Chapter 5 - THE BRIDE WHO DIDN'T KNOW
Vanessa called Claire directly.
Rachel advised against answering.
Claire answered anyway.
“I need to know what Daniel told you.”
Vanessa’s voice was shaky.
“That you two had been separated emotionally for over a year.”
“That part may be true.”
“He said you refused to divorce because of the house.”
Claire almost laughed.
“The house is in my family trust.”
Vanessa went quiet.
“He said it was basically his.”
“No.”
Silence.
Then Vanessa asked:
“Did you know about me?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Two months.”
Vanessa exhaled.
“I’m sorry.”
Claire surprised herself.
“I believe you.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew he was married.”
There it was.
No innocence performance.
Vanessa continued.
“I believed him when he said it was over.”
“That was convenient.”
“Yes.”
Claire respected the answer.
Then Vanessa said something strange.
“Why am I listed on DMR Strategic?”
Claire froze.
“What?”
“The bank called me because I’m named as contingent beneficiary.”
Claire looked at Rachel.
Rachel was already writing.
“Did you sign anything?”
“No.”
“Did Daniel ask for your Social Security number?”
“For the marriage license paperwork and insurance.”
Claire closed her eyes.
Of course.
Daniel had placed Vanessa inside the structure too.
Not just Claire.
“Send us everything.”
Vanessa hesitated.
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
Claire looked out the window.
“Trust the documents.”
Vanessa sent them.
DMR Strategic had a beneficiary schedule.
Daniel first.
Vanessa second.
Marcus third as management trustee.
If Daniel became incapacitated, Vanessa gained economic interest.
If Daniel divorced Claire and secured part of Claire’s marital appreciation claim, certain proceeds were scheduled to move into DMR.
Vanessa stared at the paperwork during a video call.
“He was building our future.”
Rachel said carefully:
“He was building a structure.”
Not the same thing.
Then Vanessa showed them a message from Daniel.
Sent six months earlier.
Once Claire’s side is settled, everything will finally be ours.
Claire read the word ours.
May you like
She no longer knew whether Daniel meant love.
Or assets.
