Chapter 4: What He Had Promised to Sell
I stared at the document in Daniel's hand.
The words were printed in black ink, perfectly ordinary, almost boring.
But what they described made my stomach turn.
*Exclusive Development Rights and Transfer of Mineral Interests.*
I read the heading again.
Then I looked at Ethan.
"What does this mean?""
He didn't answer.
Daniel placed the document on the table.
"It means Ethan has been negotiating with the development company to sell something that isn't his.""
I looked down at the first paragraph.
My father's name appeared halfway through the page.
I stopped breathing.
"Why is my father's name here?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Your father owned the land before you inherited it, correct?""
"Yes. He left it to me.""
I glanced at Ethan.
"That's why our house is on this property. My father bought this land thirty years ago.""
Daniel nodded.
"There's a mineral rights agreement attached to the original deed. The development company discovered it when they started researching the property.""
I frowned.
"What mineral rights?""
Ethan finally spoke.
"Emma, it's nothing. It's just an old geological survey.""
I turned toward him.
"Then why is a developer offering hundreds of thousands of dollars for it?""
His expression changed.
Daniel slid another page toward me.
"The company believes there's a valuable deposit of industrial-grade quartz beneath the eastern section of the property. They've been negotiating for access to the land.""
I stared at the document.
Quartz.
I remembered my father talking about the property years ago.
He had been a civil engineer, a quiet man who loved old maps and collecting geological samples. He'd purchased the land because he wanted to build a house surrounded by trees.
He never mentioned anything valuable beneath it.
After he passed away, I inherited the property.
The house.
The land.
Everything.
Ethan had always said the paperwork was too complicated for me to handle, so he'd helped organize the documents.
Now I understood why he'd been so interested.
"How much?"" I whispered.
Daniel checked the figure.
"The development company offered $640,000 for the mineral rights and an access agreement.""
I looked at Ethan.
"Six hundred and forty thousand dollars?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"It wasn't a finalized deal.""
"How much were you going to give me?""
He said nothing.
I turned to Daniel.
"Does he have the authority to sell it?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not without your consent. The mineral rights are attached to the property inherited by you. The draft agreement lists Ethan as an authorized representative, but I don't see any valid authorization from you.""
I felt sick.
My father had trusted me with something important.
And my husband had apparently been trying to sell it behind my back.
"How did you find out?"" I asked.
Daniel glanced at Ethan.
"Brooke mentioned the property deal during one of our arguments. She thought Ethan was going to use the money to buy them a house.""
Brooke immediately looked up.
"Daniel, I didn't say that.""
"You did.""
"I said he was looking at houses!""
"And I asked how he planned to pay for one.""
Brooke lowered her eyes.
Daniel continued.
"That's when I started investigating the company. I found the developer's correspondence and discovered Ethan had been negotiating using your wife's inheritance.""
Ethan stepped forward.
"You're making this sound like a crime.""
Daniel didn't blink.
"Then explain why you signed documents claiming you had authority to transfer her property.""
"I was trying to secure the investment!""
"What investment?""
Ethan's voice rose.
"The business! The business needed capital!""
I looked at him.
"Why didn't you ask me?""
He turned toward me.
"Because you wouldn't have understood.""
Those seven words hurt more than I expected.
I had worked as a project coordinator for eleven years. I managed budgets, contracts, schedules, and difficult clients.
But apparently, in my own marriage, I was too stupid to understand what my husband was doing with my inheritance.
I placed the document down.
"You're right about one thing, Ethan.""
He looked hopeful.
"I don't understand.""
His expression softened.
"Emma—"
"I don't understand how you could look me in the eye every morning while planning to steal from me.""
His face hardened again.
"Don't exaggerate.""
"Then tell me what the money was for.""
He looked toward Brooke.
She was standing near the outdoor shower, wrapped in a towel.
For the first time, she looked afraid of him rather than afraid of being caught.
Ethan noticed.
"Brooke, tell her.""
Brooke shook her head.
"Tell her what?""
"About the apartment.""
Daniel let out a bitter laugh.
"Which apartment? The one you rented together or the one you planned to buy with Emma's inheritance?""
Brooke's face crumpled.
I looked at her.
"There's another apartment?""
She pressed her lips together.
Ethan cursed under his breath.
"Brooke, stop.""
But she was crying too hard to listen.
"Emma, I didn't know about the mineral rights. I swear.""
I watched her carefully.
"Did you know about the $35,700?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did you know about the $68,000 loan?""
She hesitated.
"Not at first.""
"Did you know Ethan was planning to leave me?""
Her silence answered that question.
Daniel looked at her.
"Brooke.""
She finally whispered, "He told me you were already separated.""
I felt a strange emptiness.
"Separated?""
"He said you slept in different rooms. That you were only staying together because of the house.""
I almost smiled.
We had shared a bed until two weeks earlier.
We had celebrated our eleventh anniversary at a restaurant Ethan chose.
He had given me a necklace.
He had kissed me in the parking lot.
And apparently, while doing all that, he had been explaining to Brooke that our marriage was already over.
I looked at him.
"Did you tell her we were separated?""
Ethan shrugged.
"I was trying to make things easier.""
"For whom?""
He didn't answer.
I stepped away from the table.
"Daniel, can I ask you something?""
"Anything.""
"Why did you bring all this here instead of taking it straight to your lawyer?""
He looked at the crowd.
"Because Ethan has been telling people that he's a successful property investor. He's been asking neighbors for money. I wanted everyone to know the truth before someone else lost their savings.""
Mr. Lewis suddenly raised his hand.
"Wait. What?""
Daniel turned toward him.
"Did Ethan ask you for money?""
Mr. Lewis looked uncomfortable.
"About six weeks ago. He mentioned a property opportunity. Said he needed a short-term investment.""
I stared at Ethan.
"How much?""
"Five thousand," Mr. Lewis replied.
Ethan immediately interrupted.
"I was going to pay him back!""
Mr. Lewis shook his head.
"You told me the investment was guaranteed.""
Another neighbor stepped forward.
"Actually, he asked me too.""
Then another.
The crowd began exchanging uneasy looks.
I felt my stomach drop.
How many people had he approached?
Daniel pulled out a small notebook.
"I found a list of people he contacted.""
Ethan stared at him.
"You went through my things?""
"I went through documents that were left in our shared business office.""
Daniel opened the notebook.
"Three neighbors. Two former colleagues. One of your relatives.""
Mrs. Patterson slowly removed her sunglasses.
"Did you ask my grandson for money too?""
Ethan didn't respond.
Her face changed.
"How much?""
"Mrs. Patterson, this is getting out of hand.""
"How much?""
He looked away.
She shook her head.
"My grandson is twenty-four. He trusted you.""
I looked around the patio.
The affair had brought everyone outside.
But the financial betrayal was now affecting people who had never been involved in our marriage.
And I suddenly understood that Ethan had been building something far more dangerous than a secret relationship.
He had been building a network of lies.
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number appeared.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice spoke.
"Is this Emma Carter?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Rebecca Shaw. I'm an attorney representing Westbridge Development Group.""
I glanced at Daniel.
"Yes?""
"I understand there has been a disagreement regarding the proposed transfer of mineral rights attached to your property.""
My stomach tightened.
"Who told you that?""
"Mr. Carter contacted our office approximately twenty minutes ago.""
I looked at Ethan.
He was watching me.
Rebecca continued.
"There's something important you should know. We received a signed agreement from your husband yesterday. The document includes a statement that you had authorized him to negotiate on your behalf.""
I closed my eyes.
"I didn't.""
"I suspected that might be the case. That's why I'm calling before our scheduled closing appointment.""
"Closing appointment?""
"Tomorrow morning.""
I stared at the phone.
"Tomorrow?""
"Yes. Mr. Carter told us you would be available to sign the final documents.""
I looked at my husband.
He had already planned the entire thing.
The apartment.
The money.
The affair.
The sale.
All of it.
I took a breath.
"Ms. Shaw, I did not authorize this transaction. I am the legal owner of the property, and I do not consent to the sale of any mineral rights.""
There was a pause.
"Understood. I recommend that you have your attorney contact us immediately. We will place the transaction on hold pending verification.""
"Thank you.""
I ended the call.
Ethan's expression was unreadable.
Daniel looked at me.
"What did she say?""
I held up my phone.
"The closing was scheduled for tomorrow.""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"Then we need to move quickly.""
Ethan suddenly stepped toward me.
"Emma, don't do this.""
I looked at him.
"Do what?""
"Destroy the deal.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
He was still thinking about the deal.
Not the marriage.
Not the forged signature.
Not the stolen money.
The deal.
I looked at him for a long moment.
Then I said the one thing he clearly hadn't expected.
"You're not losing this deal because of me, Ethan.""
He frowned.
"Then why?""
"Because it was never yours to sell.""
His mouth opened.
But before he could respond, Daniel's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed immediately.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
He answered the call.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through the speaker.
Daniel listened for several seconds.
Then his face went pale.
"You're sure?""
Another pause.
"Send it to me.""
He ended the call.
I stepped closer.
"Daniel?""
He looked at Ethan.
Then at me.
"The development company has already transferred an advance payment.""
My heart sank.
"How much?""
Daniel swallowed.
"Two hundred thousand dollars.""
Ethan looked down.
I stared at him.
"Where is that money?""
He didn't answer.
Daniel checked his phone.
May you like
Then he looked at me.
"It's gone.""
