out?”
I nodded.
She stared at the estate through the windshield.
“That man has finally lost his mind.”
“He thinks the house is his.”
“He always thought it was his.”
I looked down at Lily.
“He changed the code.”
Evelyn tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
“Then he has no idea what he's dealing with.”
“What do you mean?”
She looked at me.
“You haven't told him about the trust, have you?”
I shook my head.
“What trust?”
Evelyn gave me a strange look.
“The one your father created.”
My stomach tightened.
“My father died seven years ago.”
“I know.”
“What trust?”
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she started the car.
“We'll talk at my house.”
* * *
By the time we reached Evelyn's home, Lily had fallen asleep again.
I carried her upstairs to the guest bedroom and placed her carefully in the crib Evelyn had prepared.
Then I went downstairs.
Evelyn was standing in the kitchen with two cups of coffee.
She pushed one toward me.
“You need to sit.”
“I need answers.”
“You're going to get them.”
I sat down.
Evelyn placed a thick brown folder on the table.
I stared at it.
“What is that?”
“Something your father asked me to keep.”
My hands went cold.
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because he told me not to.”
I opened the folder.
The first page was a letter.
My father's handwriting.
I recognized it immediately.
Jessi,
If you're reading this, something has gone very wrong.
I stopped breathing.
Evelyn watched me silently.
I continued.
You built your life without depending on anyone. I was proud of that. But there is one thing I need you to understand. Redwood Crest Drive is not simply a house.
My eyes moved to the next line.
It is protected property.
I frowned.
Protected?
I read on.
No spouse, creditor, business partner, relative, or future heir can claim ownership of it unless you personally authorize the transfer.
I looked at Evelyn.
“What does this mean?”
“It means Luca never had a chance.”
I turned the page.
There was another document.
A legal trust agreement.
My name appeared at the top.
JESSICA MARLOWE BENNETT — SOLE BENEFICIARY AND TRUSTOR.
I stared at it.
“This was created before I met Luca.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Your father knew what kind of people existed around wealth.”
I swallowed.
“He knew about Luca?”
“No.”
Evelyn paused.
“But he knew someone like him would eventually appear.”
I looked at the document again.
Then I saw something I had never noticed.
A clause near the bottom.
In the event of an attempted unauthorized occupation or fraudulent transfer, the property shall immediately enter protective sale status.
My heart began beating faster.
“Protective sale?”
Evelyn nodded.
“That's why Phoebe was able to move so quickly.”
“So the moment Luca changed the locks…”
“The trust was triggered.”
I stared at her.
“And he doesn't know.”
“No.”
A strange calm settled over me.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Luca.
I opened it.
You need to stop embarrassing yourself.
Another message appeared.
The house is mine now.
Then:
When I get back from Miami, we'll discuss custody arrangements.
I stared at the screen.
Evelyn read the messages over my shoulder.
“He's threatening you.”
“He thinks he can take Lily.”
“He can't.”
“I know.”
I looked at the folder.
“But I want him to believe he can.”
Evelyn's eyebrows lifted.
“What are you planning?”
I closed the folder.
“Nothing yet.”
* * *
The next morning, Phoebe arrived at Evelyn's house.
She brought two associates.
Neither of them smiled.
“Good morning, Jessi.”
“Morning.”
Phoebe placed a tablet on the table.
“The buyer signed.”
I looked at her.
“Already?”
“He transferred the deposit at 8:04 this morning.”
“And the closing?”
“Tomorrow afternoon.”
I nodded.
“Good.”
Phoebe leaned forward.
“But there is a complication.”
“What?”
“Luca has filed a claim.”
My stomach dropped.
“On what grounds?”
“He says the property is marital property.”
I almost laughed.
“It's not.”
“We know.”
“But he doesn't.”
Phoebe smiled slightly.
“He also claims he invested approximately $480,000 into renovations.”
“He did?”
“He claims he did.”
I looked at Evelyn.
She shook her head.
“He paid for furniture.”
Phoebe nodded.
“Exactly.”
She slid another document across the table.
“Every major renovation was paid from your account.”
I looked through the invoices.
Roof.
Kitchen.
Pool.
Security system.
Landscaping.
Everything.
My money.
My signature.
My property.
Then Phoebe said something that made me stop.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“Luca didn't simply change the locks.”
She turned the tablet toward me.
“He contacted the property management company.”
“For what?”
“To change the ownership records.”
I stared at the screen.
“He tried to transfer the property.”
“He tried.”
“Did he succeed?”
Phoebe smiled.
“No.”
She tapped the screen.
“He submitted a forged authorization.”
My blood ran cold.
“A forged signature?”
“Yes.”
“Then call the police.”
“I already did.”
Silence filled the room.
For the first time since I had been locked out, I felt something other than anger.
I felt fear.
Not for myself.
For Lily.
Because a man willing to forge my signature to steal my home might be capable of much more.
Phoebe looked directly at me.
“Jessi, this isn't a marriage problem anymore.”
“I know.”
“It's criminal.”
I looked at the baby monitor.
Lily was sleeping upstairs.
Then I remembered Luca's final message.
We'll discuss custody arrangements.
I slowly closed my eyes.
He thought he was fighting me over a house.
He didn't realize he had just started a war over my daughter.
And I had no intention of losing.
