Chapter 29: They Came Back to the House They Had Tried to Take

Three days passed before I heard from anyone in the Mercer family.

I spent those days doing something I hadn't done in years.

I lived quietly.

I unpacked my suitcase. I opened the windows. I walked through every room of my mother's house and let myself remember why I had fought so hard to keep it.

Then, on the fourth morning, my attorney called.

"Mara, you should know that the Mercer Group board has suspended Grant from several of his executive duties."

"Because of Sloane?"

"Because of the financial records. The property agreement wasn't the only thing they found."

I sat down slowly.

"What else?"

"There were wedding expenses charged through company accounts. Private transfers. Renovations planned for your property. And several payments made to accounts connected to Sloane."

I closed my eyes.

So it had gone even deeper.

"Does Grant know?"

"He does now."

My attorney paused.

"There's one more thing. The board has requested your records because some of those transactions were made under the assumption that you would become Grant's wife and eventually sign off on them."

I almost laughed.

"They planned my consent before they ever asked for it."

"Exactly."

After the call ended, I went into the study and opened the old wooden cabinet where my mother had kept her documents.

Behind a row of folders, I found the original deed to Lighthouse Hill.

My mother's handwriting was still on the envelope.

For Mara. Never let anyone convince you that what belongs to you must be earned twice.

My fingers tightened around the paper.

She had written those words years before I understood them.

That afternoon, a black car stopped outside the house.

I watched from the window as Grant stepped out.

He wasn't alone.

Eli followed him.

And behind them came Sloane.

I didn't open the door.

The bell rang once.

Then twice.

Finally, Grant called my phone.

I answered without saying hello.

"Mara, please. We need to talk."

"About what?"

"The board. The accounts. Everything."

"That's not my problem anymore."

"It became your problem when they used your name."

"No. It became your problem when you decided my name could be used without me."

Silence.

Then Eli spoke from behind him.

"Mara, we're not here to fight."

"Then why are you standing outside my house?"

He looked toward the front door.

"Because we need your help."

I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"You came to the woman you humiliated, stole from, and lied to because you need her help?"

Sloane suddenly stepped forward.

"Mara, I never wanted any of this."

"You wanted the penthouse tag."

She flinched.

"I wanted to feel safe."

"And you decided my safety mattered less."

Her eyes filled with tears.

This time, I felt nothing when I saw them.

Grant stepped closer to the door.

"The board is investigating the family foundation. If they discover how much money was spent on Sloane, she could lose everything."

"That's unfortunate."

"Mara, please."

"You once told me I couldn't have everything."

Grant went still.

"You were right," I continued. "I don't need everything. I just need what is mine."

I opened the door.

All three of them looked at me.

For the first time, I wasn't the woman standing at the edge of their picture.

I was standing in my own doorway.

"You have ten minutes," I said. "Tell me everything."

Grant looked relieved.

He shouldn't have.

Because I wasn't opening the door to forgive them.

I was opening it because I wanted the truth.

They came inside and sat across from me in the library.

Grant placed a thick folder on the table.

"There are records here that prove the Mercer family authorized payments connected to your property."

I opened the folder.

Page after page showed signatures, transfers, invoices, and emails.

Then I reached the final page.

My name appeared at the bottom.

Next to it was a signature that looked almost exactly like mine.

I stared at it.

Someone had forged my signature.

Eli's face went pale.

Grant whispered, "We didn't know about that."

I slowly closed the folder.

"Then you have a much bigger problem than a canceled wedding."

No one spoke.

I looked at all three of them.

"Tomorrow morning, we're going to the authorities."

Grant's face drained of color.

"Mara, wait."

"No."

I stood.

"For once, you don't get to decide what happens next."